In my previous blog post, I extolled the benefits of taking time
off every so often to get away, have some fun and rejuvenate.
But what do you do when you can’t take time off?
This is pretty common these days. People in Europe have it better
than we do in the U.S. – they typically take 5 to 6 weeks of
vacation every year. Here in the U.S., people have been taking
fewer vacations, and fewer days off when they do go on vacation.
This has been a trend for quite a number of years.
The recent economic crisis and very slow, almost impossible to
detect recovery has made this even worse. For many working people,
it can be tough to get away. You’re expected to “do more with
less”; in fact, you’re probably doing the work that used to be
performed by three people.
Plus, in many companies (including a few I have worked at), it’s
an unwritten rule or expectation that you check in with the
office, or check and respond to email, even while you’re on
vacation!
The reality is, the business world ain’t gonna give you any
breaks. You have to give yourself your own breaks. You have to
find ways to manage your energy and maximize your powers on a
daily basis.
If your energy is not well controlled, you may experience
significant levels of fatigue, malaise, and even depression.
Revving up your energy levels and giving yourself the
opportunity to rejuvenate and replenish each day, every day,
is important from a productivity standpoint…and from a life
management standpoint.
When you are manage your life, you feel more in control. When
you feel more in control, you enjoy life better.
So, here are a few things you can do to rejuvenate and
replenish each day.
First, make sure you get enough sleep. Easier said than done,
I know. But it’s worth making the effort.
I find when I get a good night’s sleep…or better yet, have
had two or three nights of good sleep in a row…I blast
through each day like a steamroller over hot pavement.
Second, tune in to your own natural energy rhythms during the
day. There are specific times during your day when you are at
your best.
Identify these times and try to schedule your most challenging
work or home related projects or tasks during this time.
Third, get regular doses of exercise. I speak about the benefits
of exercise often, so no need to repeat here.
Even if you don’t have time for exercise, you can always spare
10 to 15 minutes for some deep breathing and light stretching.
For an instantaneous energy blast, one that lasts all day long,
I highly recommend the exercises from the Secret Power of
Dynamic Energy Exercise Course, Volume II: The Dynamic Energy
Routine.
Breathing and movement are natural, internal, intuitive and
awesomely effective ways to wake up your internal energies and
power. Tap into them regularly.
Here’s one more area to consider: your use of technology.
Most people I know in the work world have become slaves to
technology.
Once upon a time, I briefly worked for a guy who had one of
the worst Blackberry addictions I’ve ever seen. He couldn’t
get through a conversation – even a relatively brief discussion
– without checking his “Crackberry”.
When traveling, he was on it the entire time to, in and from
the airport. I think he probably was on it while he was peeing
in the men’s room.
I was in one too many meetings with him – including important
meetings with clients – in which he had that thing in his lap,
clacking away with his thumbs.
At one meeting, where his lack of attention to the discussion
was clearly – and embarrassingly – apparent to the client, I
felt like asking him if he was having fun playing with himself.
But I thought better of it.
Turns out, the Crackberry addiction correlated to a number of
deficiencies in his skills and attributes as a manager or
“leader”, as he fancied himself. He wasn’t at that company
much longer.
You can’t really lead your people or your clients if you sit
and play with yourself – ahem, I mean play with your Crackberry –
all the time.
OK, enough with the rant.
My main point is NOT to be a slave to technology. Establish
specific times you will check and respond to email or texts.
Turn the work device off when you are home. Put down your
smartphone or iPad and actually look at your spouse or your
kids when they are talking to you.
And by all means, especially if you value getting a good night’s
sleep: don’t keep the thing on your nightstand, turned on and
dinging.
Email, cell phones, texting, etc., are meant to be tools, to
help you do your job better. They help keep you in touch.
But you have to turn that stuff off for specific periods of
time, so you can actually sit, concentrate, and get your most
critical tasks and projects completed. Or spend some quality
time with yourself, your family or your friends.
Sometimes, to get more done of higher value to your business
or your life, you have to stop doing things of lower value.
So keep asking yourself, “What’s important here?”
Do I have to answer every email that comes in immediately? Or
should I carve out two hours to complete this project that will
push my business or career forward. Or should I take the time
to exercise, or play with my kids?
By giving your mental and physical batteries time to recharge,
you will become more relaxed, aware and alert…and achieve more
with less effort.
That’s a prescription for a more successful and enjoyable life.
You Can Do It!
Karen
“Best Breathing Exercises: Transform Body Mind and Spirit with
Dynamic Energy Exercise!”
www.BestBreathingExercises.com
P.S. Remember, breathing and movement are natural, intuitive
and awesomely effective ways to wake up your internal energies.
You can tap into the power, motivation and abilities you already
have – easily and consistently – through specific types of
breathing and exercise.
Tap into your own source of energy with the Secret Power of
Dynamic Energy Exercise Course, Volume II: The Dynamic Energy
Routine.
Copyright, Karen Van Ness, 2013