When you think about self-care what springs to mind? Is it leisurely lunches, special treats and spa days? Perhaps it feels a little self-indulgent or something which will take up too much time? Whilst it is good to plan occasional indulgent treats, self-care is much more than this. It is about creating space in our daily life to do that which we need to provide energy and to sustain us. Continue reading 7 Reasons why self-care is essential for busy professionals
We all want to lead a fulfilling life. However, this can be hard when you have a demanding job, family responsibilities and are trying to keep on top of daily life. Perhaps there are times when you simply don't have space to consider how life could be more meaningful.
For busy people, a typical day has a packed agenda with little personal time for yourself. There will often be missed lunch breaks, working long hours and not spending enough time with family and friends. It is no wonder that the outcome is often feeling stressed and missing out on doing the things which you find fulfilling.
There is something exciting about the start of a new year. A time for new opportunities, good intentions and a feeling of enthusiasm. It can be tempting to get on with the year without taking time to acknowledge the year which has been. In fact, taking time to stop and reflect is important in order for you to acknowledge achievements, recognise your learning, and be in a good position to plan for a new year.
Personal values are those things which are most important to you. They include what you believe, what motivates you and those things which makes you happy. Your values will influence your behaviour and guide you in your decisions. While we will hold many beliefs and be motivated by a range of values, there will be a small number which are core and more significant for us. When our lives are aligned to what we believe, we are more likely to live a happy and fulfilled life.
There are times when we just feel stuck in our personal or professional life.
It could be with an important decision you are struggling to make. There may be a particular challenge or complex situation which just leaves you confused. You may feel unfulfilled with your life in general or ready for a change and just don't have the confidence to move forward.
As we approach the end of the year many of us will be looking forward to the New Year with all of the opportunities this brings. It can be tempting to look ahead, perhaps set some New Years resolutions, and move forward without taking time to acknowledge the year which has been.
We rarely take time to stop and make sense of what has been going on for us when we are constantly busy with our personal and professional lives. It is easy to forget what has been achieved, all that has been learnt and challenges which have been overcome, when we do not take time out to reflect.
I was talking with a headteacher friend this week, about how she deals with her busy life. We concluded it was all about keeping things in perspective.
For her being busy is a sign that she has a job to do, people who need her and plenty going on in her life and she is thankful for this. She knows that a difficult work situation will not last, and this perspective helps her deal with challenges more positively.
This got me thinking about how important it is to keep things in perspective, especially during this busy period.