The World is a Different Place after after a Sleep and a Feed!

Have you ever felt like things are too much to handle? You are tired, over it and hoping for something better to happen. Then you realise you haven't had breakfast, so you make a cup of tea, a piece of toast and grab a banana. You sit on the lounge, eat, drink and before you know it you've fallen asleep for a ten minute power nap. You wake feeling great and ready to take on the world. Have anything like this ever happened to you?

As home business owners and parents, life can be very busy. It is very easy to get caught up in our work and/or children, before we know it more than half the day is gone and we haven't even eaten! Lack of sleep is also almost a given for parents, especially parents of young children. If you aren't disciplined it is very easy to find ourselves working late nights and ridiculous hours.

How can we ensure we are looking after ourselves by having adequate rest and eating properly?

• Set yourself some boundaries as to when you can and can't work. Write it down and put it somewhere you can see it.
• Regularly designate family time, partner time and even time for yourself.
• Allow yourself to have regular breaks. Your work will still be there after a break and you most probably will be more effective after a break as you will be more refreshed and energised.
• When you are having a break, let go of your worries and enjoy the break. A break with your mind racing and/or feeling stressed out is not really a break.
• If you find it hard to let go then experiment with different ways to help you relax until you find something that suits you.
• If your work involves a lot of time in front of the computer then make sure you get up regularly to walk around and stretch.
• Factor breakfast into your day, along with other regular meals and snacks.
• Eat a healthy balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables and minimal refined carbohydrates, trans fat, high sodium and high sugar food.
• Drink plenty of water, atleast 2 litres a day.
• Take a multivitamin.

Here are some great ways to help you relax;

• Breathing exercises (deep abdominal breathing opposed to shallow chest breathing.)
• Self-massage
• Sit outside in nature
• Write a short journal
• Draw a picture
• Stretch
• Go for a walk
• Put some music on
• Do something silly or enjoyable, for example dance around the house
• Recall something funny or enjoyable that you did.

Kym Presdee
Owner - Work at Home Hub