Relax. Stop Working. Now.
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I’ll be the first to admit I’m a workaholic. Sometimes I like it because I can produce lots of things quickly - other times, like this week, I wish I could just relax and stop trying to do everything so maybe I could actually get something done. Here’s a quick checklist for how to recognize you are working too much, and another list for how to get through it.
Signs You Are Working Too Much
- Forgetting Things - You can’t seem to coordinate your life and all the important tools that help you manage it. Today I forgot my blackberry. Then on the bus to a meeting, I realized I left my finished blog post for today on my corporate PC. (Which is why you get this today instead.) At my meeting I realized I needed my laptop, which was sitting on my couch at home. If you are forgetting things frequently, you probably need to slow down.
- Concentration Loss - Does your head seem cloudy lately? If you zone out a lot lately or lose your place when working on something, you have too many things needing attention. I’ve been in a daze all day and part of last week too, and I’ve noticed a lack of productivity because I’m so easily distracted.
- Weight Gain - You don’t take time to eat, don’t take time to sleep, and end up having blue corn chips for dinner at 10pm. If this happens to you more than a few days in a row, check the scale. The number of pounds you gain is proportional to how much you need to relax.
4 Quick Cures For the Common Workaholic (or how to cope when you’re already screwed)
- Work Out - Sure it cuts into time you should be doing other things, but working out for an 30 minutes to an hour will help you release stress, increase energy, and reestablish focus.
- Learn To Say No - You already have too much work - don’t be an idiot. If someone asks you for help, just say no.
- Be Where You Are - The only way to keep up is to be mentally present wherever you are physically present. Don’t think about work when with your friends; likewise, don’t daydream at a meeting.
- Write It Down - Not your task list, but your feelings. It’s made me feel better already.
How do you come when life gets too hectic? How do you relax? What are some other tips you have for workaholics?
Further Reading:
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Monica O'Brien is the founder of Twenty Set, a website about personal and professional growth and development for the Millennial generation. She has been a blogger since 1998 when blogging was still in its “Dear Diary” form and in May 2007 began blogging for personal branding and profit.
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Monica, I’m really starting to like your blog, the information you have been posting is really thought provoking and brings out little things I don’t even think about.
As for what I do to relax or keep my head on:
Before I leave the house in the morning I stand in front of the door and go over everthing I have with me and what else I could possibly need for that day. I tap all my pockets and make sure I have keys, wallet, phone, iPod, etc.
I take a few minutes a day and read a blog or 17
Depending on the time of the year I try to escape on the weekends. During the winter I rent (with several other people) a winter house in the mountains. I clear my weekend schedule for 6 weekends and go up there every Friday through Sunday and I use it to clear my head and do work that I want to do. Granted this may be hard for a lot of people but it’s great even if you can get up for only a few weekends. Same idea applies in the summer.
Those are the few (besides some that you mentioned) that I do to help keep myself sane.
Michael,
Thanks for your continued support. This blog is nothing without its readers.
I find the most relaxing part of my day is on the train to work. The entire rest of the day (from 9am to 9pm) I have to be on my A-game. On the train, though, I have time to collect my thoughts for the day and sometimes write about things I’ve had on my mind. It’s nice to be able to get ideas out of my head and onto paper or my blackberry.
During the winter, I do the same thing as you. I have two or three Wisconsin ski trips with friends lined up in February/March. I’m looking forward to them - it’ll be nice to get away from Chicago for a bit.
Hi, As Monica said, blog is nothing w/o readers, so after Reading given a thought to post…!!!
I am new to this site, and I liked content on this site a lot, fallen in love with the site , and stared seriously thinking about my career, business, in short became ery much practical and provessional.
And coming back to this bolg, just boosted myself to SAY NO, straight fwd.
Thanks Monica,
Jul 27th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
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