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Get your work-life balance right, and BE happier and healthier.
Written by: Gael DrumArticle Overview: Are you taking time away from your work to refuel your energy and motivation? Would you like to feel happier,and be healthier?
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Free Download - Say Yes wisely and increase your confidence and enthusiasm for life. By Gael Drum |
Get your work-life balance right, and BE happier and healthier.
Are you taking your annual leave so you’re refuelling your energy and motivation?
Getting a healthy work/life balance is detrimental to your happiness and health.
A study has shown that 60% of full time employees are not taking their full annual leave.
Even though work places are becoming more flexible, people are opting to cash in on their holidays, preferring the money to the time off. Others believe they are too busy to take any time off, or find it too difficult to obtain the leave which suits them. Some people feel too guilty or fear losing their positions if they take their leave. Some would rather save part of their annual leave for future holidays. Some people just simply prefer to work than to take leave.
Experts now agree that too much work and too little play is counterproductive as employees get more stressed and tend to take more sick days if they don’t take the breaks their entitled to. A study commissioned by the Department of Industrial relations found there is no specific disease that is related to longer working hours, but that long hours have been linked to lifestyle illnesses including obesity, cardiovascular disease and alcoholism. The most obvious consequence of long working hours is the effects it has on sleep. The affects of inadequate or disturbed sleep is a reduction in alertness and increased fatigue. And, you don’t need to be an expert to know the difficulties people have in maintaining healthy relationships when burdened with long working hours.
We have become a workforce of work-a-holics, and reports show we are not even taking the time to plan a holiday.
Therefore, it is essential to your happiness and health to create a well balanced work-life. It is a necessity to schedule in short holiday breaks and annual leave to eliminate stress and the severity of your response to stressful events.
Take your annual leave and give yourself the time to re-fuel your happiness, energy, motivation and improve your health.
• Take time to organize your time off, and to plan your holiday. If you’re not sure what you would like to do on your time off, go through travel magazines and cut out destinations that appeal to you. Create a holiday folder full of fun and exciting things to choose from. This will motivate you to take action.
• Re-connect with people who are important to you, and your future. Plan time with friends and family and make time to do something non-work-related which stimulates your mind and activates your happy hormones, endorphins. (Your immune system will thank you)
Taking time away from work enables you to look from the outside in to see what you normally cannot see because you are so embroiled in the day to day functioning’s of your work. Time away sparks new inspiration, new ideas and recharges your enthusiasm and purpose to succeed both personally and professionally.
Article Tags: alcoholism, alertness, cardiovascular disease, department of industrial relations, fatigue, happiness, healthy relationships, holics, holiday breaks, lifestyle illnesses, motivation, obesity, severity, sick days, stressful events, taking the time, time employees, time off, work life balance, workforce
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About the Author: Gael Drum RSS for Gael's articles - Visit Gael's website Gael Drum is one of Australia's leading authorities on work/life balance. She is an author and professional speaker who speaks to CEOs, managers, professionals, business owners and staff who are working in a business environment that's tough, fast and constantly changing. Gael gained her business and psychology education from the University of 'Life Experiences'. Over three decades she owned and operated very successful small businesses, whilst juggling a growing family. As a mother of 4 and working with people on all levels as an owner operator, employer and technician, she became an authority on human behaviour. Gael authored the book 'Beyond Burnout to Balance' and created a Relaxation and Wellbeing CD series, which are available in all good book stores and recommended nationally by doctors and health practitioners. She has many published articles in business and health magazines, and has been a regular columnist for a national magazine. For breaking through the stress cycle and creating the success you deserve, visit http://www.gaeldrum.com.au/products.htm 'Stress Less for Success' fortnightly tips & FREE e-book visit www.stressfreeandsuccessful.com Click here to visit Gael's website Get your worklife balance right and BE happier and healthier Empower yourself at lunch time Take the lunch break challenge 2 Great worklife balance tips to Pick you UP Perk you UP Say Yes wisely and increase your confidence and enthusiasm for life 6 Strategies to Reignite your Creativity and Rev up your drive |
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