3 Ways You Can Make Time for You Throughout Your Workweek
Have you ever heard the phrase “If you want to, you will make time”? This is such a daunting phrase to hear. Often times, we are working and coordinating on so many different projects throughout our life, that we simply do not have the time to make time for ourselves. This often results in exhaustion and fatigue that causes decreased effort and productivity in the workplace—only furthering the cycle! The National Safety Council found that in 2018, alone, that two-thirds of the workforce in the United States deal with workplace fatigue—approximately 107 million people out of the 160 million workers in total (National Safety Council, 2018). This is a staggering number. While a solution to workplace fatigue is not entirely simple, taking time for yourself can be a major influence in reducing stress and fatigue, and can also shift your perspective on your goals and aspirations in life. Here are five small, but manageable and realistic ways you can make time for yourself throughout your workweek:
Incorporate a routine that you stick through to start your workweek
This can be as simple as ensuring that you have thirty minutes to drink a cup of coffee while sitting in your favorite chair at home. Instilling a routine that you find to be pleasant—and attainable—is an important first step towards making time for yourself. Choose a routine that would not cause you additional stress while actually doing it. Choose something attainable and realistic—like drinking a cup of coffee to start your day—and ensure that you make this a priority each morning. Practice makes perfect, so explore various routines that make you feel good!
Actively listen to your body
Have you ever been so busy and focused on the things you have to accomplish that day that you realize you did not eat? While you may at first be surprised that you did not notice, you soon will feel the effects of not listening to what your body needs. We are often so stimulated and focused on so many different things at once that you do not even notice your stomach rumbling. Set time throughout the day where you listen to your body and actively choose to give your body what it needs.
When you can take a break—take a diligent break
What does taking a diligent break mean? It means taking a break where you are not focused on the next set of tasks you have to complete or what you are going to make for dinner—but actually focusing on the break from the constant stimulation you are receiving throughout your day. One way to take a diligent break is through incorporating a mindfulness practice, such as deep breathing exercises for two minutes or utilizing apps such as Mindshine to guide you through coached mindfulness activities.
Taking the time to actually focus in on yourself is one step towards improving workplace fatigue and reestablishing loving and nurturing you. Because our world places immense stress on constantly doing to be seen as successful, make your success incorporate self-care methods. Prioritize yourself and your needs, and see just how much farther this will take you.
Depend on YOU - 5 Easy Ways to Practice Self-Reliance
As the New Year is upon us, many people are creating plans of action for how to approach their goals that they wish to accomplish within the next twelve months. One way to accomplish your goals while building confidence and consistency is through self-reliance. Ralph Waldo Emerson famously spoke about the importance of self-reliance and how vital it is for the success of individuals and what they wish to accomplish. Self-reliance is the act of trusting yourself by setting goals and intentions, and depending on you to see them through.
Many of life’s greatest philosophers have spoken often about the importance of self-reliance or believing in yourself and our choices to get through life’s obstacles. Socrates famously said, “To find yourself, think for yourself”. While these words are simple, they hold a profound message. When we are facing the challenges of life, we can often rely on the words of others to help get us through. Learning from others is a wonderful way to gain knowledge, however, it is essential to practice trust and faith within you. You are the most knowledgeable person regarding the facts of your life.
Although the concept of self-reliance, believing and depending on yourself to lead you towards success and happiness has been around for centuries, many of us are still unable to practice it. Here are five ways to practice self-reliance, thereby building self-confidence and dependence:
1. Think for yourself
Catherine Moore, Psychologist, MBA, writes of the importance of believing in you, by first thinking for yourself. Many of us often spend hours of our day filled with listening to what others think of our lives or suggestions on what decisions we should make, but what if the key to resolving life’s obstacles or making decisions, is to simply place trust within ourselves? As mentioned previously, learning from others and listening to others help us gain valuable knowledge—however, only doing what others are doing without thinking for yourself can lead to results that you may not be happy with. Instead, try thinking for yourself.
2. Be who you are
Be who you are in all of your quirks and intricacies. Being what others imagine you to be will not lead to your own happiness. Be your authentic self, by understanding your intricacies. Being who you are means constantly assessing and creating self-awareness.
3. Be accountable to yourself
YOU hold the greatest knowledge of who you are. Give yourself the time you deserve to understand what makes you who you are, by practicing accountability. Take the time to understand what your boundaries are within relationships, give yourself the time to think about what goals you would like to accomplish.
