Self-care is NOT Selfish: Why Neglecting Yourself Doesn’t Lead to Your Best Work

Hey, Slay Queen!

Are you feeling a little overworked these days? Stress levels seem to be sky high and I wanted to just take a minute to give you some compelling reasons to slow TF down!

When most people hear the term “hard worker” or “great worker”, they automatically think that they have to be an “all-out” worker who is always working, always making the sacrifice of balance in order to get that recognition.

Truth be told, the most productive people are those that know how to balance work with other aspects of their life.  Those that only live and breathe work and neglect other aspects of their lives, will often have lower productivity and be more likely to get burnt out because of their lack of balance.

Don’t be “those people”… and if you already are, stop it!

 When you do nothing but work, other aspects of your life suffer.  If you skip meals just to get more work in, you cut out key nutrients that can make you healthier, stronger, and more focused, including on your work.  The same holds true when you cut out one or a few hours of sleep in order to get more work in; you feel run-down and you aren’t as mentally focused on what you are doing.

If you neglect to spend time with your family and/or friends to put in more work, you will feel the impacts emotionally and socially.  Chances are good that you will be thinking about them as you are working anyway, taking away your focus and increasing the chances you’ll do poorer-quality work as a result.  In addition, they may become resentful because you are always choosing to work instead of spending time with them, which can cause you more stress and strain, which will further divert your focus and concentration when you need it most.

I think this short story brings my point home beautifully!

Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them — work, family, health, friends and spirit — and you’re keeping all of these in the air.

You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back.

But the other four balls — family, health, friends and spirit — are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same.

You must understand that and strive for balance in your life.

-Brian Dyson, CEO Coca-Cola

So don’t be afraid to slow down… Strive for that work-life balance because achieving the right balance between work and other aspects of your life will enable you to get more done anyway… All while keeping your happiness and sanity!