We've all had those weekends where we spend hours devouring self-improvement blogs and videos. We decide that we're going to commit to self-care and bettering ourselves. However, by the time Monday has come and gone, work has left you so exhausted that the idea of going to the gym or reading a complicated book sounds like torture. Instead, you just want to curl up on the couch and watch TV.
It's hard to stick to a self-improvement routine when work is stressful. However, it's possible to do it if you know how to manage both your stress levels and your time. No matter how demanding your job may be, here's how you can stay happy, motivated and productive.
Stay Positive At Work
It's not what happens to us that dictates our moods, but rather how we respond to these outside forces and incidents. Someone who works a very stressful job but who remains positive will likely be less stressed than someone who works a fairly easy job but overreacts to every little issue and problem.
Staying positive at work is easier said than done when you have to deal with the constant demands of patients and a fast paced clinic schedule. However, you are indeed ultimately in control of how you react to the world around you. Even on days when work is especially stressful, try to keep a smile on your face and a pep in your step. If you can change how you react to stressful work events, you'll feel the negative impact of them much less.
Keep Up Healthy Habits
When you're stressed and tired from work, it's easy to want to devour a fatty meal for lunch or snack on potato chips when you get home. Food can be very comforting and many people use it as a crutch to deal with their stressful professional lives.
While junk food might give you a moment of happiness amidst the stress of your professional life, it'll ultimately just make you feel a lot worse. A poor diet makes us feel sluggish and worn-down. A healthy diet helps to give us energy and alertness, which makes it easier to perform a demanding job without growing exhausted or grouchy.
During the day, snack on healthy whole foods like nuts and veggies. Try to eat a lunch that is satisfying but healthy. Ditch soda and energy drinks in favor of plenty of water and black coffee when you need a boost. If you keep your diet healthy, you'll have more energy to stick to your goals.
Set Reasonable Goals For Yourself
If you set unreasonable goals for yourself, it's unlikely that you'll accomplish them and you'll end up feeling worse than if you'd never set any goals at all. We all have things that we want to accomplish outside of work, but we need to be practical in estimating what we can get done in what time frame.
For example, if you want to get into shape, it's unlikely that you're going to be able to hit the gym after every workday for an hour and a half. You're going to be too tired from work and such a rigorous fitness schedule will just drain you even more. However, if you commit to taking a 30 minute stroll around your neighborhood three work days a week, you're much more likely to actually follow through on this plan. Eventually, you can start adding more intense fitness sessions and exercise classes to your weekend schedule.
Ultimately, staying motivated to improve yourself can be challenging when you have a very stressful job. You need to take care of yourself and try to stay positive no matter what life throws your way. Be kind to yourself and don't set yourself up for failure by setting goals that you aren't likely to achieve. Remember, self-care is crucial if you want to be happy and productive.