Cup of Inspiration

Today, November 1^st, we remember two holidays that may at first seem contradictory, but they don’t have to be. We celebrate Extra Mile Day, while at the same time we recognize International Stress Awareness Day. Today, remember that it is possible to go the extra mile, while also remembering to maintain good mental health.

When we think of going the extra mile, it can be assumed we’re talking about welcoming in more stress. After all, doesn’t taking on extra tasks at work mean further mental strain? Doesn’t volunteering for more committee duties include more sleepless nights while trying to get everything done? It isn’t possible to take on further training courses without building on more stressful hours to your day, is it?

However, when we go the extra mile at work, it doesn’t have to mean taking on more than you can handle. When you choose to participate in further training to improve your skill set, you don’t have to give up all your free time in the process. When you volunteer to help for an event, you don’t have to sign up for sleepless nights. Including more tasks at work doesn’t have to come at the expense of your happiness. It’s about time management and remembering your boundaries.

To maintain a healthy work-life balance, it is important to set boundaries. Note what hours you will allot to each area of your life. From that point, use time management to maximize each area without feeling a need to pull resources, such as time, from a different area. If you are set that you will have to log off for work no later than 5:30pm each day, with proper time management you can make this happen daily. You don’t have to decrease the evening hours you were allotting toward your family.

We have a variety of tools available to us to manage time efficiently. I use a combination of my Franklin planner along with Outlook to keep my schedule straight. What tools do you use to keep track of your daily schedule and tasks? The important thing to remember is that going the extra mile doesn’t mean saying yes to everything. Taking on one extra task for work that will allow you to still log off by 5:30pm shows teamwork and initiative. It isn’t necessary to take on everything thrown in your direction.

By keeping a constant awareness of your boundaries, and holding to your daily and weekly plans, it is possible to go the extra mile without sacrificing your mental health. You can push yourself to learn a new skill, to grab on to that next opportunity, to show what you can do. Just don’t lose yourself in the process. Your mental health is every bit as important as your physical health.

As a quick side note, today is also Eat Smart Day. Perhaps choosing a nice crispy apple instead of a candy bar, a nice salad instead of a greasy hamburger, and a nice light dinner instead of a heavy pasta dish tonight will give you the energy you need for going that extra mile.