Pampering for the
working professionals - Ten tips for a balanced work and social life
January 30th 2006
|
 |
|
London |
|
Health experts worldwide resoundingly agree that workers in all labor
categories must maintain a balance between their work and social lives.
The dangers of more or over work and less socializing cannot be
emphasized enough especially for the Londoner. The advantages to having
an active social life are many. Finding a healthy balance between our
work and social lives is not always easy but some efforts towards
developing that balance can assure we stay productive on the job and at
the same time have a satisfying and healthy personal life.
We have all heard of the dangers of stress and overwork. But what about
those of us that love to work or have to work for various reasons? There
has to be more to life than working at our jobs. How do we find a
balance that keeps us healthy in both these important areas of our
lives? Years of research and scholarly studies from experts in the UK,
London, and worldwide have found the answers to these questions.
While this article is about offering you the reader “tips” on developing
that balance, it is important to highlight the dangers any one of us can
succumb to if we don’t play or socialize in addition to working.
An awareness of your stress levels or symptoms of stress can give you a
hint that you need more of a social life. Indicators of stress are many
but the main symptoms to watch for are:
· Migraine’s or headaches occurring more often
· Inability to concentrate
· Not wanting to get up in the morning or insomnia
· Over-tiredness
· Sudden mood swings not normal for you
· Isolation from friends and family
The last bullet point mentions isolation. Isolating activities such as
going to work and sitting at home every night, avoidance of friends and
family and taking in little social outings/activities are probably the
single most dangerous thing we can do for our physical and mental
health. Our physical and emotional states of well being depend upon a
healthy balance of work and play. The following tips will help you
avoid this common danger.
· Organize a social calendar. Just like your daily “to-do” lists
at work, start planning a social “to-do” list. Knowing what social
activities appeal to you is essential towards organizing your social
calendar. I have found
www.exclusivelondon.co.uk an excellent source for researching ideas
or social activities you may want to consider placing in your calendar.
Find the time before or after work to get out into the London social
scene.
· Dine out. Many professionals in the work force are starting to
see the satisfaction and pleasure in taking the time to experience food
consumption in a whole new way. I’m not talking about going to a
restaurant and quickly getting your meal down your throat and into your
belly. I am talking about expanding your culinary horizons. For
example, try ethnic cuisine or a new food you have never eaten before.
Dine for hours at a trendy restaurant and savor an eight-course meal
with a fine wine or cocktail. Most importantly, take your time and enjoy
the experience.
· Dance the night away. The benefits to a night out of dancing
could never be overstated. The obvious benefits are the exercise and
calorie burning. Dance experts have long asserted that dancing tones the
body in a way no other form of physical activity can accomplish. Dancers
are considered among the elite in athleticism and discipline. Dancing
also offers social opportunities to meet new people. It gives you an
outlet to work out aggression and the strains of the workday. Overall,
dance is a complete source of exercise for the physical, social and
mentally healthy self.
· Soothe your soul with music. Take in a concert or musical
affair. Choose your favorite music and attend an event that will fill
you with the sounds of your favorite melodies. Music has long been a
part of the human experience. It has been used for centuries to allow
the human being an experience beyond their physical bodies. It can be
said that music will lighten your mood and nurture your soul. Music, in
a form that appeals to you, can quiet your mind and release the pain of
the workday.
· Exercise. Consider membership in a health or fitness club. A
healthy physical body will give the hard working professional the energy
needed to be both highly productive with job demands and the ability to
keep up with an active social calendar. Other means of getting good
exercise can be a walk in the park or bring out the child in you and
dance around the house while getting ready for work.
· Take in some culture with art or theatre. Museums and the
theatre are fantastic venues in which to have a quiet and reflective
personal experience. The visual delight of examining a piece of art
that touches you in a special way or watching a theatre performance that
moves you in a positive manner can be extremely beneficial. Not every
social event on your calendar has to include other people. Socializing
with you, for yourself can very often be just as healthy an experience
as being around hundreds or thousands of people.
· Getaway to a fine hotel or spa. From a great deal of research
and personal experience, three days at a spa is just about perfect. Like
many of you, I often don’t have the time for a one-day vacation much
less three days however; I have found that a 3-day mini-vacation has its
merits. It’s just long enough to take in the full benefits of a massage,
swimming, facials and some of the other amenities the hotel or spa has
to offer. If one day is all you can take the time for, then do that. Try
to do this at least twice a year. P.S. Leave the cell phone off, leave
the laptop at home and tell the front desk you are taking no calls.
· Go shopping. Indulge in a shopping trip every now and then. All
of us need to treat ourselves to that special dress or suit. Buying that
toy or electronic game we always wanted can only make life a bit better.
Even shopping for food can be a great way to socialize. Take the time to
say hello to the checkout clerk or butcher that has been serving you for
years. A simple exchange of smiles is a social interaction that benefits
all people on many unimaginable levels.
· Involve your co-workers on your social calendar. There is
nothing better than the buddy system for a healthy social (and work)
life. Let’s face it, engaging in some social activities is just no fun
alone. Keep in mind, socializing with co-workers can also be a great way
to maintain healthy work relationships.
· Breathe. This may sound simple and unimportant because it is a
natural activity we take part in every second of the day. Let me assure
you, we can often stop breathing for several seconds at a time. The
biological and rhythmic breathing pattern of humans often gets
interrupted for many reasons. Stress and automatic response to
difficulties in life are just a few of the reasons this occurs. Why is
this important? One reason is because we need to maintain a regular and
healthy breathing pattern throughout our bodies for optimal oxygen
intake. Lack of oxygen can be responsible for depression, fatigue and
damage at the cellular level of our bodies, to name a few. Good
breathing flow and control can keep you loaded with energy as well as
provide a healthy balance between mind and body. It will also make your
work life much more tolerable.
These ten tips are by no means the only ways to build a social life and
maintain a balance between work and fun. These tips are many that have
been provided by the best experts on work and social life. Those experts
being you or those like you, the workers. Be creative, discipline
yourself to organize your life towards a whole and healthy you both on
the job and socially.
Remember that it’s not always about where, how or how long or with whom
you socialize. Socializing can be as simple as sitting alone and
enjoying the flavors of good food and libations, exercising a couple
hours a week at a favorite gymnasium with friends or standing front and
center at a major rock concert. The point is to get out and be social.
Taking these suggestions will get you out. No matter what profession you
work in a healthy balance in work and social life will keep you mentally
healthy and energized, stress-free and socially empowered.
This article was written by Maryse Mignott, Corporate Strategy &
Communications Executive for Exclusive London. Balance your work and
social life by taking part in the London entertainment scene. For the
hottest London events, restaurants, clubs, fashion boutiques and more,
visit
http://www.exclusivelondon.co.uk. Reproductions of this article are
encouraged but must include a link pointing back to
http://www.exclusivelondon.co.uk
Contact Maryse
Keywords and misspellings: Exxon Mobil buy
buying Business unical chevon shevron cina
|
