Why this? Why now?
You may ask….
One could say that COVID helped us realised how much we enjoyed and NEEDED to take a slower pace of life. So why now do i feel like we have thrown ourselves into the rat race yet again? Is it really fair to say that it is because it is the natural progression of heading back into work after COVID or is there more to this?
Cost of living definitely has a part to play in this. It seems that everybody is trying to claw back some work hours or salary by the end of the month. It is not just bills we are fighting to pay with our time or money, it is the small things that keep us sane week in week out.
Not being able to afford to take time off to go on holiday. Not only is it the time off (for those people who are self employed) but also the actually cost of the holiday etc.
I get it - we HAVE to work…. and that isn’t what i am seeing. I’m seeing people work extra hours at the cost of their health and their relationships. relationships that aren’t just at home. The relationships at work. People are just becoming too stressed and burned out for the sake of keeping their head above water.
What small steps can we take to minimise the effect of this added stress juggling the work/life balance?
Here are 5 easy steps to help you minimise stress and burnout:
Practise deep breathing: Take a few minutes throughout your day to decompress and take time out. Focus on your breathing take in a breath for the count of 4, hold for a count of 4 and breath out for the count of 4. This will calm the nervous system.
Stay active: Take regular walks outside in nature. This will release endorphins and reduce any stress hormones.
Prioritise sleep: Make sure you are setting aside between 7 and 9 hours of quality sleep a night. If you are well rested from the previous night then your body will cope with stress far better.
Your own time management: Make sure for each block of work you schedule everyday, you are allowing time to decompress and change state between meetings etc.
Practice mindfulness and meditation: Dedicate a few minutes at the beginning and at the end of your day to meditate or practice a mindfulness routine.
Not all of these will work for everyone so find something that works for you and stick to it. There may be an element of experimentation here until you find something that works.
More blogs coming of mindfulness, meditation, deep breathing and sleep.
Interested in making a change and getting a head start to getting on top of your stress? I know a fantastic 21 day online course.
Follow the link for more information: https://www.staladi.com
#stress #burnout #deepbreathing #sleep #meditation #mindfulness #timemanagement #activelife #globalworkforce