The times, they are a changin’. This song by Bob Dylan encapsulates the entire premise of life today – there is so much emphasis on being productive and showing that you are working, which is leading to a crisis of people who do not know how to relax and enjoy what life has to offer.
The major emphasis on hyper efficiency today leads people to self-help books, blogs and magazines, all telling you how to maximize your productivity, increasing your energy, making meetings with co-workers and clients more effective, how to get more digits in salaries from your work. People are now clocking in at longer hours, and increasing their efforts on getting more done.
However, is this the best way to live? To what end will it stop? Where do you draw the line between working hard and becoming obsessive with your job?
If you are doing more work because you are passionate about it, then that is good. However, even with this in mind, it is very easy to fall into the trap of the rat race and focus on doing too much. Sometimes, you just need to breathe and relax.Â
The advantages of reducing your workload
While it is a good thing to increase your productivity and get more digits in your bank account, the flip side is good to consider as well – make amazing things, then take some time off and relax.
Of course, with everything there must be a balance, but if you feel like an afternoon nap or evening walk will refresh your mind, why don’t you go ahead and do it? The benefits will be immense, not to mention, you will have renewed energy when you get back to work.
It is good to be productive sometimes, but do not sacrifice your health for it. Make sure you take some time off to enjoy yourself, and you will be a happier person for it. That is what motivation is all about – doing things that you love when you are excited.
Your body will be grateful
The high levels of stress that our jobs are demanding and placing on us takes a toll on our bodies, even if you do not want to admit it.
Stress results in high blood pressure, a weaker immune system, problems with muscle tension, as well as ulcers and other health issues. When you relax, you are assisting your body to counteract the harmful effects, and it will thank you for it by giving you better quality of sleep, as well as being more productive.
It may sound counterintuitive, but that is exactly what makes it so good. Weekends are a good time to relax and get some me-time, but you can also schedule for certain days when you do not need to do anything much other than relaxing at your home and getting some house chores done.Â
Relaxation levels out your emotions
You can relate to the feeling of being in the midst of a major exam or work presentation, where you cannot control your emotional response to the people around you. When you fatigued or stressed, it is easy to lash out at people, or even making strangers upset because you are acting out and causing a scene.
Relaxing can help you to combat these negative emotional responses, and helps you to flow smoothly, compared to a time you are stressed out. When you are calm, you can concentrate on why you are feeling those emotions at that time, allowing you to analyze them and see what emotional response you need to give the situation.
You are able to think more clearly
Constant stress has harmful effects on your mind, and many diseases are a result of constant stress levels.
For instance, depression, syndromes, and other mental health issues can result from too much stress in your life. It can even bog down your thoughts, and lead you to make bad choices – like going through substance abuse issues in Montrose.
When you make time to relax and put your troubles on the back burner for some time, it allows your mind to recover, and sometimes can help you find solutions to problems that have been weighing on your mind for so long. When you mind is calmer, you can respond to stimuli faster than when you have mental burdens from unnecessary worries.Â
Negative responses will affect the people around you
The attitude and emotions of a human being have great power and energy. A case in point is the stress levels students undergo as they file into a room while waiting for a major exam. The atmosphere feels heavy, no one is talking to each other, and everyone has this tense look on their faces. Even if this feeling is hard to place, the feeling of the room is very different from when the room is empty, or when friends are hanging out with each other.
You may not know it, but these are the situations that show the tendency of stress to spread. The best way to deal with it is trying your best to relax, and the positive energy will flow to others as well. Even something that looks simple like giving a smile can go a long way to encourage someone else, as well as reassuring them that everything will be okay.Â
It increases your productivity at work
When you are relaxed at your work place, it enables you to stay sharp at solving problems and reasoning.
It is a hard thing to do, as deadlines, annoying clients, stressful co-workers and bosses can keep you in a constant state of pressure. This can result in you lashing out at someone, or having another negative emotional response and make you feel like your workplace is the worst in the world.
Friendly workers and employers can assist in spreading some joy to others in the workplace, leading to greater levels of efficiency among employees, making them feel like a valuable part of the organization.
Conclusion
Stress is good to a certain extent, because it helps you get your work done. However, never underestimate the importance of getting some relaxation time. Your body and mind will thank you for it, in addition to getting a host of benefits from your productivity time as well.
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