Found this article in The Star....short and a good reminder....
10 Adjust your
perspective of work
Most of us think
of work as, well, work. However, sometimes switching our point of view to a
less bleak perspective is all it takes to get us motivated again. Visualise how
your small contribution in the office create harmony in the bigger picture. The
work that you’re doing now is part of the long-term plan for achieving your
long-term lifelong goals.
9 Utilise your
leave days
Some workers
prefer not to claim leave days because they have nothing planned. Accumulating
leave may seem like a good idea at first, but most companies have a use by date
so they either end up being wasted or have to be utilised at an inconvenient
time. Take a day off to travel, bring your folks out for lunch or just to sleep
in! Take a break.
8 Talk to people
at work and outside of work
Nurture
relationships wherever you are. Build friendships so that there won’t be any
dissension or jealousy in the workplace. In the meantime, make the effort to
properly connect with loved ones when at home.
Spend quality
time and have quality conversations with your family members to ensure that
they don’t feel disengaged from you. That will also help them to be more
understanding when you go through stressful periods at work.
7 Have a bit of
fun everyday
Schedule happy
activities such as a weekly futsal session or a coffee meet up with a friend
during the weeknights. Such activities rejuvenate you after a long day.
Definitely a cure for weekend withdrawal symptoms.
6 Understand the
difference between urgent and important
As much as we
try to control them, certain circumstances will require us to disregard the
whole concept of segregating work and home.
In those cases,
try to identify which errands require your attention now (these matters are urgent)
versus which things carry weight but are not pressing (these are important).
Matters which
are both urgent and important will be the ones you need to attend to first.
5 Get enough
sleep
We can’t change
the fact that work begins at 8:30am or 9am, so avoid being nocturnal. Ensure
that you get your regular seven hours of sleep every night so that you don’t
feel sluggish before 11am. This will also help you make full use of your time
in the office, thus reducing the need to work past office hours.
4 Allocate time
for exercise
Don’t
underestimate the power of exercise. It’s not just about getting in shape, but
also maintaining health, improving mental acuity and self-esteem too.
Don’t limit
yourself to just going to the gym. Working out can be fun: go for a swim or a
dance class, or organise a badminton night once a week.
3 Pursue a
hobby, preferably one that isn’t work-related
Much of our time
in the office requires using a specific kind of knowledge and staring at texts
and screens all day. Being passionate and diligent about something not
work-related can help you feel more purposeful outside of your work goals.
Activate other
parts of your brain or skills by indulging in hobbies that enhance your other
talents such as cycling, photography or even woodwork.
2 Don’t bring
work home
Compartmentalise
to achieve a healthy work-life balance. Create a space at work that is mentally
conducive to increase productivity, but balance it out by ensuring that your
space at home is emotionally and mentally comforting as well.
Avoid having
these two spaces overlap unless absolutely necessary so that you learn how to
switch your brain and mood from work mode to home mode.
1 Manage time
wisely
In relation to
the point above, one way to ensure that your work doesn’t cut into after office
hours (or worse, weekends) is to make sure you get as much done as possible
while in the office.
Stay focused and
productive so that no one can fault you for leaving work at 5:30pm.
