I recently facilitated a life/work balance workshop for 40 teachers to set them up for success for the new school year.
We looked at ways to put them firmly in the driver’s seat when it comes to their energy, mood and mindset and to go through their day mindfully and productively -giving the best of themselves while in their role and with energy left at the end of the day for who and what they love outside of work.
All the while role-modelling ways of BE-ing that show our younger generation how to survive and thrive in our busy, modern world.
Work/life balance isn’t just a challenge for teachers. It’s one of the top stress complaints within all workplaces.
While we are never going to be able to completely eradicate stress or achieve “perfect” balance in all areas of our life, we can learn to better manage our response to stress and to have a smoother ride.
Three key ways we can do this are through:
- Self-Awareness: Having an understanding of our personal stress signs and symptoms, the things that typically throw us off balance AND the tools and the techniques that can help keep us on an even keel and bring balance “back to the force”!.
- Presence: Practising mindfulness. Science has proven that when we are mindfully present our central nervous system can relax which allows us to be more focused and calm and less reactive. It can also disrupt negative thought patterns and improve the quality of our relationships.
- Attitude: Cultivating the ability to flip the switch on the sometimes crappy things that happen in life and to choose an optimistic and grateful state of being regardless of what is going on around us.
I personally know the value of these techniques having successfully applied them in my own life to overcome corporate burn-out and adrenal fatigue.
While life still presents challenges, I now have a toolkit to help keep me on an even keel and feel more in control of my life and my energy, mood and mindset.
And I am so grateful I get to share these tools through my work and to help others create more joy, connection, resilience and purpose in their lives and “work families”.
How would it feel to put yourself back in the driver’s seat of your life and to enjoy a smoother ride?