But working hard does not mean deserving plaudits or special prizes.
Too much work risks reducing productivity, limiting creative imagination and negatively affecting relationships with friends and family.
Do not be misunderstood, pursuing your passion is a wonderful gift and there is nothing wrong with devoting body and soul to projects that excite us.
However, it is essential to take breaks. Whether you work from home or in an office, taking breaks is essential to nourish and stimulate your creative spirit.
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Here are some creative ways to avoid becoming a slave of your work:
1. Establish well-defined limits.
Make sure your work schedule is consistent with the limits you have decided to bring. For example, if your work schedule is 08: 00-5: 00, be sure to leave the office at 5 o’clock. Do not hold back any longer.
2. Sleep at Sufficiency!
“If you meet someone who acts like crazy, there is a good chance that the person suffers from sleep deprivation.” ~ Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson
Staying up late to work on a project and then getting up at 5am to go to the office is not a good strategy. Lack of creativity, ground morale and irritability are some typical traits of people who sleep little.
3. Disconnect from the Internet.
To develop lighting ideas you do not need an internet connection. It’s amazing what can happen when you go from behind your computer screen to real life. Often the best ideas come just when we take a shower, a walk, or when we cook, not while we “work”.
4. Spend Time in Nature.
Spending time surrounded by nature is a great way to reduce stress, “detach” from everyday life and from incoming emails. Crop time in your day to go outside and enjoy life outdoors.
For example, take a half-hour walk every day and stay aware of the environment around you. There is no need to go in a hurry. Take your time, try to get inside you and observe the surrounding reality.
5. Find the Time for Friends, Family and Your Partner.
If you’re working too hard, you’re probably sacrificing some time that you could spend on friends, family, and your partner. Doing a job you love is extremely important, but so are the people who love you. Think about how you spend your time and think about what is really important in your life.
When you are with your family, your friends and your partner, be present. Strive to be there with your whole self. For example, if you are conversing with a friend, really and deeply listen to what he is telling you. Let them feel that you are there.
6. Eat healthy food.
One of the side effects of too much work is eating more and less healthy. Healthy food includes fruits, vegetables, and cereals. Before going to the office, take some time early in the morning to prepare a healthy breakfast.
More importantly, do not eat while you work. Eat when you do not work. Taste the food and enjoy every bite, slowly: if you eat the food quickly, it is much more likely that you end up eating more and gaining weight.
7. Find a hobby.
Grow a hobby, preferably something that does not affect your job. Start by analyzing your interests. For example, you can start running, walking, knitting, reading novels, or writing. A hobby should be something that brings you joy, something in which you can lose and find your own creative flow.
8. Listen to your body.
If you work too much, you will soon begin to feel tired, irritable and apathetic. All of these symptoms are the sign that you need to slow down. It is essential to know how to listen to your body. When you listen to your body, you can easily understand when you need extra rest.
9. Constantly analyze your Goals and Your Purpose in Life.
It is important to continuously analyze your goals, your life purpose, and your behaviors. For example, if you stay up late at the office, compromising personal relationships with people you love, try asking yourself:
• Why am I doing this?
• What is the final goal?
• Are my behaviors healthy?
10. Continue to Grow Healthy Habits.
Being able to develop healthy habits is not something that is realized from day to night. By working on a small change in everyday behavior, you can make big changes over the long term. For example, instead of checking email every five minutes, try checking it 3 times a day.
In addition, try to introduce small changes to your daily routine, such as spending half an hour on physical activity every day, preparing your meals and being there when you spend time with friends and family.
11. Join the Others.
If you think you are a workaholic, approach those who you think have a more balanced lifestyle. If you think that working too much is having a negative impact on your life, do something about the problem. We have only one life. We try to live it better and take care of ourselves.
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