Most people feel an increased pressure to perform more at work, achieve greater goals, boost sales, and reach higher profits. Most of the demands call for overtime hours behind the desk, leading to decreased personal or family time.
However, for your emotional, mental, and physical well-being, it is important to step away from your job. Clearly, you do not have to disregard your duties, but instead capture small increments of personal time. You may need to employ some time management strategies to free up an hour or two in your day, but it will be time well spent.
Your mind needs a mental release from the pressures of the workplace. Too much thought and too many hours invested in only one place lead to stress and fatigue.
Take small pockets of time and make a promise to yourself that you will leave all thoughts of work at your desk. Allow your mind a complete escape, even if only for a short while. You will find you can return to your desk, and your projects, with a renewed sense of motivation and inspiration. Here are a couple ideas but do anything that will allow you to mentally get away.
- Take a Walk: Escape during your lunch break, even if only for twenty or thirty minutes. Head to the nearest park, or just roam through the streets near your office. Take in the scenery, notice the details of your city, and find the beauty in the small wonders that surround you.
Not only will the exercise get your blood pumping and invigorate you, but your mind will be refreshed by the change of pace. By the time you return to your desk, you will feel more motivation to finish your projects and meet your deadlines. A renewed spirit and increased energy will help you accomplish your goals, allowing you to put work to bed when you leave at the end of the day.
- Play Hooky: Remember how much fun it was to ditch school? You could spend the day playing, living it on your own terms.
Whenever you can, burn a vacation day and spend the time with your family. Go to an amusement park, picnic on the beach, or go hiking in the woods. Do something that gives you a total escape from your normal surroundings. Allow yourself to feel a million miles away from the cares and pressures of the world. After all, it is only for a day.
Not only will a free day every once in a while help you maintain your work-life balance, but you will be reinvigorating your mind and your spirit. You can return to the daily grind with a sense of happiness and fulfillment. Your mind will be less likely to stray while at work, and you will find yourself digging in with renewed enthusiasm.
- Pump Iron: Nothing increases your confidence than feeling strong, lean, and mean. Too many hours behind the desk, though, makes it difficult to find the motivation to make it to the gym. Too many days of skipping the gym leaves you tired and depressed. It is a vicious cycle.
End that cycle by promising yourself you will make time to work out. This one small change can have lasting positive effects in all aspects of your life. You will remain energetic throughout the day, allowing you to achieve more of your goals during your work hours. Your increased confidence will carry over as well, leading you towards greater success – success in work, success in your relationships, and success in your private endeavors.
In the same manner getting out and going for a walk clears your mind, so does a good, strenuous workout. There is no better way of getting endorphins into your system, which will improve your mood tremendously. Exercise can help fend off depression, dissolve anxiety, and reduce stress. Your mind, body, and heart will all thank you for an invigorating workout.
Once you feel strong and confident, you will be able to tackle any challenge that comes your way, great or small.
By taking small chunks of time and removing your mind entirely from work, you allow yourself a very important and healing mental break. The rewards of allowing yourself personal time will include increased motivation and effort to achieve your goals, a better feeling about yourself, and a happier outlook on life.
Written by David B. Bohl of Slow Down Fast.