From How to Overachieve W/O Overcommitting
As a professional speaker in the Atlanta area, I’ve had the opportunity to address a number of different audiences throughout the country. And no matter what the venue or topic, everyone seems to be asking the same thing: “How can I adopt a more enriching, peaceful life without compromising my professional responsibilities?”
Great question.
I usually tell people to think of themselves as a well-oiled, complex machine that’s really not too different from their car. You wouldn’t drive more than 10,000 miles without changing your oil and checking your fluids, and the same holds true for your body.
The good news is, proper “servicing” for us simply means taking a break every once in awhile from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
This can be done daily after you get home from work, or periodically either with a day trip or long weekend. But regardless of which you choose, make sure you do something that takes you away from the office.
Because just as you wouldn’t continually drive your car without proper maintenance, the same is true for one of the most important resources you have – yourself.
So with that in mind, let’s take a look at three surefire ways to quickly and easily give yourself a break from an otherwise hectic lifestyle.
Pick up a hobby.
Preferably something that uses the opposite side of your brain than you’d normally use in business. For example, if you’re an Accountant, CPA or other logic-based, number crunching job (all left brain activities), then you’ll want to consider a hobby that falls a little on the creative side.
Drawing, playing a musical instrument, or photography are all options considered more right brain in nature.
If on the other hand, you have a more creative job or business, such as marketing, PR or certain types of consultants, then you’ll want to do the exact opposite. Consider taking up chess, crossword puzzles or maybe even learning a new language. These are all more logically based activities that are very different from the activities you do at work.
Other options for both right and left brain jobholders are golf, tennis, biking or other recreational activities. (Please email bhilliard@agitoconsulting.com if you’re considering golfing in the Georgia area.)
Reading is another good one if you’re having a tough time getting outside, or the weather isn’t cooperating.
Remember, anything that you enjoy doing outside of work is an almost guaranteed stress-buster, since it gives you a chance to relax.
Consider Mediation.
According to a newsletter called Hope Health, meditation has many advantages, such as boosting your immune system, lowering your blood pressure, and controlling pain. Now I know what you're thinking. "Meditation? Isn't that where you sit on the floor and hum? That's a little too weird for me."
Well that’s certainly one way to meditate, but isn’t necessarily the one you have to follow. And the great thing about meditation, unlike other forms of exercise, is that it can be done just about anywhere. Just pick a spot that's comfortable and quiet. You can sit on the floor with your legs crossed, or in a comfortable, straight-backed chair with your feet on the floor.
Now close your eyes.
Experts suggest you pick a calming word or phrase on which to focus. In the ancient tradition, Buddhist monks often thought about some imponderable aspect of life, such as the sound of one hand clapping. Now I don't know about you, but a head-scratcher like that is likely to make me even more stressed.
So let’s imagine something a little easier such as ocean waves lapping on the beach. The goal is to find something that relaxes your mind, and “takes you away” from the present situation.
Remember to take deep, even breaths, in through your nose and out through your mouth.
If distracting thoughts come to mind, recognize them and continue to focus on your relaxing image. Try not to dwell on those thoughts, or let them disrupt your quiet state of mind. When you’re done, open your eyes and slowly get up…almost like you do in the morning.
By this time you should certainly feel the difference, as your body is more relaxed and refreshed for the rest of the day.
Get a good night's sleep.
Sleep is one of the most underrated things when it comes to your overall quality of life. The average person needs about eight hours a night, and while you might think you can operate with less, guess what? You can’t.
Sure you might get by for a while, but at the end of the day everyone’s body needs time to recuperate and yours is no exception.
Now if you’re having trouble getting enough shuteye, then the Hope Health newsletter offers a few thoughts:
"Unplug" at least once a quarter.
No, that doesn’t mean fly off to Maui for a week’s vacation. “Unplugging” simply means getting away from the phone and computer for a while: Anything to get your mind off work and onto something more relaxing. (Like the hobby you picked up at the beginning of this chapter.)
I know what you entrepreneurs are saying. "But I own my own business. I work from home. How do I unwind then?" Simple. Get out of the house. Drop the kids off at Grandma's and take the spouse to an afternoon movie. Or better yet, take the family on a short day trip. Remember, you don't have take a long vacation to get away. A short little break is just fine.
During the summer I like to go hiking up in the mountains. If you haven’t tried it before, I’d highly recommend it. You’d be surprised at how quickly a good cardio workout can take your mind off work.
So now when you come back, you'll feel more refreshed and ready to take on the world. And besides, this gives you the chance to spend some quality time with your family and other people important to you.
Any way you look at it, stress is going to be a factor in every businessperson’s day. But getting away from it all every once in a while, is the single most important act you can take towards getting the peace of mind you deserve.