The excitement that comes with starting something new can be
exhilarating, yet maintaining that energy and a healthy work-life balance for
the long haul can be difficult. The long hours and commitment may seem
easy in the beginning, yet over time the ongoing demands of your time and
energy to see your project through can be exhausting. Life falls out of
balance, tipping the scales too much toward one part of your world and
missing out on others. Whether you are creating a new business startup,
you’re starting a position with a new company, you’ve been promoted or
you have an idea for a new product or service within your existing
business, consider FOCUS to help set yourself up for success.
F. Flexibility. Life is a balancing act, and balance requires constant
adjustments to stay upright. If we consider our mental, emotional, spiritual
and physical needs, neglecting any one area or over-focusing on another
for too long will certainly negatively impact our lives. This loss of balance
creates chaos in our lives and in our relationships, disrupting our overall
health and wellness and our ability to be our best selves at home or at
work. As our life circumstances change, being flexible in our self-care
needs in each area of life will build resiliency to help us meet life challenges
with greater balance.
O. Optimism. An optimistic outlook is often assumed to be inherently
beneficial, but let’s be clear. Optimism is very different than just wishful
thinking. Optimism considers the possible positives and negatives more
objectively, yet chooses not to dwell too much on the negative. Optimism
allows us to visualize our dreams coming true, boosting our resolve to not
give up when the going gets tough.
C. Creativity. “When we change the way we look at things, the things we
look at change.” ~Max Planck Occasionally taking a step back from what
we are focused on can help us to see things from a new perspective,
sparking creative thinking and new ideas. Engaging in activities we enjoy,
spending time with friends and family, going outside for some fresh
air…experimenting to discover what expands our energy will give us
options we can use when we feel our energy waning.
U. Unwavering Belief. Being solid in our vision of what we want and why
is imperative. There will be challenges and there will be moments of doubt.
Being specific in what we’re choosing to spend our time and energy on and
why, and finding ways to consistently keep this at the forefront of our
thinking will help us to maintain motivation through it all.
S. Self-Awareness. Taking time for self-reflection can help us to better
understand who we are as individuals and what is important to us, bringing
greater clarity and purpose to how we choose to spend our time and
energy. Recognizing our strengths and weaknesses, how we feel about
ourselves and how we relate to the world around us will help us to be more
mindful of our choices. As we are always learning and evolving, self-
awareness is never perfect. We can spend a lifetime being curious and
introspective.
When the “newness” wears off, the day-to-day stress of seeing your project
through can slow or even stop your forward momentum. What once filled
your cup may now drain your mental, emotional, spiritual and physical
energy. We often need to be reminded, “It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon!”
Or, “Slow and steady wins the race!” FOCUS can help you to maintain
perspective, find improved work-life balance and earn you greater life
satisfaction and success.
~Nicole Hutchison, PT, CSCS, Holistic Health & Integrative Nutrition Coach