As a busy person who works hard, it can be easy to get caught up in the daily grind and neglect your well-being. I know this struggle all too well. Between my demanding job, family commitments, and other responsibilities, it can feel like there’s never enough time in the day to focus on my mental and physical health. However, I’ve come to realize that prioritizing my well-being is essential for my long-term success and happiness. In this blog, I’ll share some strategies and tools that have helped me manage my well-being and build resilience.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey has been a game-changer for me. This model emphasizes personal responsibility, proactivity, and a focus on the end goal. By developing these habits, I’ve been able to cultivate a mindset of success and take control of my life. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to improve their personal and professional lives.
To get started, I used a mission statement builder to clarify my values and goals. This tool helped me identify my core beliefs and what matters most to me. With this clarity, I can make decisions that align with my values and work towards my vision for the future.
Time management has also been crucial for me. The time management matrix is a helpful tool for prioritizing tasks and focusing on what’s most important. By focusing on tasks in the top two categories, I can make sure I’m spending my time on activities that align with my goals and values.
Resilience is another critical skill for managing well-being. We can build resilience through techniques like positive self-talk, practicing mindfulness, and seeking support from others. Setting boundaries is also an important aspect of resilience. By setting boundaries, we can protect our time and energy and prevent excessive stress from entering our lives.
One important concept to consider when managing well-being is the stress bucket model. This model describes how stress accumulates in our lives, similar to water filling up a bucket. When our stress bucket overflows, it can lead to burnout and other negative outcomes. To manage our stress bucket, we need to practice self-care activities and set boundaries to prevent excessive stress from entering our lives.
The wheel of balance activity is another helpful tool for managing well-being. This activity involves assessing different areas of our lives, such as career, relationships, and health, and rating our satisfaction with each area. From there, we can identify areas that need more attention and make changes to create a more balanced life.
In a job interview, I was asked about my resilience. To prepare my answer, I reflected on a time when I faced a challenge and overcame it. I considered what skills and strategies I used to cope with the situation and what I learned from the experience.
One simple daily practice that has been helpful for me is the three good things exercise. At the end of each day, I write down three positive things that happened. This practice helps cultivate gratitude and a positive mindset, which can improve mental health and resilience.
Finally, I’ve come to realize that resilience and recovery go hand in hand. It’s important to take time for self-care activities like exercise, spending time with loved ones, or enjoying a hobby. These activities help recharge my batteries and improve my mental and physical health.
If you’re new to self-care practices, I highly recommend trying a mindfulness podcast or TED talk on self-care. These resources can provide tips and guidance on how to manage stress and cultivate well-being.
In conclusion, managing well-being as a busy person who works hard can be challenging, but it’s essential for long-term success and happiness. By using tools like the 7 habits, time management matrix, and wheel of life balance, you can prioritize what matters most and build resilience. Remember to take time for self-care activities and seek support from others when needed. With these strategies, you can thrive in your personal and professional life.
References:
Covey, S.R. (1989). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster.
Frankl, V.E. (1984). Man’s Search for Meaning. New York, NY: Washington Square Press.
Gallagher, M.W., Lopez, S.J., & Preacher, K.J. (2009). The Stress Buffering Role of Resilience in the Relationship Between Big Five Personality Traits and Coping Styles. Anxiety, Stress & Coping, 22(6), 6-6. doi: 10.1080/10615800802609965
Miller, J., & C’de Baca, J. (2001). A Simple Guided Imagery Technique for Enhancing Resilience. American Journal of Health Promotion, 16(6), 364-370. doi: 10.4278/0890-1171-16.6.364
Padesky, C.A. (1994). Schema Change Processes in Cognitive Therapy. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 1(4), 267-278. doi: 10.1002/cpp.1810010404
Wang, C., & Chen, J. (2017). Positive Psychology Interventions in Breast Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Nursing Sciences, 4(1), 93-98. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnss.2016.12.004