Recharging the Batteries
Caught up in the immediacy of life problems, and feeling jaded and tired
“We run faster when we have lost our way”. Slow down to take stock of your life situation and remind yourself of your goals. Where do you want to be and are you heading in the right direction? If you’re not sure but find yourself running hard, the chances are that you’re heading for a frustrating and stressful existence. Take time out to clarify your goals. Don’t take on more commitments until you are clear about what it is you want to achieve. talentdevelop.com
Go slowly. Hard work, being busy and keeping on the move does not add up to productivity. Productivity is achieving more results from less effort. Go slow to think, reflect, listen and learn about what needs to be achieved, the objectives of fundamental importance, and how best to organise resources to reach those goals. www.slowleadership.org
Accept that stress is an inevitable part of human existence but read the signs of build up. Stress is hardwired into our make up. It keeps us motivated to take on the challenges which life presents. What kind of rewarding and meaningful life wouldn’t involve an element of “stress”? But don’t let stress build up and get out of control. It will begin to drain your life energy. Keep alert to the danger signals:
- a lack of zest, vitality and purpose
- changes in your daily routines – your sleeping, eating and socialising habits
- a heightened awareness of your body and the symptoms of muscle tension (your neck and back in particular)
- a loss of interest in your job and ignoring the difficult but important tasks
- irritability and difficulty in concentration
- a withdrawal into yourself and lack of interest in others
Stress will affect your home life that in turn will make it more difficult for you to work productively, and a vicious circle will begin. Take action to get on top of your stress levels. www.stressbusting.co.uk
What makes you passionate? What do you love about your work? What makes you angry about your work? Do others know the source of passion? If not, communicate your feelings with conviction. Let others know what matters to you: what energises and inspires you, what concerns you and what annoys and irritates you. And if you haven’t found that spark of passion, ask why? Are you operating in the wrong kind of role, one that doesn’t tap into your real strengths and talents?
Long hours don’t mean productive work. If you’re constantly working long hours then either you’re working on the wrong thing in the wrong way or others are slacking and letting you do all the work. Which is it? Don’t work hard to compensate for any problems in other areas of life. If you’re working hard and genuinely enjoying the process and the outcomes are having a positive impact on others, terrific. If not, then ask some fundamental questions about your life priorities.
Is your job burning you out? Life is too short, whatever the short-term financial gain, to persevere in an activity that is creating persistent stress. It will impact negatively on your long-term life outcomes. Assess the “burn-out” element of your role. Does it:
- involve working for an exploitative organisation which “hires and fires” at will?
- pull you in different directions with conflicting goals, with no feedback on how you are performing?
- require you to “fake it” i.e. express emotions that aren’t the authentic you?
- demand that your entire life revolves around its priorities but doesn’t seem a meaningful or worthwhile activity in its own right?
- tire you out to the point that you when you get home, all you want to do is switch off, watch a couple of hours of TV and go to bed?
If “yes” to above, review your career options. Find another job in another organisation even if it is less well paid. www.itstime.com
“Home is where you hang your @”. Don’t take it out on your family and friends. You’ve had a bad day and you need to “moan and groan” to get it out of your system. Share your problems but don’t depress others and yourself by rehearsing the detail of your difficult day. Give yourself 5 minutes maximum to work through the trials and tribulations of the day. Then stop and shift the conversation on to more positive themes.
Are you tired or are you tired of the specific life you’re leading? If you’re permanently tired (apart from the possible signs of a medical problem which you should check out), the chances are that you are tired of your life style. You have become a victim of life habits that aren’t helping you reach the goals that are important to you. If so, don’t keep running on a treadmill that is exhausting you. Rethink your life goals and priorities.
Don’t let “it” get to you.“ Keep a sense of perspective. Whatever “it” is, it may not be the most important thing in the world. Write your obituary. Take 30 minutes to write down those sentences that summarise the life you have lived and the impact you have had on this world and the legacy you have left. What themes emerge? Is that “it”? What do you want “it” to be?
Don’t waste energy protecting your ego. Do the important stuff of life but don’t undertake a long list of duties, tasks and responsibilities that are only performed to build your self-importance. Take your ego out of the equation and see what happens. Pretending to be someone you’re not, taking on commitments that don’t reflect your life priorities and doing things you don’t really enjoy is an exhausting way to approach life. Be authentic – be who you are and do what you want to do.
