insideKENT Magazine Issue 27 - June 2014 | Page 86
HEALTH+WELLNESS
Lower stress and perfect your
work/life balance in 2014
Lowering stress and achieving a healthy work/life balance is a goal for many
people these days; wanting to work to live, not live to work. So how can you
do this? Here are some ideas to help you lower your stress levels and achieve
a balance that suits you. BY JEN SMITH
Identify the causes of stress
Identifying what is causing your stress is a good
first step. Just becoming aware of exactly what
the problem is will make things clearer, and open
up steps for how to tackle it.
• Take some time out to write a list, identifying
the causes of stress in your life so you can see
exactly what is going on. Don't censor yourself;
what you write may surprise you.
• Next to each item on your list, write down one
solution.
• Prioritise the solutions according to their
importance to you, and make a point of
implementing one solution each week. To start
with, it could be as simple as turning your work
phone off when you leave the office. Small
changes can have a big impact.
Saying no and exercising boundaries
It is important to be able to filter some of the
requests and activities that come your way, both
at work and home, and one of the best ways to
do this is to say no more often and exercise
boundaries – where possible. This will allow you
more time to focus on what is important to you,
and helps to reduce the stress that comes from
saying yes to things because you feel obligated
or don't know how to turn down the request.
Being intentional about how you use your time
and what you commit to will help you to feel
more in control of your life, while making healthier
choices that are right for you. Saying no can be
difficult, especially if you are not used to doing
it, but with practice, it is a powerful tool in gaining
control over your life.
• Practice saying no and exercising boundaries
around your time. Start with smaller or easier
situations and build up your confidence. It will
become easier over time. You could also
practice with a friend or colleague that you
trust, if it feels tricky to start with.
• Don't commit to requests for your time on the
spot. Let the other person know you will check
your schedule and get back to them. This
makes it easier to say no to things that you
can't or don't want to do, to say yes to the
things you really want to do, or to offer a
compromise if that is the best solution. Taking
your time before committing will take the
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pressure off you and allow you to be intentional
about what you commit to.
• Start using the time you free up for enjoyable
pastimes that lower your stress, rather than
add to it.