AVOID BURNOUT – TAKE SOME “ME TIME”

There’s no doubt that life has speeded up. Days seem to fly by, months turn into years, all accelerated by the “immediacy” of this digital age. We are continually bombarded with information and expected to respond instantly. Once upon a time, even the most dedicated office workers had no choice but to switch off once they left the office. The concept of a computer which you could carry home was the thing of science fiction, and a mobile phone was fantasy. Office and personal time was clearly delineated, and the two rarely crossed over. Home time was rest time, family time, and “me time”.

These days, of course, we are connected 24/7. While that gives us an enormous amount of flexibility when it comes to work, it also means, paradoxically, that we have to work really hard to ensure that we give ourselves adequate rest. And by rest, I don’t mean lying in bed checking e-mails and answering WhatsApp messages. I mean the kind of relaxation which involves nourishing the self, feeding the soul and recharging those batteries.

Finding the time to focusing on oneself entirely, for even a small part of the day, is a challenge. Even if we’re able to switch off our laptops and phones, many of us have other responsibilities including family, spouse and children, which also demand our attention and energy. But balance is critical, and carving out small chunks of time to devote to me, myself and I, is vital to ensure that we are able to handle our demanding lives and keep our energy levels high.

That “me time” can vary vastly from person to person. The key is to find out what will revitalise and revive you, and what will fit into your life comfortably. It might be an hour at the gym. It could be a few minutes of meditation every morning, before the kids wake up. Perhaps you prefer to sprawl on the sofa in the evening watching Netflix with a beer. Or grab that book which you’ve been meaning to read for months.  Whatever your preference, the key word here is “me”. For once, this is all about you. Not your boss, your co-workers, your spouse, children or friends.

So go on – leave your e mails, switch off your phone (or at least put it on silent) and ask yourself this question : “have I forgotten about myself in all this madness?”. If the answer is yes, then perhaps it’s time to proactively introduce some “me time” into your life.