Imagine your funeral. What will others say about you? “You worked hard. Full stop.” Or will others be celebrating your achievements and the positive impact you have had on your family, friends, local community and society. Don’t become a “workaholic”. Don’t let work take over your life, define your identity and determine your life outlook. Look to make a positive impact in your work.” But don’t let work define you and become the be-all-and-end-all of your life. Check the warning signs:
- difficulty in switching off from work problems
- working long hours, evenings, weekends and holidays
- exasperation with the efforts of your colleagues and a reluctance to delegate
- talking about nothing other than work issues
When you’re feeling low don’t make things worse. Don’t indulge, crash out in front of the TV, stay in and mope. Instead, do the opposite of what your instincts are telling you to do, however difficult it feels. Do something you’ve put off for ages. Tidy the house, embark on a chore you’ve been avoiding, switch off the TV and listen to a favourite piece of music, go out for a run, call an old friend. Do anything active, productive and physical. And ignore your body which is saying you are too tired. One of the paradoxes of human nature is that the actions that seem most tiring to you when you are at your lowest will raise your energy levels.
Sharpen your saw.“A man was struggling to cut down enough trees to build a fence. An old farmer came by, watched for a while, then quietly said, “Saw’s kind of dull, isn’t it?” “I reckon,” said the fence builder.“ Hadn’t you better sharpen it?” “Maybe later. I can’t stop now - I got all these trees to cut down.” Like the exhausted woodcutter who would be wise to stop and sharpen his saw we all would do well to take the time out to check that we are working with the right tools, equipped to take on the challenges we face. Don’t rely on skills and expertise that are no longer relevant to the problems you face. Keep learning to keep on top of developments within your vocation.
Relaxation doesn’t come easy. Work hard at it; it takes practice. Relaxation is not about slumping on the sofa, TV channel hopping, flicking through magazines with a box of chocolates/ice-cream/glass of wine (though no doubt pleasurable in the short term). Relaxation, genuine relaxation, which helps you re-engage and reconnect with your life energies, takes a degree of effort, discipline and effort.
Make time for yourself each day. It might be late at night or early in the morning but develop a pattern in which you find time for yourself, not to plan work activity but time to think your own thoughts. This is extra time you’ve created for yourself. Use it for yourself – to reflect, meditate, pray, dream – whatever it is that helps you get in touch with that aspect of yourself you want to develop further. And don’t rush in the morning. Each day is a new day in your life so take time to get ready for it and prepare yourselves for its challenges. If it means going to bed earlier to get up earlier, then change your routine.
Keep a “master list”. Don’t rely on your memory. Attempting to keep everything in your head is a recipe for stress. Write down everything – priorities, key conversations, etc – and write it down in one place.
Pamper yourself and don’t feel guilty. You’ve worked hard and achieved a specific goal. Then take some time out to relax, enjoy the feeling of success and do what you want to do and find enjoyable. Relaxation isn’t a waste of time. It is what your body and mind needs to rest and recover for the next challenge in life.
Sleep well. If worry keeps you tossing and turning at night, get up and ask yourself:
- is this an issue that will be less important in the morning? (almost certainly yes). Forget it and sleep
- is this an issue I can do something about right now? If yes, get up and do something (but don’t make a habit of it). If no, then go back to bed. In the morning things will look much more positive and the solutions much clearer
- in a year’s time, will this issue bother me? If the answer is no, the chances are you’re letting small problems escalate. If yes, then ensure you sit down the next day to clarify your life goals and priorities and conduct a review of your life style. But don’t attempt to do it in the middle of the night when your life energies are at their lowest
Turn down the heat on the pan. Don’t allow the pressure to build up and allow negative feelings to spill over into those destructive behaviours that can only make your life situation worse. Change your situation to lower the emotional temperature.
Make it easy to schedule time off. There are moments when you need to take a break, a day off or a long weekend. Fatigue is taking its toll and you’re not working productively. Once you’ve scheduled the time, make it easy for yourself:
- let your colleagues know
- summarise your work-load, current priorities that you need to complete now, and tasks that can be delegated or postponed
- brief others to cover in your absence
- update your boss with the key issues and any potential problems
Get off the roller coaster. The complexities and challenges of a new project can be exhilarating. They can also be draining, eventually affecting your judgement and decision-making, the quality of your work and your well being. Make sure you get off the roller coaster from time to time. Don’t let the quiet times become boring. Use the time productively to reflect and regain your energies.
Take moderate physical exercise. Hundreds of research studies have consistently demonstrated the benefits of regular physical activity for your overall life well being. Start in a low-key way and build up gradually so you are achieving 30 minutes of moderate physical activity at least 5 days a week. www.bupa.co.uk