Get a good education and get a good job with benefits and a pension. That was how I (and I’m sure many others) was brought up. That was the mindset within my family, as well as the community. There was never any mention of taking care of yourself mentally and physically. The only thing that mattered was keeping your head down and doing the work you were there to do, and getting that pension that doesn’t even exist anymore.
As time moves on, things change. Technology has integrated into our lives. Stress has become more prevalent. The world is moving at a pace like never before. Change is hard, but we should do our best to adjust to it (positive change, that is). We are living in a time where you hear people talk more about work and life balance.
Today, people are taking the time to decompress. Everything is so fast, even our food. Others deal with insane amounts of traffic to and from work everyday. That’s the cycle – work, try to sleep, repeat. Since this is a new type of environment we are living in, we need to take time out for ourselves, so we can show up at our best.
Stress is no joke. You can actually die from the effects of stress. Take some time from work and go away. Relax your body and your mind. Turn off the devices. Chill at the beach or a lake. Breathe. Treat your body to a good massage. Eat food that is good for you. Do something you always wanted to do. Have fun. Forget about the time.
These types of activities should be done on a regular basis. Give yourself a break from the rat race. You deserve it. It may seem like a luxury to do these things, but once you try it, you’ll see how much it can benefit you. Don’t allow too much stress to build up inside of you, because it can be detrimental for you and those around you. Some people’s lives are so hectic, they don’t even realize how much stress they’re carrying around inside, because they’re used to feeling that way.
Once you get that massage or spend a day at the beach, you’ll learn that it’s not a luxury – today, it’s more of a necessity. We all need to slow down from time to time and be in the moment. There’s nothing wrong with taking care of yourself. If you don’t, then who will? Yes, it’s important to work hard towards your goals and sometimes, you’ll need to put 36 hours into a 24 hour day. Even then, you should build in some down time for yourself. You won’t be able to give your best, if you don’t get good rest. Drink some water. You’re responsible for you, so be good to yourself.