Do you ever just feel burned out? Exhausted, cranky, unable to focus or make decisions? Do you work 24/7 and you’re still not getting everything done? Do you think about work while you’re doing anything else? I’m just going to put it out there – you might be a workaholic. I walk the line between workaholic and perfectionist, so I know what it looks like. This blog post is as much for me as it is for all of you 🙂 We’re going to break the cycle of workaholism.

Me-Time is Not a Waste of Time

Your business needs you to be healthy and present in order to be successful. So if you think about it, taking care of yourself is really good for business! Me-time is not a waste of time. Research shows that people who make time for themselves are healthier, happier, and manage stress better. They are also more productive at work.

Balance work and life

 

Habits of Healthy People Who Work a Lot But Avoid Being Workaholics

  • Set aside time every day to do something NOT related to work.
  • Don’t be afraid to do nothing.
  • Do something physical (exercise). Outdoors if possible. Without your phone.
  • Unplug for a little while every day.

Healthy Habit-Forming Activities

  • Go outdoors, away from the sight of work, and take a walk or eat lunch.
  • Walk, run, bike, swim, kayak, golf, play basketball, Frisbee, tennis…you get the idea. Outdoors seems to have more relaxing benefits than indoors, but any physical activity is better than none. And if you love lifting weights or boxing, do that!
  • Cook – the process of cooking requires concentration, which means you’ll turn off work at least while you’re cooking. So cook a meal, bake a loaf of bread, make a cake, or even just a fruit salad.
  • Take a midday nap – for most people, this isn’t possible, but 10 minutes does wonders!
  • Catch up with a friend (either in person or on the phone)
  • Play a game with friends or family
  • Listen to music (live music is awesome if you’re into that)
  • Read a book/magazine/newspaper (start right now with this article)

 

When I’m finished agonizing over this blog post and rewriting sentences that were just fine to begin with, I plan to turn my phone off, put on some music, and make dinner. On the grill so I get some outdoor time. Is it possible to be a multi-tasking-a-holic? I’m sure the answer is yes!

(That reminds me…when it comes to being productive, multitasking is the worst! But that is a post for another time. Unplug. Break the cycle of workaholism!)