Originally published June 4 2005
Mayo Clinic offers tips to balance work, home life
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
The days of working a standard eight-hour day are gone. With technological advancements in communications and the globalization of business, more and more hours are needed to keep up with job demands and climb the corporate ladder. Overtime can contribute to fatigue and stressed relationships with family and friends. The Mayo Clinic offers these tips on balancing home and work life: 1) Keep a log of your work- and home-related activities, then decide where to make adjustments. 2) Manage your time. Little home maintenance activities are easier than taking on the whole thing after it piles up. 3) Reprioritize your cleaning. An unmade bed in the morning won't cause death and chaos. 4) Communicate clearly. Miscommunication is time consuming. 5) Take some time out of the day to do something just for you. 6) Set aside one night a week just for you and your family to be together. 7) Protect your days off. Try to wedge the chores into a work day so your day off is free. 8) Get enough sleep. Skimping on sleep usually ends up costing you time later, anyway. 9) Lean on a friend or loved one while trying to balance your two lives, and do the same for them. 10) Seek professional help. Talking with a therapist or a work-sponsored counselor can do wonders for your well being.
Your work life and your personal life may feel somewhat out of balance right now.
When you spend more time at work than you spend at home, you miss out on a rewarding personal life.
On the other hand, if you're caring for an aging parent or you're trying to cope with marital, financial or legal problems, you may find it hard to concentrate on your job.
The boundaries between work and home were clear.
Unfortunately that's no longer true for many workers.
It's not unusual for an employer to ask staff members to work longer hours than they're scheduled.
For some workers, overtime may even be mandatory.
And if you hope to move up the career ladder, you may find yourself working more than 40 hours a week on a regular basis to keep on top of things or exceed expectations.
Today's married worker is typically part of a dual-career couple, which makes it difficult to find time to meet commitments to home, spouse, parents and friends.
Some people need to work overtime to stay on top of family finances.
This means you are less productive and may make mistakes.
Trusted friends are a key part of your support system.
You and your family can decompress by spending the first 15 minutes at home at the end of the workday eating a healthy snack you've prepared beforehand.
If your life feels too chaotic to manage and you're spinning your wheels worrying about it, talk with a professional such as your doctor, a psychologist or a counselor recommended by your employee assistance program (EAP).
This means no one but you will know what you discuss.
And if you're experiencing high levels of stress because of marital, financial, chemical dependency or legal problems, an EAP counselor can link you to helpful services in your community.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml