Work it Out: Confessions of a workoholic

13 January 2012 One Comment

How to stop revolving your life around your work

By Chellie Mejia, B.Sc.

Hi, my name is Chellie, and I’m a workaholic.

I’ve of course known this for a while, but it hasn’t been a problem until recently. You see, I’m a mother and a wife now, so there are people and projects and appointments outside of work that now demand my attention, and that’s been a difficult balance what with my nasty little condition.

So with the date nights, the play dates, the dinner prep and the amazingly constant cleaning schedule, I’ve had no choice but to develop my very own five-step program for workaholics.

Step One. Decide when to hit the off switch, and stick to it. 5pm, 6pm, whatever works for you, but make this a hard line and don’t cross it. Tell your office not to call you after this time and don’t take your work home. Once that time hits, you’re officially off the clock, so do yourself a favour, and don’t even think about it.

Step Two. Communication devices are your enemy. Most smart phones have features now that let you filter when work emails will be delivered to your device. Use them. Don’t check your work email and don’t take your mobile devices on vacations, to your kid’s Christmas concert or to weddings and family reunions. I’ve taken to letting my phone die and not even trying to find the charger. Trust me. It’s blissful.

Step Three. Distract yourself with other tasks. Now that you’ve got all this free time on your hands, fill it with something constructive! Plan a family picnic on a Saturday afternoon, take your kid to swimming lessons once a week, or start a daily workout schedule.

Step Four. Learn to relax. If relaxing is a word that’s been lacking in your vocabulary since high school, it might do you well to practice relaxing. Sounds silly, I know, but trust me, it works. Just take 10 to 15 minutes out of your day to schedule some solitude. You can read a book, relax with a hot bath or meditate.

Step Five. Let yourself feel good about it. Sometimes it’s good to be lazy, and that’s a hard concept to get for us workaholics. Constantly working hard is not the only virtuous way. A lot can be accomplished in maintaining a healthy and positive mindset by just closing your eyes under a tree in the springtime, and when we don’t manage that aspect of our lives, things can start to go very wrong. Relationships can be ruined and our bodies can start to physically show the strain that we’re mentally putting on ourselves. Give yourself permission to relax and feel good.

Don’t get me wrong. I thoroughly enjoy my work. But it’s been a healthy lesson for me to realize that there is a rewarding and fulfilling life outside of my work as well. Nurturing this sense of self as being worthwhile apart from my career goals and accomplishments has been a developmental task, but one that has paid off immeasurably.

Trust me. Try it. It’s not so bad at all.

Chellie Mejia is a freelance writer, real estate developer and lifestyle coach. Follow Chellie on Twitter @chelliemejia. Visit her new website www.chelliemejia.com.