Keep Work and Personal Life Separate

by Don Kay
(Seattle, Washington. U.S.A)

I have learned to keep my work and personal life separate. Once I leave the office, I leave my problems there. This reduces a large amount of small stressors that add up to sleepless nights and anxiety. There are few problems at work that I feel are serious, and I don't want to take them out on my loved ones.

For the big problems that I can't possibly leave at work, I analyze what the stress is coming from. Finding the true source of my stress is the first step to relieving it. The second step is to determine how much time I have to deal with this problem.

For the most part, it never feels like there is enough time to deal with everything, but under close examination I can implement better time management and planning and it all seems to come together.

When I am under short deadlines (hours) I implement breathing techniques and taking a few minute breaks. Even a two minute break seems to bring down my frustration and allow me to work more efficiently.

Deadlines that are days away offer far more flexibility in my stress relief. Exercise by far would be my greatest weapon against stress. Taking out all of my anger and frustration on the weights leaves my feeling like a new man. Running is also another powerful tool; I feel it is as good for the mind as the body. Call it a runners high or oxygen deprivation, but during a good run I am only focused on beating my last time and putting one foot in front of the other.

Rigorous exercise actually gives me more energy, and makes me feel like there is nothing I cannot accomplish, but for those days I just feel beat down nothing beats a hot bath with a good book. Even if the book is not that good, the break from the grind allows me to come back and look at the tasks from a new angle.

Sometimes in life it seems like all we need is to just examine our situation from a new perspective.

I hope these tips help some of you out. Please feel free to implement what works for you and disregard the rest.

Best Wishes
-Don