What do you do to de-stress? How do you avoid feeling burnout? When do you feel most relaxed?
North American society almost forces the idea that we must work until we drop. It’s hard because along with the work that we must do in order to survive we also need to take care of our homes and our families along with keeping our own physical and mental health in check. That would explain why 1 in every 5 Canadians experiences mental illness.
There is no perfect fix but there are steps that can be taken to try and help create a better environment for yourself.
Sleep
Proper sleep is a key factor in starting yourself off in a good state. 8 hours is not the necessary amount for everyone. Some people require more, and some require less. Remembering also, that we sleep in 90-minute intervals so waking up in the middle of a sleep cycle is going to leave you feeling groggy and unrested.
Food
Eating right will also affect how we feel. A properly balanced diet with plenty of water will help our bodies feel energised and keep us invigorated when facing our daily challenges. Eating every 3-4 hours consistently will help our bodies to maintain that energy. Now that does not mean that you can not have that late-night slice of pizza or that piece of cake at the office party. We are human and we are allowed to indulge because doing so helps boost our dopamine levels that make us feel good.
Schedule
Start your day with productive tasks. Begin with those tasks that have a clear finish and see them through to completion before moving on. A sense of accomplishment will greatly increase your outlook on the work you do. Within your schedule, you should be setting aside time to do something productive that is important to you or that you enjoy. It does not necessarily have to be related to the work you do but it should be productive in nature. This will help keep you mentally stimulated and drive your eagerness. When it is time to leave the office or close your laptop and put away work for the day be sure that you do this. When you “take work home with you” you never feel that you can take a break and rest because your work is always in front of you.
Other Tips
Having a space where you work and it being the only thing that you do in this space can help you stay productive and be able to easily disassociate yourself with your work when your day is finished allowing you to focus on other important parts of your life. Having a hobby that interests and distracts you can be another great way to help alleviate stress and boost your dopamine. Paying attention to the way you feel is also key to being successful and happy with what you do. When you are feeling lost, overwhelmed, distracted or maybe you just need to take a 5-minute breather, don’t be afraid to ask for it. Don’t be afraid to say something. Chances are that you are not the only one feeling this way. Bringing up these conversations will help to foster better communication and understanding within the workplace and provide the building blocks for better production, a positive outlook and more passion-driven success.
