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Manage Your Energy As Intently As Your Time

Guest post by: Jackie Mckay

Article Overview: Do you ever notice how our culture glorifies putting in the work even if it means health risks? Unlike most addictions, workaholism has become glorified and is often admired, encouraged, and even heavily rewarded. Yet look at all of the research and you will see the cost this is having on our lives

Manage Your Energy As Intently As Your Time



Do you ever notice how our culture glorifies putting in the work even if it means health risks? Unlike most addictions, workaholism has become glorified and is often admired, encouraged, and even heavily rewarded. Yet look at all of the research and you will see the cost this is having on our lives.

Research indicates that workaholics drink more, than average, have more stress related issues and many get divorced. There is also a Japanese term call "Keroshi" - this means "death from overwork".

So this article is meant to bring you balance, inspiration and positive reengagement by giving you full permission to step away from your daily to-do's and goal work.

Take a little downtime. Go away and have some good relaxation time. DO NOT FEEL GUILTY. Enjoy every moment of your time away. Let your thoughts take you elsewhere. Focus on other stuff in the same way you focus on your goals and on your work. If you were training for a marathon, you would NOT rest! I thought to address this because all too often I see client's who when "working hard" in whatever capacity, find themselves eventually feeling burnt out and frustrated with the process.

And this is the thing about work, if you manage your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual energy you will come back to task feeling recharged and refocused. The pattern of action and recovery is called oscillation and we frequently override this pattern by working hard and relying on stress hormones (Cortisol), caffeine and sugar.

Without a program of natural recovery in place, the body will return with a weakening of our physical health. This also results in a rise of impatience, anger, self absorption, and insensitivity to others. Has this ever happened to you?

Quality rest will give you the fuel to keep going and your body will rid itself of toxins during the process. Similar to your bank account, your life is financed by the amount of money you have in it. If you spend all of your resources by the end of the month, without keeping track, you'll run out. And so, similarly, you have to be diligent with the way you spend your energy. You WILL burn out if you push on. Therefore, quality down time is DEFINITELY needed. And, when you come back, you're judgment will be clear and you will have the needed reserves to keep pushing on.

Rest periods may mean a few minutes, a few hours, or a few days. Deep down, you'll know what you need. Some examples of rest periods could include reading, exercise, meditating, napping, taking a walk around the block.

As Leonardo D'Avinci said "The great geniuses sometimes accomplish more when they work less."

YOU'RE ASSIGNMENT:

When you set out to achieve your tasks, make certain to listen to your body and commit to giving yourself rest. (Shut out the ego mind that says "keep going, keep going, keep going..."). Step away for a break when needed. Schedule these in if you're working on something you know you may get stuck in front of for a few hours. Plan for small breaks as often as you can.

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Article Tags: health risks, workaholism



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