Written by: Britt-Mari Sykes, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Many clients I work with take pride in their chosen careers, in their professionalism, and in their work ethic, and yet they are also experiencing high levels of stress or burnout. This undermines their productivity and leaves them feeling chronically overwhelmed and disengaged from their daily tasks and responsibilities, as well as from the careers they are devoted to.
Consider the following
Have you noticed how productivity, professionalism, and even having a strong work ethic have become conflated with the prioritization of work over other areas of our lives, the normalization of hyper-busyness, and overextension of ourselves at work?
Can such a view of productivity really guarantee engagement and quality of work?
Does our productivity, in fact, increase, and is that productivity sustained, by working longer and longer hours each day? Does productivity increase with less and less time to rest, rejuvenate, and nurture other personal interests and/or areas of our lives?
Ask yourself
Has this conflated narrative made it increasingly difficult for you to set and maintain individual boundaries to meet your need for rest, replenishment, and rejuvenation?
Find space in your life and take your time
9 Take your time tips
When we take time, we gain cognitive and emotional space. We become more open and receptive to what we are feeling and experiencing. We are better able to turn our attention towards the realities of our lives. This helps us reflect, gain perspective, and contextualize our choices and decisions, our behaviors, and our attitudes. This gives us the capacity to observe what might be needed, and what could be changed or adjusted in our lives, our relationship with work and career, and even in our workplaces.
When we take time, we can more realistically assess the boundaries in our lives, or where boundaries are needed. We have room to contemplate what might be possible, what we have control over, what we can let go of, and what small changes we can practice integrating into our lives daily. This helps us begin to design more personally appropriate boundaries between our work lives and the rest of our lives.
When we take time, we intentionally create space(s) of respite in our lives. Taking time is an active, deliberate demarcation of time and space to nurture ourselves, to nurture the different areas of our lives that we value, to nurture our relationships, and to feel the different capacities we possess, away from work.
When we take time, we become more aware of and more attuned to, our individual rhythm. When we feel more connected to our individual rhythm, we feel more fully present, engaged, and authentic in our dealings with the people and the world around us.
When we take time, we have room to express ourselves beyond the functional tasks of our work. We open ourselves to creative expression, and to physical expression through sports, exercise, and movement. We open all our senses to discovery. We recalibrate our lives away from the heavily strategic to the experiential. This helps us to feel more balanced. It helps us become more intentional and purposeful in making space in our lives for the things we are personally motivated by and deeply connected to.
When we take time, we are (re)investing in our lives and in what we value. This might be time spent in conversation with friends, time enjoying a meal or a celebration with loved ones, time for our close relationships, time for an activity we enjoy, time for exercise, time spent in nature, or even allowing for some regular unstructured time. This is restorative time that also gives us space to feel ourselves in other areas of our lives, away from work.
When we take time, we open ourselves to a wider horizon, to the world around us. We open ourselves to other areas of life besides work where we can dedicate ourselves, where “I” might be needed, or where “I” could contribute. We open ourselves to participating and engaging in other environments, experiencing ourselves differently from our work identities. Engagement, participation, and contribution are keys to experiencing fulfillment and a strong antidote to burnout.
When we take time, we discover and experience what is meaningful in our lives.
When we take time, we feel more connected, engaged, and invested in our work, AND we are far more productive.
Take your time…
Are you having difficulty finding space in your life to rest and rejuvenate? Are you having difficulty setting boundaries? Looking for conversation and perspective on your relationship with work and career? Career Counselling can help at any stage of your career life. Contact us here for more information or to book a consultation.
Britt-Mari Sykes, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Britt-Mari Sykes Ph.D. is a Career Counsellor and founder of CANVAS Career Counselling working remotely with clients across Canada. Britt-Mari offers a reflective and strategic process to clients, one that integrates their lived experiences, values, and aspirations. This experiential approach to career counselling helps clients gain greater clarity and perspective and design practical steps towards a more meaningful relationship with work and career.
