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So much to do, but so little time. A lot of us face that dilemma. Have you heard this statement, “If you want to get something done ask a busy person”? Are you that person? I was and probably still am. I enjoy working with others; planning, organizing, and implementing programs/projects. On the other hand, I learned the hard way that one can get too much of a good thing.

Work-life-balance, know your limits and just-say-no could remedy the situation. Unfortunately, that is easier to say than do; especially if you are a recovering workaholic. A workaholic prides themselves on being able to get things done. Taking on projects appeals to their ego, needs, and desire to please people. The ego says no one else can do it as well as you. The people pleaser in them says, everyone is depending on you; you can’t let them down. Ironically, when a person takes on too many things it’s difficult to do all of them well. The efficacy of the project suffers and so do you. The moral of the story: the work will always be there, but you may not.

After admitting it, the first and most important step in a workaholic’s recovery is to think and practice self-care. Work-life-balance is a good thought, but you could have too much of everything.

There are 168 hours in a week. Add up the hours you spend in all of the things in which you’re involved including preparation and travel time. Sleep is included in that 168 hours, so don’t short change yourself there. Do you practice self-care with the time you have left after everything else is done? If that is the case, you probably don’t have any time for it.

I am from the Baby Boomer generation; whose members are characterized as driven, competitive and climb the corporate ladder types. For many of us self-care wasn’t in our vocabulary. One of my Millennial friends told me that he took a day off for “me time”. He didn’t deal with work or anything that would interrupt a quiet day of physical and emotional rest and relaxation. I told him how much I admired his ability to take a day for himself. For him it was no big deal. For some self-care is a part of life. I call it life balance.  

What does self-care look like for you? Here are a few suggestions: “Me time”, hobbies, face-to-face family time, meditation, exercise, staycation, vacation and camping to name a few. It doesn’t matter what you do, it’s that you do something to reduce the stress in your life. Change your thoughts, change your destiny!