4. Set accomplishable goals for yourself to complete each day
One way to nurture self-reliance is to set attainable goals to complete for yourself each day. Do you love having a warm cup of coffee before work? Set a goal and intention to wake up early enough to enjoy an entire cup of coffee before you leave for the day. Goals do not have to be enormous each day—they can be as simple as making a cup of coffee, if that is what makes you feel confident to start your day. Accomplishing this goal can help to create self-reliance that you know how to take care of your needs and set yourself up for success.
5. Maintain your self-dependence
It is quite all right to go do an activity you have always wanted to do, without a large group accompanying you. Many people may say no to activities or adventures that they have always wanted to do because others do not find them interesting. Simply believe in your capacity and ability to know what you do and do not like and nourish your interests. Take yourself out for a cup of coffee, or go for a morning hike. Trust that you know YOU. Give yourself the love and respect you deserve by believing in yourself.
These are just some ways to practice self-reliance. As you read this, you may start to think of other ways in which you can utilize self-reliance and belief in yourself within your own life. Ultimately, engage in acts that help to build independence and strength within you. Place trust within yourself and your capabilities. Understand that self-reliance is not something that comes right away—you must work towards it by giving yourself the space and time to do so.
5 Quotes to Get Through the New-Year Blues
The beginning of a new year has arrived, and with it, comes uncertainty and vast potential for change. Stress levels in the United States have risen within the past five years. Approximately 75% of adults in the United States have reported that their stress levels have risen within the last year (American Psychological Association). These levels of stress have also impacted individual’s mental health, as the World Health Organization reports that “depression is among the leading cause of disability” and “fewer than 25% of those with depression world-wide have access to effective treatments” (World Health Organization, 2019). Viewing your responsibilities as being small stepping-stones towards accomplishing your goals is one way to reduce the ways in which stress impacts your mental fitness. Just by taking the first step and breaking apart large and complex goals into doable actions, help to get you started on the right path towards self-reliance and confidence.
Here are five quotes to help you feel motivated for the New Year and to start with one small stepping stone toward your goals.
“Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach” - Tony Robbins
For this New Year, toss out resolutions and start creating action plans. Resolutions can often rely on the thought that you “might” get to create change. Creating an action plan with small steps can help to visualize and actualize these goals. Choose an action you would like to see yourself complete and hold yourself to that. However, keep in mind that life creates obstacles that may get in your way of completing your goals, therefore, ensure that you have back-up plans and ways to help jump the hurdles that come your way. In other words, believe in yourself and your capabilities to come up with resolving any obstacle that comes your way!
“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny, but in ourselves” - William Shakespeare
It is essential that we encourage and incite belief within ourselves. Too often, I hear phrases such as “I can not do this” or “This is too hard, I’m going to avoid this”, even if what you are attempting to avoid or view as too challenging can directly impact your goals. This New Year, make an effort to establish trust within yourself. You are the director, producer and screenwriter of your life. Choose to be in charge and believe that you have the tools necessary to succeed, as so long as you give yourself the room to grow and learn.
“What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year” - Vern McLellan
One thing my mother always told me growing up was to always do for others as you would like to be done for you. While this is true, ensure that you are treating yourself with the same respect and care as you treat others. Understand that just by giving yourself love, acceptance, and patience, you can create immense change. Trust your instincts and create change within yourself by practicing self-reliance. Know that gifts do not always end up on your doorstep by chance. It is not simply enough to acknowledge you would like change to occur this New Year. Give yourself trust this New Year and see how this simple step can ensure self-reliance and improve confidence.
“The beginning is the most important part of the work” - Plato
An important way to approach this New Year is just by simply doing. Waking up in the morning and getting out of bed can be enough for a successful day. It is all dependent upon how you view success. Sometimes, one can feel that even getting out of bed is asking far too much. However, giving yourself the trust, love and patience you deserve to make those first steps is the key to success. Today you may get out of bed, feel great and accomplish your goals you set. Tomorrow, you may feel as if getting out of bed is your only goal. That is okay—give yourself trust to know your boundaries and love yourself regardless.
“You don’t have to see the whole staircase to take the first step” - Martin Luther King Jr.
Taking baby steps is sometimes all it takes to succeed. Break apart your goals into smaller goals, set boundaries, allow yourself to be patient—instilling these practices within your life can be all it takes to find success. Attune your goals to consider your feelings, thoughts and abilities each day. Be flexible with yourself and with what you would like to accomplish. Take one step at a time, but just take the first step.