It doesn't matter what kind of work you do, finding time for yourself to recharge your batteries is very important. I just realised the truth in that a couple years ago. I'd been steadily working myself to the ground until I burnt out. It was a teaching moment in both my professional and personal life!
I'd undergone severe insomnia during this time. I was always in a panic mode -- incredibly sure that everything was going to really go wrong. I was so very tired all the time but could never relax enough to actually sleep. This started a vicious cycle I just couldn't seem to break. Especially if you have something like PCOS, all these would affect you even worse - because it disrupts the fragile balance your hormones function on. So, when it went bad, it hit the roof!
I knew things was going south and what was causing it to do so. The point was in bringing it all back to where I could manage it healthily. As always, I started reading about how to manage my current scenario. There are a few things I tried that worked incredibly well and these are things I still do.
Setting Boundaries
We all want to perform 120% well at everything we do. But, what if you're attempting to do too much? That's what happened to me - due to my inability to say no. I was a full-time student with more than two jobs and quite a few projects which I couldn't turn down. The realisation that I could have opted out of any of the projects and jobs never ever arrived to me until very late. I didn't want to disappoint anyone (mainly myself) or cause waves by saying 'No'. What I've learnt is to only have as much as I can actually do on my plate. If I am letting down or offending anyone else - it can't be helped. In this way, when I work on something, it's only those project I am very interested in. So I've set the main priority as myself and what I actually enjoy doing. The ability of saying 'no' has extended in all spheres of my life and made me stronger too. In the beginning it was one of the hardest things I did, but as time went on I noticed how it changed how I valued myself. It also showed people around me that I meant business when I said no (which never happened before!)
Unplug
One of my mum's major rules was to not sleep with our phones next to us. Naturally, I never heeded to that until quite recently. It's a small step but incredibly hard to achieve. Spending a couple hours a day not hooked onto any of my handheld devices or computers in addition to not sleeping with it? The hardest habit I've had to break! Getting away from social media completely isn't exactly doable as it's my day job. But I started taking time off from the incessant scrolling. I also stopped checking work emails after 7 pm in the evening. I'd rather use this time to read, watch a show or documentary, chat with my sister, or so many other things I'd given up on doing!
Yoga & Meditation
I'd been more into yoga as a exercise regime off and on for close to 10 years. But using yoga and meditation to gain perspective and unwind is something I completely recommend. I meditate everyday for the past many months now. Let me tell you that shutting my mind up is no easy feat. But you do become more mindful of things that you do and say as you keep meditating. There are so many different kinds of meditation out there that you can pick one or many that would work for you. I start my days with sun salutations just because they make me feel more grounded and centered than anything else can.
Naps
I now understand why parents make their kids take naps. It's one of the most glorious thing to do! Even a 20 minutes nap is something that would perk me up and make me perform better than that 3rd cup of coffee could ever do. In the beginning, I'd just lie there for 20 minutes with my eyes closed and just try to relax. Even that helped me to get away from my desk and computer. But as time went on, I really could take a power nap and come back swinging.
Do Something Fun and Silly
Somewhere along the line I'd stopped doing things just for the fun of doing it. I rediscovered that part of myself and it was rewarding! Having a bowl of ice-cream for lunch, blowing up balloons, trying my hand at baking or cooking, even buying something I'd never usually wear really started changing my way of living in a rut. Taking that time to do something so far away from what your schedule dictates can really shake things up.
Taking some time off, even if its just for a manicure or a freshly squeezed glass of orange juice counts in recharging yourself. I've done so much better with taking this route in my work and personal life - and it has made a huge difference.
Why don't you tell me how you would recharge yourself?
Cheers!
Madhu x
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