Balancing Work and Life

Advances in technology enable us to travel longdistances and meet with coworkers on the other side of the country within a few hours. They allow us to be constantly plugged-in, and work from almost anywhere. Although our work life has benefited from these innovations, we have become disconnected from some of our most crucial personal needs. Is one able to successfully balance both work and life in today’s society? If so, how can it be achieved while remaining “plugged-in” to the many tasks that demand our attention? In this article, we interview COO Kelly Guzman, Project Manager Ann Ahmadi and FreightTrain® Implementation Specialist Diana Silva to learn how they tackle the everyday challenge of maintaining a healthy balance between work and life.

A Conversation on Unplugging, Recharging and Connecting

What is the Result of an Imbalance between Work and Life? According to Kelly, “When there is a lack of balance between work and life, you are unable to satisfy anyone. No one is happy because you’re unable to attend to any part of your life well. This comes as a result of having one’s feet in too many places at once and being overcommitted. Rather than dedicating attention to one thing, your mind is always in multiple places at once, which disables you from being mentally present.” Ann adds by saying, “Lack of balance can feel stressful, because one feels that they are not meeting their responsibilities at home or at work. This can lead to a feeling of guilt when realizing that doing one thing means NOT doing something else.”

Build Downtime into Your Schedule Scheduling downtime into a busy week or month can alleviate the pressure of work. It can also serve as a goal to work toward and something to reward yourself with. Kelly describes, “I block out everything. I plan days off months in advance, and make sure to

schedule fun things into my schedule frequently.” She provides the following advice, “Imagine you had tickets to the most important event in your life at 5pm. You would have to use your time wisely and work diligently, knowing that you had to be present at that commitment.” Diana makes sure to schedule downtime into her week by reaching out to friends, scheduling dinners and hikes in advance. “As the days go by, I know that I will have “my” time soon and it gives me something to look forward to.”

Busy people already have their work days organized for them with meetings and long to-do lists. One tip that can help alleviate the work load is to build small breaks into your day. Tackling smaller tasks that during wait or transit time can also help to knock somethings of your to-do list. Kelly explains, “I know when I am traveling, so I plan to do things that can be accomplished in that space, during a car commute I will schedule phone calls, or I will take reading materials to the gym to catch up while I’m on the treadmill.”

To learn more, visit www.ConsultHTS.com

To learn more, visit www.ConsultHTS.com

Excercise as Antidote to Stress

The Mayo Clinic recently published an article highlighting the use of exercise as a tool for relieving stress:

Exercise increases your overall health and your sense of well-being, which puts more pep in your step every day. But exercise also has some direct stress-busting benefits.

It pumps up your endorphins. Physical activity helps bump up the production of your brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters, called endorphins. Although this function is often referred to as a runner’s high, a rousing game of tennis or a nature hike also can contribute to this same feeling.

It’s meditation in motion. After a fast-paced game of racquetball or several laps in the pool, you’ll often find that you’ve forgotten the day’s irritations and concentrated only on your body’s movements. As you begin to regularly shed your daily tensions through movement and physical activity, you may find that this focus on a single task, and the resulting energy and optimism, can help you remain calm and clear in everything you do.

It improves your mood. Regular exercise can increase self-confidence, it can relax you, and it can lower the symptoms associated with mild depression and anxiety. Exercise can also improve your sleep, which is often disrupted by stress, depression and anxiety. All of these exercise benefits can ease your stress levels and give you a sense of command over your body and your life.

Being selective about what you do in the short time that you are away from work can really help to recharge your batteries. There are those activities we have to do, and then those that we like to do. Although these may happen less frequently, the ones we enjoy doing, can also contribute to a faster cooperation energy. Kelly, an avid hockey fan, explains, “There is nothing like going to a hockey game, screaming and yelling during the game can be a cathartic activity. I never leave a hockey game feeling tired, instead I am energized. I have to do what makes me feel good, otherwise, I won’t feel well and be able to tackle the rest.”

Courtesy of www.lifeofpix.com

Recharge Your Energy When You’re not WorkingAnother facet of technology and its effect on our lives is that both work and entertainment can be obtained through the same medium. We can use a computer to do both work and watch a movie for enjoyment. Some people play games online, e-mail with friends or shop on-line, so many of our needs are now being met through the same medium. Although this can be very practical, it can also drain our energy rather than recharge it. Both Ann and Diana, claim being outdoors and doing something physical, like going on a hike or gardening can be rewarding after spending so much time in front of screens.

Reach Out to Your Support SystemA support system, whether co-workers, friends or family, plays an important role in the balance between work and life. We are social beings, therefore we need social support to be well. Many of us recognize that our personal relationships are important, but did you know that they can be beneficial for your health as well? The Mayo Clinic features an article on its website addressing the important role a social network plays in our health.

Several studies have demonstrated that having a network of supportive relationships contributes to psychological well-being. When you have a social support network, you benefit in the following ways:

Sense of belonging. Spending time with people helps ward off loneliness. Whether it’s other new parents, dog lovers, fishing buddies or siblings, just knowing you’re not alone can go a long way toward coping with stress.

Increased sense of self-worth. Having people who call you a friend reinforces the idea that you’re a good person to be around.

Feeling of security. Your social network gives you access to information, advice, guidance and other types of assistance should you need them. It’s comforting to know that you have people you can turn to in a time of need.

Kelly recounts, “People ask me, ‘How do you do what you do?’ And I respond by saying, I have the most amazing support system. My whole world is supported by people who help me. I have a supportive infrastructure, but I chose who I let in. Our HTS team is an extension of our family. My team replenishes my energy.”

“Technology helps us to stay organized and to automate recurring work. However, technology makes it difficult to turn away from work. On weekends, I try to leave my phone plugged in at home but even this is difficult,” claims Ann. We often find ourselves checking our phones out of habit, and it can be hard to break from this habit when we are not working. Diana comments, “If I’m on vacation, I turn off my e-mail notifications. If I hear the ‘ding’ of an e-mail notification, I tend to want to check and see what it is, but if the notification is off, I’m less likely to check.” Unplugging from technology can help us to better connect with our surroundings and enjoy the time we spend with our loved ones. By taking the time to unplug, recharge, and connect we become healthier, stronger and better equipped to take on whatever comes our way.

The Benefits of Havinga Social Support Network

Unplug

To learn more, visit www.ConsultHTS.com

Taking the time to build a social support network is a wise investment not only in your mental well-being but also in your physical health and longevity. Research shows that those who enjoy high levels of social support stay healthier and live longer. So don’t wait.