Is Time Stress An Epidemic For You? - Work Smart. Live Smart.

Take Back Your Time

Time is the most valuable coin in your life. You and you alone will determine how that coin will be spent. Be careful that you don’t let other people spend it for you. Unknown

Are you overworked, over-scheduled and just plain stressed out?

Take Back Your Time is an initiative to challenge this epidemic of time stress.

Time Stress threatens our:

Health. Time stress leads to fatigue, accidents and injuries. We have reduced energy for exercise and encourages consumption of calorie-laden fast foods.
Relationships. As we find less time for each other, our ability to connect, empathize and communicate is impaired.
Communities. With time stress, we have less time to know our neighbors or volunteer.
Growth. Time stress leaves us little energy for self-development or for spiritual growth.
Environment. Studies show that lack of time encourages use of convenience and throwaway items and reduces recycling.

Preventing illness, slowing down the aging process and living life to the fullest – these are a few of the reasons Canadians are craving a healthier, more balanced lifestyle. Beverly Beuermann-King Click to tweet

Remember Your History:

Hours spent at work peaked during the industrial era. In the late 19th and early 20th century, labor unions secured a string of successes in the shortening the workday. First it was the 12-hour day, then the 10-hour day, the eight-hour day, and finally the move to the five-day work week. In a half a century we went from 80-hour weeks to 40-hour. The expectation, of course, was that this trend would continue. However, the trend changed and we are moving back to the 80-hour work week. Work-life balance and satisfaction has become elusive again.

Beverly’s Tips For Building Your Resiliency and Celebrating National Take Back Your Time Week:

Schedule downtime. At least once during the day, you should allow yourself the luxury of having a period of time to decompress. The simplest and easiest strategy to use is deep breathing. Deep breathing seems to have very powerful effects. It can be done by anyone, anywhere and in any circumstance.It can also be used during an emergency to increase our capacity for problem solving and decrease the effects of the stress response such as muscle tension, headaches and increased heart rate. Try deep breathing today and notice the effect it has on you. Once started, it will soon become one of the best stress busters in your arsenal.
Create off-work zones. Determine what times during the day are off-limits for working, including no e-mail, or text messages. By defining these zones such as at meal time, bed-time and days off we are creating the space for rejuvenation and connection.
Schedule your TV/gaming/movie time. According to the Statisa.com, the average Canadian 25-54 watches 20.3 hours per week of television. Instead of haphazardly sitting in front of the screen, choose three or four shows per week you enjoy the most, and schedule them in your calendar or set a time limit on how long your are going to play your favourite game. Make your TV/screen time a purposeful activity, rather than an unconscious habit, and you’ll take back some of your valuable time.
Learn to say no. Say no to things that are outside of your priority. Say no to working late, especially if it is self-imposed. Say no to extra activities if you are feeling stretched to thin. Saying no now, does not mean that it will be a no forever. When you feel like it is a priority and you have the time to dedicate to the activity without compromising yourself, then it is okay to say yes.