You are no good to anyone when you are overworked, overtired and overextended. It is not a badge of honor to work yourself to the edge of exhaustion. No one is impressed by your selflessness, especially when it is results in you being more abrupt, annoying and, and aggravating.
A key component to success is knowing when to say when — when it’s time to relax, when it’s time to take a break, when it’s time to take care of you. It’s not selfish. It’s not lazy. It’s a vital part of staying on top of your game.
Still holding on to your Type-A tendencies? Let me put it another way. You make more mistakes when you are tired. It takes longer to accomplish even simple task when you are overworked. The first impression isn’t that impressive when you have bags under your eyes and the enthusiasm of a slug.
How much fun would it be to enjoy your success alone because you’ve alienated your loved ones or pushed them away? Could you enjoy your success from a hospital bed when you have worked yourself sick? Self care isn’t silly. Taking care of yourself is strategic. It’s smart.
We all know the basics of physical health: eating right and exercising. Instead of restating the obvious, I want to challenge you to find ways to make it easy. Walk on your breaks. Take the stairs. Engage in fun active activities on the weekend. Find an exercise that you want to do and not that you have to do.
Locate a couple places close to work that serve health, delicious foods. Keep some dried fruit and nuts close by. Experiment with different recipes and foods until you find some yummy good for you foods that you enjoy eating.
But physical health is just one part. Emotional and mental health are equally important. Make time for friends. Have at least one person you can really talk to. Laugh! Spend time connecting with your kids and your significant other.
Once a week, engage in a hobby or something you love to do. Snuggle on the sofa with a good book. See a movie. Take a hike. Garden. Cook.
Make time to rest, relax and rejuvenate. When you return to work, you’ll be that much more refreshed, refueled, revved up and ready to go!
2 comments:
Well if this isn't the truth. Let me tell you. It is so hard especially for women to know when to say when. We can be tired and beat down and we will still find a way to say yes. The truth is it's gets us nothing but drained so I agree we must start to take care of ourselves.
I *love* this post! Too many times we try to be the superman or superwoman and do it all. In the end, we're dog-tired and no fun! Instead, we should be picking what's important, asking for help when apropriate, and enjoying our personal lives after 5p. Keep this up, Karen - we have to be reminded!
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