We as a generation are running into a different set of challenges that our parents and grandparents faced. Of course they faced difficult challenges as well, but things were different back then. Just ask them they’ll tell you.
Look at technology alone. Sure it brings to us tremendous advantages, but at the same time it brings increasing stress over a constantly ringing cell phone, an unending string of emails, and the luring distraction of the internet. Even just deciding what to watch of TV can be a challenge because of the abundance of choice. These challenges are just piled on to the already existing challenges of work, school, kids, school activities, bills, etc.
The first tip is to learn to work in smaller, more focused chunks of time. It’s too easy to get sucked into this constant sort of “grey zone” work all the time. You know the type where you are kind of a zombie and just get through your day.
The typical workday may start at 9:00 in the morning and end at 5:00. Often phone calls and emails start the day earlier and end the workday later. Instead of sitting down at your desk and doing a marathon through the day, you might consider breaking your day into small chucks of 90-120 minute blocks of time. Focus for 90 minutes then take a 10-15 minute break where you completely disengage. You will start to feel your energy levels surge.
The second tip is to become aware of and become an expert at developing rituals. You already make them, but the ones you are developing automatically are likely not of much help to you. Its helpful to think of a high performance athlete like a world-class sprinter, or professional football quarterback. What do you think they do before a game? They have a set of routines or rituals that get them into “high performance” state. They then have a wind down ritual that gets them out of that state.
Just like its important to get into work mode, its also important to get out of it. Many of us struggle with that part. We bring our laptops to bed with us working and worrying until the moment our heads hit the pillow.
If we learn to consciously develop a nighttime ritual, we will notice an immediate difference in the quality (which is just as important as quantity) of our rest. A typical nighttime wind down ritual may be to eat a light snack, drink some herbal decaffeinated tea, read a book, listen to some relaxing music, and turn down the lights. Make sure to turn off the TV and computer as part of this nighttime ritual. You will then teach your body that you are changing state from high performance, to deep and quality rest.
Anyone who has a child knows about the “nap window of time”. You know when your 1 year old is tired and you know that if you don’t get them down for a nap they will turn into the “terror child”. They will turn whinny, irritable and unhappy.
As adults we have that same window of opportunity. Too often we miss it and work passed it. We start behaving like a 1 year old who missed his nap and then complain that we can’t get to sleep or that we aren’t getting rejuvenated from our sleep. We need to learn to listen to our bodies when we get tired and stop everything to get to sleep before it’s too late.
Many people are suffering from the debilitating symptoms of overworked adrenal glands leading to what’s called adrenal fatigue. This occurs when we the adrenal glands are worn out, exhausted, and they stop functioning properly. What happens to you? You feel tired and wired all the time.
If you find yourself constantly tired and wired and can’t seem to recharge even from a good nights rest you may be experiencing adrenal fatigue. However, the cure for it is to learn to manage your energy levels and do more adrenal/energy building activities. I promise you, you won’t regret it.
Gerry Geneva is an energy management expert that works with professionals on restoring full function of the adrenal glands through natural methods. He runs and operates My Adrenal Fatigue which is a resource for those suffering from low energy levels and in particular adrenal fatigue.
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