Five Tips for Workaholics


by Elizabeth Gordon - Date: 2007-04-18 - Word Count: 788 Share This!

You never thought this day would come, the day when you can't stop working and you don't want to. You're a workaholic. These days, more and more people are succumbing to this lack of work-life balance. Ironically, being a workaholic can make your work decline in quality and effectiveness, as you allow your work-obsessed life to turn you into a miserable person. Far from being a conscious decision, this typically happens slowly over time in the form of several small yet repeated sacrifices of personal time to allow for more work time. Usually this is done with the mentality of - just this once. This is a slippery slope. Overtime this behavior can become a pattern called workaholism. In order to startup a business or to keep their career on the path to success, many people have become workaholics unbeknownst to themselves. Most entrepreneurs love their businesses and are willing to do whatever it takes to make it successful, but they must remember to love and take care of themselves, too.

Oftentimes, the realization of being a workaholic comes with repeated comments from others or through self-awareness of how your work schedule differs from that of others. Working hard to achieve a goal that is very important to you is OK. What is not OK is neglecting yourself, your loved ones and feeling that the decision to do so is no longer a conscious one you have control over, but is a habit that you can no longer control. The long-term consequences of this can include diminishing physical health and spiraling into a work-induced depression. In order to avoid letting your business drive you mad, incorporate the following 5 lessons into your busy life:

1. Exercise regularly and stay active. It is far too easy to avoid exercising because you have to do more work. Instead, make you physical health your top priority. Exercise is an ideal way to tap into your inner genius and solutions hidden in your subconscious mind. Take a jog and mull over an issue that you've been having in the workplace. You will find that you can run across the solution as you keep yourself fit. You will also find that you will have more energy to power through those times when you do need to squeeze more work hours from yourself.

2. Eat and drink healthily. Working until the wee hours of the morning can cause you to have the late-night munchies. Reach for a stick of celery or some baby carrots instead. To avoid feeling drained of energy, keep on hand snacks that are high protein like a pop-top can of tuna, raw almonds and soy nuts. Healthy foods make healthy minds that can work longer, harder and smarter.

3. Get enough sleep. When you find yourself nodding off at your desk, or day dreaming and losing focus, you are no longer productive. It's better to get a full night's rest and be fresh in the morning than to stay up late and work inefficiently. A cup of coffee is not a substitute for the sleep your body needs. It is more efficient to get the sleep you need and be faster and smarter the next day.

4. Spend time outdoors. This can be combined with lesson 1. Fresh air does wonders for your mental state, and spending time with nature can bring out creativity which leads to great ideas that increase your bottom line. Take the time in your life to get out of doors. To avoid cabin fever and tunnel vision, take a long walk, breath the fresh air in deeply and notice the beauty around you.

5. Take some quiet time each day. Staring at the computer, talking on the phone and writing hundreds of emails everyday can wear your brain out. Find ten minutes of everyday and have some quiet time for yourself. Meditate, close your eyes and zone out or just listen to some soothing music for ten minutes a day. To get my second wind, I usually need this in the afternoon. You will be amazed what a little quiet time can do for your peace of mind and those around you will be grateful you took the time to care for yourself, making you an easier and more pleasant person to deal with.

Working a lot is not a bad thing as long as it is temporary and there is an end, a break and future rewards in sight. By incorporating life enhancing practices into your everyday routine, you can become more productive and produce a better quality of work, and this increases the longevity of your personal and business health. For more information about how you can grow your business the healthy way, visit www.flourishingbusiness.com.


Related Tags: entrepreneur, tips, business advice, workaholic

Elizabeth W. Gordon, founder and President of The Flourishing Business, LLC, is a visionary leader who has a passion for helping others achieve their entrepreneurial dreams and enjoy more of the best in life.

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