FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
"Step Away from the Blackberry… and Other Tips for Work-Life Balance " is the latest blog entry by career success expert, Dr. Liz Bywater. In this post, Dr. Bywater advises her readers to de-stress and revitalize each day with a few simple techniques. She writes:
I had a really good weekend. The weather was picture perfect, I got to hang out with my husband and kids, and I took a couple of invigorating rides on my new bike. Very nice.
What does this have to do with career success? Well, as it turns out, quite a lot. The fact is, it can be very difficult to step away from work for the weekend – or even for the evening - and simply enjoy life. For many people, it feels nearly impossible. Yet without adequate attention to relaxation and rejuvenation, you are on the fast track to burnout. And you simply can't be successful if you're burnt.
Here's what I advise my clients to do at the end of each workday. If you're not doing these things, why not give them a try? You've got nothing to lose (except, perhaps, for some serious stress and fatigue).
Put down the Blackberry. When you're done working for the day, shut down your computer, turn off the Blackberry, and mentally "punch out" of the office – even if that office is in your own home. Remember, you're entitled to have a life. No one's going to give you permission to stop working. You've got to grant it to yourself.
Eat dinner! Don't simply wolf down a Power Bar and a Diet Coke in front of the computer or during your evening commute. Go home, sit down – ideally with family or friends – and enjoy some good eats at a relaxed pace.
Honor your social commitments. The important relationships in your life will suffer if people can't count on you. So don't bail on friends or family in order to finish a work project – unless it is absolutely
urgent and the
exception to the rule.
Get some exercise. Whether you like to walk, run, lift weights, or play a little ball, exercise is vital for a healthy body and your overall well-being. Bonus: it will help you feel less stressed, better focused and more productive when you do get back to work!
The point is simple. Take care of yourself, manage your stress, and create a healthy work-life balance. These are the ticket to a successful career - and a fantastic quality of life.
Until next time…
Liz
About Liz Bywater, PhD
Dr. Liz Bywater is an internationally acclaimed career and workplace performance expert. She consults, writes, and speaks on a variety of leadership and career-related topics. Some of her most popular presentations include: Leadership Essentials for Troubled Times, Communicating for Success, Stress Management at Work and at Home, Practical Goal-Setting, and Conflict Resolution in the Workplace.
Through a wide of variety of consulting and coaching programs, Dr. Bywater helps her clients achieve dramatic improvements in individual, team, and organizational performance. Her clients range from independent business owners to senior executives within the Fortune 50. She sits on the advisory board for Par Excellence Magazine and is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Society for the Advancement of Consulting, and the Cornell Entrepreneur Network. Dr. Bywater is quoted frequently in the media and has been interviewed by such publications as the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Crain's, Yahoo! HotJobs and USA Today.
To interview Dr. Bywater for print, Web, radio or TV, call 800.846.4546 ext. 103.
To inquire about speaking or consulting services, call 800.846.4546 ext. 103.
To subscribe to Bywater Consulting Group's complimentary e-newsletter, filled with practical tips for improving individual, team, and organizational performance, send an email to
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