Image courtesy of Hey Paul Studios’ photostream
It’s not always easy to maintain sanity in this crazy, busy and fast-paced world we live in. Eight hour workdays could easily be 10 hour work days which inevitably aren’t long enough to complete all the projects we’ve been assigned. Undoubtedly this can cause frustration or a feeling of lack of accomplishment.
By now, if you haven’t noticed, people want a lot from you – time, money, and resources. If you start your workday, or personal day for that matter, without a plan, it can be planned for you in a hurry. Why do you think your email and voice mail boxes are full on a consistent basis? These are typically requests for something you can provide someone else.
This isn’t always a bad thing. This can lead to promotions, exposure to new functions or people at, or who work with, your company. But what’s most important is to evaluate these requests to ensure that it’s a win-win for everyone.
Regardless of the type of requests being sent your way, it’s important to maintain your mental health. Fatigue can lead to burnout, and once in that state of mind it’s difficult to regain productivity. Try out these few exercises to build mental health while finding creative outlets!
Mind Games – If you’ve ever been to the airport when there are lengthy delays, or maybe you just got to your departing gate early, you’ll see many folks on their phones or tablets but you’ll also see a few folks with the newspaper doodling. Word find, Sudoku and cross-word puzzles are great ways to keep your mind working, and hopefully to build a sense of accomplishment when you’ve solved the games!
Pen & Paper – Writing or drawing can be a creative outlet that will flex your mental muscles. Putting pen to paper can be a great way to let your creative juices flow. Challenging yourself to write or draw daily for extended periods of time will take your mind off the stresses of daily life and allow you to simply create.
Human Touch – Don’t underestimate the power of human touch. Building, crafting, making and doing something can be great mental challenges that will yield real results. Challenge yourself to build something as large as a desk or as small as a spice rack, or making an ottoman from a coffee table. It can be useful or just for fun; building, crafting, making and doing give a real sense of accomplishment.
Get Physical – Get to the gym or maybe just get up from your desk. Working out will release endorphins that will have you not only looking good but feeling good too. Endorphins are the chemicals released by the pituitary gland in your brain during workouts that make you feel happy. If you don’t have much time after work, try to walk a few flights of stairs throughout the day.