Do you want to regain control of your life and give yourself a better Work Life Balance? Then here are some important considerations and tips to take in mind.
No matter how busy you are, or how demanding your job is, you must take the time to take care of your body and mind, or else you will be less productive, stressed and anxious. Think of your body like a race car. The harder you go, the more likely things are to break down, especially if you’re not giving yourself the love and care you need to perform at the level you want.
Many people make excuses such as, “Well I just don’t have the time to take breaks.” Or my personal favorite, “I’m too busy to work out.” I think Tony Robbins said it best. “At any given moment, if you don’t have 10 minutes to spare, you don’t have a life.”
I want you to think about where in your life you can apply the 10 minute rule. There’s almost an endless abundance of 10 minute segments in your life. Every hour or two, take 10 minutes for yourself. In the beginning, taking 10 minutes here and there may take effort but it’s totally worth it because you’re worth it.
You can set the alarm on your phone to ping every hour to remind you. This way, if you’re working at a desk, you can get up, stretch and take a drink of water. Instead of watching TV and zoning yourself out in the evenings, you can get up and walk around the block. If you’re in a demanding job where you can’t leave, you can still take some time for yourself in other ways. Go to the bathroom, even if you don’t have to go. Look in the mirror. Check in with yourself. Or go in a room and stretch. Do something to take your mind off work for 10 minutes.
You can use those 10 minutes before work and after work as well. Taking 10-20 minutes to meditate in the morning will change your life. It will remind you to keep centered and calm throughout the day. If you want to truly be successful you have to make the time to work out. It’s a must. In Spanish we have a saying, “El que tiene salud, tiene riqueza. “Health is wealth.” With health, everything is possible. Without it, there is nothing. So make the time to work out, even if they are smaller workouts. Make the time. In doing so, you will be able to release any excess energy while doing something positive for your mind and body.
Become aware of how you spend each hour so that you make time for your real priorities. Make the time to go grocery shopping and cook healthy meals for yourself. Plan, ensuring that you have healthy foods including snacks, on hand so that you don’t eat junk from the vending machine.
It’s easy for our our identity to get caught up with what we do, to the point where we lose track of the important things in life. Many people see themselves as their job title. Remember that you are a multi-faceted person. There’s so much more to you than just your job. Jobs can come and go, even if it’s a life long job that you love, even if it’s a job that is important to society. You are not your job. How you spend your time defines your past, your present and your future. In a world where everything is temporary, a life well lived is the most valuable thing you can have.
Think positive thoughts about yourself. Make sure that your inner dialogue is positive. Unless you have young children, you need to be number one on your top priorities list. Women are notorious at giving up everything for everybody else. That needs to change. Remember what they always say on airplanes, before you put the oxygen mask on anybody else, you need to put it on yourself first. Make yourself a top priority and in doing so, you will be able to better help the ones you love.
And if you are somebody who has put her career on hiatus for the sake of your children, or for the sake of your health, don’t doubt yourself on your decision. There is a time and place for everything. We give our valuable attention to what matters most.
From now on, instead of thinking of why you can’t do something, find a way and make those 10 minutes.
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