If you’re a busy professional, you probably find it hard to get the things done that you really want to do when you’re not working. This can leave you feeling like you’re ignoring your deepest wants and needs, and before you know it you can end up feeling depressed, burnt out, and just not in a good place.
Having a healthy work/life balance is imperative. Working on yourself both professionally and personally will help you to grow as a person, become more employable, and potentially give you the skills and knowledge you need to start your own business. So if you’re not working on yourself, and you just get up every morning and get ready to work for somebody else, doing the exact same thing day in, day out, how will you ever reach your goals?
Even if you don’t have any real desire to work for somebody else and you’re happy in your role, carving out the time to work on yourself will make you feel happier and more fulfilled. Below, we’ll discuss how busy professionals can continue working on themselves. Pay attention!
Prioritize Your Sleep
This is a really simple step, but something the majority of busy professionals really need to master. Getting plenty of sleep sets you up for the day ahead, stops you from experiencing that dreaded afternoon slump, and can help you with a number of other things, from memory retention to focus.
Make sure you know how much sleep you need each night to perform at your very best. For most people, it’s somewhere between 7-9 hours. Getting into a regular sleep routine where you go to bed at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning, even on weekends, will help you to perform at your best and feel great.
Ask Your Boss For Regular Check-Ins
If you want to be your best self at work, it can be a good idea to ask your boss for regular check-ins. If you’re not sure of what your boss and superiors think about how you currently fit into the company, how can you improve? This is especially important if your boss is always giving you new assignments but never giving you feedback.
Of course, it might be impossible for your boss to meet with absolutely everybody in the company, but it won’t hurt you to ask if you feel like this could be something beneficial for you both. After all, it can make you an easier employee to manage and allow them to streamline your tasks more.
Know What Your Weaknesses Are And Make Plans To Improve Them
Being self-aware is very important if you want to work on yourself. You might have a good idea of what your strengths are, but do you know your weaknesses? Maybe there are a few soft skills you can improve on, such as your communication and ability to work in a team. You might even come up with an idea for qualifications that will help you, such as civil engineering masters programs. There are many things you can learn these days using online resources, so you can ensure that they fit around your personal schedule and that you haven’t got to go to a physical class our course to get it done. This can be extremely helpful for people who are busy.
Create A Morning Routine That Really Works
Make sure you create a morning routine that really works – but remember, you’ll only enjoy it if you take our initial advice and get enough sleep! Some people like to get up one to two hours earlier than usual so they have total solitude while they get things done. For example, you can use this time to take the time to read a helpful book, go for a run to make yourself feel more alert and ready to get things done and even spend time on your own side projects. Having a morning routine you enjoy will help you to feel like you have more hours in the day and leave you feeling more satisfied.
Figure Out If You’re Being Productive Or Just Busy
So, you’re a busy professional – but are you truly being productive, or just busy? There’s a difference! Many people say they are busy and act like they’re busy but aren’t actually getting that much done. In fact, many people can be addicted to feeling busy even if they aren’t being productive. Make sure you know the difference.
Make A List Of Your Priorities
Having a list of your priorities can help you to stay focused. What are the priorities you want to work on in terms of your skills and personal life? What are your priorities for the day ahead? When you figure out what your priorities are and you keep those lists as small and specific as possible, you’re far more likely to get them done.
Be Assertive About Setting Your Boundaries
You must be assertive about setting your boundaries. Make sure you feel like you can say no to commitments and requests that aren’t helping you. This can be emotionally challenging if you’re not used to saying no, but you have to do what’s best for you. Self-care is not a luxury. It’s not selfish and it’s not indulgent. Self-care is absolutely necessary to both your physical and mental health! The more you say ‘no’ to things you know you don’t really want to do, the better you’ll feel and the more stuff you can get done that you have actually prioritized.
Focus On Little And Often
When it comes to working on yourself, focus on little and often. You can do this when it comes to exercise, meditation, learning, and other beneficial activities. Little and often can be far more effective, rather than trying to fit everything into your day in big chunks. It can even help with getting work done, by working for a short time, then taking a short break, and continuing to do that until you’ve got it done. Doing it this way helps you to stay focused and motivated, and you don’t make excuses to put something big off, like an important work task or a big gym session.
You can help yourself by coming up with short yoga routines, practicing deep breathing to allow a moment of calm into your day, and journaling. Make sure you practice listening to your body so you know what you need.
Take A Break From Technology
Technology can get in the way of all kinds of things. It has been designed to be addictive, so it’s no wonder we can sit there staring at it for hours and then never quite pinpoint what we’ve been doing. Here are some pointers so you can take a break and avoid it getting in the way of working on yourself:
- Don’t use your phone as an alarm. You’ll likely scroll first thing in the morning and this can set the tone for the rest of the day.
- Stay away from your phone, emails, and other distractions for at least the first hour of the day. Use this time to get some real work done.
- Have a cut off period for using technology so you can wind down in the evening.
- Whenever you go to use social media or pick up your phone, have a set purpose in your head so you can avoid getting sidetracked.
How will you continue working on yourself?