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Are You On Autopilot?

Guest post by: Clare Evans

Article Overview: I'm sure quite a few of you will have been working hard all year, so I'd like to remind you to take time out to relax! Maybe you've been functioning on automatic pilot – getting up, going to work, coming back home, eat, sleep. The same cycle day in, day out. Just going from one day to the next without really being aware of what's going on around you.

Are You On Autopilot?

I'm sure quite a few of you will have been working hard all year, so I'd like to remind you to take time out to relax! Maybe you've been functioning on automatic pilot - getting up, going to work, coming back home, eat, sleep. The same cycle day in, day out. Just going from one day to the next without really being aware of what's going on around you.

When the weekend comes you try to cram in too much into when you don't have enough time to get everything done. Many of you carry on working over the weekend and holidays - after all, when you run your own business - there's always something to be done.

How often do you stop and listen? Not only to how you're body is feeling - where are the aches and pains, what little niggles are going on what thoughts go flying through your head when you stop for a few moments.

Become aware of what's going on around you - a barking dog, birdsong, children playing, traffic outside. Really thinking about and savouring the food you're eating. Being consciously aware of the task that you're doing, rather than just doing it automatically.

I'm all for work life balance and helping you to improve yours. We spend more than enough time at work and remember, we work to live, not live to work. However, more often than not, when we're busy thinking about balancing our life and fitting everything in, we can often neglect the one person in your life that's most important - YOU.

No doubt all you Mums (and Dads!) out there spend time looking after your families and making sure their needs are met. You're looking after your partner, making sure they're OK but how often do you take time out for yourself? Time when you can be totally selfish and think about your own needs?

How often does what you do enhance your happiness and well being or are you more often than not running round after everyone else?

If you don't look after yourself, physically, mentally and emotionally, you won't be functioning as well as you can, which means your life, business and relationships can and will suffer.

Even when you run your own business, you feel you need to put in the hours but it doesn't mean you should let your own health and well being suffer as a result. Don't let exercise, healthy eating and sleep get pushed down your list of priorities because there's too much else to do.

Learn to work smarter not harder. Don't tell me you don't have time! The more you have to do, the more important it is to plan and organise what time you have. Remember my 'Time For Coffee' story from earlier this year? In fact the busier I get, the more efficient and productive I become.

What one thing are you going to do for yourself over this next few days? Take time out, sit down with a coffee or glass of wine and a good book, watch your favourite film, get some exercise. Treat yourself - a manicure, pedicure, relaxing or de-stressing massage (yes, you guys could do with a treat too), a night out, new CD/DVD.

The time to weave your parachute is not when you are about to jump out of the plane.

Don't let things build up. Set aside a little time each day to look after your own well being.

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Article Tags: getting enough sleep, going on autopilot, time for yourself, working long hours



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