blog about it

When was the last time you went to bed on time? When was the last time you just rested? Not slept but relaxed and breathed and spent time just being content. When you think about it, it’s not as often as you might like, right? This post is for those of us who have trouble remembering to just breathe.

It’s especially difficult to turn things off when you like your work.

Just because you’re not working doesn’t mean you’re resting. There are thoughts that eat up your play time. What keeps me from relaxing are two very closely related things:  a healthy work ethic and respect for competition.

The Competition is Steep

Your work speaks for you. And what your work needs to say is that you are the best person for the job. You understand, too, that you have to have an audience, an employer.

That’s why you work on refining and improving your skills. Doing what someone else does is the way of the world. Putting your unique brand on your work will get you the attention and success you desire.

No one will hire you if you don’t put your virtual sign before as many eyes as you can. The pressure to get yourself seen is greatest when you’re new at what you’re doing. So your administrative work is center stage.

Here’s the place to get creative, to figure out how to get people’s attention. Among other things, you work out your strategies for your:

• website
• press releases
• emails
• newsletters
• social media

It may be different for you but this is what consumes much of my relaxing time. To be sure, these are very important goals if you want to remain employed, or keep the work coming in. And they can take up all your time if you let them. But that’s not the healthiest way to be.

The Key is to STOP!

Efficiency is how you save yourself. You learn things that are already in place to help you. You don’t have to make an organizer when you can find one that fits you, or one you can customize.

Learn how much sleep is optimal for you and your best hours for sleep. It may be that you work best on seven hours of sleep. Maybe you need nine. It may be that sleeping 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. works better for you than 12:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. (I’m a 10-6 person.)

You need More Than Sleep

And being rested doesn’t necessarily mean sleeping, although I’m a firm believer in naps. You need to relax. Do something that you enjoy, separate from work. It may relax you to exercise, bowl, read. I suggest always making time to be quiet and awake. Meditation does a lot for me, conventional and not. Sometimes I’m cleaning up, and instead of being on the phone while I do it, I will focus on the quiet and my breathing and movements. It’s important to engage in non-work activities that rejuvenate you spiritually, creatively, and foster a sense of peace and contentment.

Some assignments can run longer than others. And that’s fine. You don’t always have to cut your work short to save yourself. The key is to stop when your work is done, and just breathe.

Capture New Ideas

The constant flow of ideas kept me returning to the computer, or taking notes between work, tasks, errands, from pre-dawn to way past dusk sometimes. You need to track your ideas, just not around the clock, to the exclusion of a good night’s sleep. After a point, I just hope that the ideas will be there when I wake.

Keep a Tasks List

I have a list of tasks to keep me organized and on track. The order of execution depends on how the tasks are related and not the order I write them down, since I usually write them as they come to me. Some tasks are completed in the same day. Others are completed over a period of days. Whatever works for you, keep track of your assignments and administrative duties.

Stick to the Schedule You Make

I had to make myself stick to the schedule. At first, I was overly strict about sticking to the plan. Particularly, I needed to stop for the evening, to get the rest I knew I needed.

You’re thinking either that keeping a schedule is easy, or you’re thinking that sleep, rest and relaxation are highly over-rated. You would be wrong on both counts.

It’s not Easy

Following my schedule is hard because there’s always something I can continue, expand on, or something new I can do. Never mind what I know works best; there are times when I want to move on to other things because I’m all wound up. I think I’ll sleep after while. It’s a continual effort to turn my work brain off at the close of a day.

The Benefits of Scheduling

Taking the time to rest and relax can not only sustain you through work but also take your work to another level. It can improve your overall productivity. Some of the things I’ve experienced because I got proper rest include:

• Better, more efficient work performance
• More creative ideas and solutions
• Clearer thoughts, not fuzzy, that can be captured
• Possibly completing work in shorter times allowing for more free time
• More energy to be disciplined in work and play activities

The times when it’s a real struggle to let go of work, I ask myself if it’s critical to complete the next task right then. I take a deep breath remind myself of the good work experiences and successes I have when I am rested and relaxed.

Try it and see what you get from it. Develop a schedule that works for you. Odd work hours are not a problem as long as you have determined that those are your most productive times. Remember: the key is to STOP and breathe when you’re supposed to. If you’re so inclined, please share your experiences about over-work and relaxing.