“Yes, the grind needs to stop sometimes”.
In the society that we live in today, no one has time for anything anymore. Life is nothing more than a long list of “got to do’s”. I got to do this or no, I don’t have time, I got to do that. Most people have this mentality and live under the social pressure that we always should be working harder, faster, stronger at all times. If you are not grinding every day, then you will not be successful. On social media we see these influencers glamorizing nonstop work in order to live this lavish lifestyle and we see that as "goals". It is the “Hustle culture” that is turning us into workaholics, and we wonder why we are always anxious, stressed and exhausted.
Look, I get it. We all want to be our best and successful in life. Nothing falls into anyone’s lap after all. You must put in the due diligence, and you should work toward your goals in order to make them happen because after all, hard work pays off. But life is about balance. Having balance with work, our relationships, and time for ourselves is key to keeping our mental and physical health on point. For me, I reached a point in my life that I felt like I was always doing something. I mean, that is natural for us women, many times we have to do it all. Work a full-time job, take care of kids, make time for hubby, cook, and clean the house. We do it all and we make it look easy. I would find that I was always tired and sluggish. I was exhausted mentally and had headaches often. From the time I woke up in the morning, I began work mode and that mode did not turn off until I went to bed. If I was not physically moving, my mind was and that is not good. I was always thinking about what I could be doing. I realized that I had to shut it off sometimes. I am not a machine and even machines periodically need to be rebooted.
So, let’s ditch the clichés. “Sleep is not just for the weak and “and the “hustle and the grind” needs to stop sometimes. If we are constantly “on” all the time, we will never be properly recharged and rejuvenated. Our mission here at Cherish U is to send the message that self-care is important. The very name of our business is the message and the statement that we need to make to ourselves. Cherishing yourself is at the very root of finding the balance.
So here are my following tips on finding the balance.
Tip #1- Prioritize
Put parameters in place, set a schedule, prioritize that “got to do” list, and set an end to the day and stick to it. Don't forget to prioritize time for your family, friends, as well as some "you time". This may seem like more than one tip, but it all about maximizing and making the best of the time you have. The sooner you realize and find a balance between work and life the more productive you will actually be.
Tip #2- Learn the Power of "No"
There is no "S" on your chest, so you are not superhuman. You cannot and should not try to do it all. Do not feel guilty if you cannot accept a task or feel obligated that you have to do it. Sometimes you have to politely decline. "No" is not a bad word.
Know your limit. Do what you can do and do not be afraid to ask for help and delegate those activities that can be easily handled by someone else. When you are an entrepreneur, sometimes you have to say "no" to yourself because working non-stop is tempting.
Tip #3-Live in the Moment
Be in the moment. When you are at work, be focused and make sure you are being productive within your scheduled time. When you stop work for the day, leave work at work. You can feel satisfied with what you have accomplished even if you did not finish.
When you are with your friends and family, enjoy them and make the best of the time you have with them. Be present, don't have your mind on that last thing you could have done or that email you should have to send out. It can wait. Catch up with what is going on with your girls, play a game with your kids, have date night with your hubby.
Enjoy time for your hobbies and passions or just take time to just breathe and relax. Clear your mind of the day and just unwind and pamper yourself. Realize that these moments of self-care is not being selfish, but necessary for you to be the best you can be on the job and in other areas of your life. Because you actually took time to rejuvenate yourself you will find that you are less stressed, you won’t feel burned out, and your performance level will be on a new high.
Tell me, do you feel the pressure of the “hustle culture”? What are some of the things you do to make sure that you have a proper balance in life?
men