Our careers are more demanding than ever. You find yourself doing the job of 2-3 people at times and feel like you can’t afford to unplug from your phone while you’re on vacation.We live in a society that encourages overwork and treats it as a signal of passion, commitment and productivity. There’s a sense of heroic self-sacrifice in our culture and the more hours we put it, the more success we’re expecting. Stress and being busy seems to be the new status symbol. However, we’re in the midst of a global epidemic of stress and burnout, costing trillions of dollars in healthcare and productivity.
Chronic exhaustion, fast food meals and no time for play won’t pave the path to fulfillment, that’s for sure. However, when you feel your best, you will be the most productive, happy, and hence successful.
Start taking time to recharge and you’ll be surprised how much more productive and happier you’ll be.
My absolute passion is rock climbing. I don’t even know where to start on why I love climbing so much. First, it is challenging. I’ve often looked at a wall and thought it must be impossible to climb, just using the tiny little holds that the rock formations offer. Then I got hooked and tried it over and over again, until I made it all the way to the top. Also, it is a tremendous work-out that doesn’t feel like one.
The best part of climbing is that you have to be really focused and be in the present moment. It allows me to quiet my thoughts, forget about my to-do list for a moment and just enjoy the here and now. I love being out in nature and climbing has brought me to beautiful spots on this earth I didn’t even know about. I love recharging in nature, getting off the beaten path, having no cell phone reception for a while and just being outside with my best friends. Such trips have allowed me to recharge my batteries, gain new perspectives and see solutions to challenges that I didn’t see before.
Take a moment and think about what stress is costing you.
What do you do to recharge? You don’t have to climb a 1000-foot wall to disconnect. Meet up with your friends, have a date night with your spouse or simply go for a walk and recharge in nature. Most importantly, be present and fully enjoy whatever it is you do.
I made this free guide on “5 Tips to Balance Career & Life”. Click here to check it out.