It’s been six months since Christmas and for many of us, six months since we’ve had a well earned break.
If you’re exhausted, you wouldn’t be alone. So how are you going to get through the rest of the year, meet those June deadlines and, more importantly, be at your best self for the start of the financial year?
According to Melbourne Corporate Health expert, Ireene Siniakis, there are five simple steps all of us can do to help prevent work burnout and keep energy levels up — without having to resort to artificial measures, such as caffeine. While she tells Women’s Agenda she’d prefer our employers would step in to allow more time and flexibility for us to exercise during the workday — perhaps by offering longer lunch breaks and gym memberships — she also knows many of us are not in a position to make such requests.
However, we can all personally do more to manage our own well being. Indeed, Simiakis believes that instead of putting our personal needs aside in order to meet a deadline or high-pressure situation, we should instead continually prioritise our health to avoid bigger issues down the track. Taking a “holistic approach to work and life balance” means that both areas of our lives will ultimately benefit.
Below are Siniakis’ tips for those feeling the end of financial year pressure.
- Stop and breathe. Then assess if the task/s actually need to be completed this financial year – what happens if it ticks over after July 1.
- Drink water. In the lead up to the new financial year more time than ever is spent in air-conditioned offices – this dehydrates major organs including the skin. Sipping water throughout the day also keeps you alert and focused.
- Walk it Out. When focused too long on a particular task you can experience ‘brain fog’. Even though June is the start of the cold winter months, lunchtime is a good time to stretch your legs, get some natural light and maximise the heat of the day.
- Limit the caffeine. As the tiredness takes over, the natural reaction is to reach for a coffee. Instead try to get an early night and call it a day at the office. There is still another three weeks until the end of financial year – pace yourself.
- Graze all day. Leaving healthy snacks such as nuts, carrots and fruit on your desk (within your vision), allows you to snack regularly and not have to waste time doing runs to the cafeteria for junk food.