Written by: Ana Angelique, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
As I sit back and watch people return back to their offices and learn how to juggle their new routines, I also watch the creeping urgency and rising anxiety that is created when we try living in a state where everything has to be done now. I’m watching people rush back and forth. I’m watching the anger levels rise and the stress levels go back to those highs that they used to be at. I’m watching people get impatient over the smallest of things and rudeness hitting levels that are just not acceptable.
But why? Why be in a rush? Why does everything have to happen now? Why can’t things wait? Will the world end if that one thing isn’t done before the weekend? Does that one meeting, really late in the evening, have to happen, when no one is focused because it’s already been a busy and long day? Will doing that one thing really make any difference in the bigger scheme of things?
I think it’s time that we start asking those questions, both to ourselves and to others; Because it feels like a lot of us have fallen back into old routines and patterns, and have added on new pressures by trying to cram in everything that they would have done if they were still only working from home.
I am aware that we live in a world where we’ve been conditioned to have access to what we need immediately; but it doesn’t mean that you have to act on it all the time. You need time to do what needs to be done, properly, and rushing through it isn’t going to help. No one likes having to go back and re-do a task, especially when you have a hundred other things to get on with.
It’s really kind of crazy and I think we need to stop and reassess. We’re already halfway through the year and if the half that just went past, didn’t go to plan, take the time now to do something about how the next half of the year will go. Here are some things to keep things realistic and calm, and allow you to slow down:
Prioritise: Prioritise your day, your week, your month, your year. Take a moment to sit down and figure out exactly what you need to do. What is really important to do? What cannot wait because it will have a detrimental impact on other things in your life, if it doesn’t get done? What can wait or have a lower impact on other things in your life?
Set Goals: Don’t just set yourself tasks to do. Set your own expectations of the end result, what you’re aiming for, and put a date to it. We always achieve more if we know what the end goal is.
Add in Down Time: Never overlook the time you need to rest and recuperate, and add it in. It’s different for everyone and you can’t measure your productivity against someone else’s, especially based solely on the amount of time that they may or may not give themselves to rest. If you’re looking how much you’re doing in a day, allow some time between tasks. This is extra important if you’re doing a task that is particularly difficult to complete. Allow time for your brain to switch from one activity to the next. When you’re looking at a longer timescale, add in breaks like mini-getaways, relaxation time, or just time to do nothing.
Be Realistic: You are a human being, not a machine. You cannot work continually. You cannot keep going without food and water. You cannot keep functioning without actual rest. There’s no point prioritising or setting goals that are completely unrealistic in the timeframe that you’ve set for yourself. You’ll only get frustrated with yourself and everyone around you. If you’re completely unsure about the actual time you need to complete tasks and to rest or eat, set the goals to a timeframe and then readjust. It should only take a few rounds of doing this before you can understand and work out how much you can accomplish in particular timeframes. Remember that there’s no point pushing yourself to exhaustion by being unrealistic – it will only mean re-work because you didn’t give it your best the first time around (and no one likes going back to things and correcting their own mistakes), or missing out on doing something altogether.
Slow Down: It seems superfluous to have this as a point, but I feel that it needs to be said. Slow down. Stop rushing. Giving yourself the time to think things through properly, will mean a better outcome in the end. I’m not saying to procrastinate and waste time – I’m saying to immerse yourself in the activity that you’re doing, so that you’re in the moment, you’re focussed, and you’re calm. You’ve set the schedule, you know how long you have to do this one task, and you’re in control of what’s next, so just slow down and work on the now. If you still find yourself rushing, adjust your schedule and add in more time for those tasks that you’re rushing.
Learn to Say No: How many times have you heard this one? Probably hundreds. But you really do need to learn how to say no. Not everything has to be done today and some things can wait. It’s not your job to take on everything and it’s certainly not your job to take on everything from everyone else’s load. Learn to understand what you can do and what you can’t do, or at the very least, the impact that taking on extra things will do to your current workload. Remember that you’re responsible for your own wellbeing.
Mindset Change: At the end of the day, this is the one thing that it all comes down to: a mindset change. Teaching yourself that it’s okay to slow down. Giving yourself enough time to get through everything.
Accepting that it’s okay to only do what you can, that it’s okay to ask for help, that it’s okay to say no and that it’s okay to set your own priorities. You need to be honest with yourself. You are allowed to rest. And know that it’s okay that adopting all of these changes will take time if it’s something you haven’t really done before. Why? Because it’s okay to simply do your best.
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Ana Angelique, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine After overcoming some major life challenges on her own, Ana Angelique believes that others shouldn’t have to struggle in silence; Life is complex enough, but it is also beautiful, and it should be enjoyed. As a well-being life coach and mentor, Ana’s positive approach to life, her captivating and addictive energy, and her creative thinking enable her to empower her clients to take charge of their future and regain control. She has an insider’s perspective ‒ one that’s been gained from an international corporate background, that enables her to relate to and understand, the real challenges faced by people every day. Thought-provoking, persuasive, and inspirational, Ana has natural teaching abilities and is known for her unique perspective on situations.
