\u201cLife is much grayer and murkier, which is scary\u2014particularly when your capacity to tolerate discomfort is all used up during your work day,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
But letting work define you is problematic. When they\u2019re not at work, Canonico\u2019s clients describe feeling anxious, overwhelmed, lost, stuck and disconnected from themselves.<\/p>\n
Licensed mental health counselor Diane Webb noted that when people don\u2019t nourish their passions, they report a lower sense of who they are, a surge in depressed mood and a sense of emptiness. Some of Webb\u2019s clients describe feeling like a real-life version of the movie \u201cGroundhog Day.\u201d<\/p>\n
But it doesn\u2019t have to be this way. Below, you\u2019ll find a range of tips to help you figure out who you truly are outside of work, and as Webb said, \u201cgive your life a richness that is full of things that enlighten you, teach you, thrill you and soothe you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wander your city.<\/strong> This is what Tierno prescribes to clients who can\u2019t find anything they\u2019re interested in outside of work. Tierno is a\u00a0licensed clinical social worker and founder of\u00a0Online Therapy NYC<\/a>, where she specializes in helping dynamic, intelligent, driven, busy people to connect in healthier, more fulfilling relationships through online\u00a0therapy.<\/p>\n That is, explore your city without any agenda. The only rule is to pay attention to what piques your interest. Because that\u2019ll likely point you in the right direction.<\/p>\n \u201cIf your eye catches a spectacular piece of pottery in a shop window, let yourself go inside and spend some time looking around. Could this be the fledgling stages of a ceramics hobby?\u201d<\/p>\n After you\u2019ve gathered some data on what you might be curious about, give yourself several months to explore these interests, Tierno said. For instance, you might take a local class in wheel-throwing.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t be surprised if you feel some discomfort: \u201c[T]hese muscles have never been used before, or at least not in a very long time,\u201d Tierno said. You might be used to being in charge and being seasoned at work. Try to embrace the unfamiliar, and focus on the process.<\/p>\n Set boundaries. <\/strong>Many people don\u2019t have strict boundaries between work and home. Understandably. <\/em>As Webb said, \u201cPeople now carry their \u2018office\u2019 with them all day via their smartphone and other devices.\u201d\u00a0Maybe you actually work from home several days or every day. In other words, our home is no longer the place we exclusively relax and leave work behind.<\/p>\n Canonico stressed the importance of having a dedicated workspace to give yourself some concrete separation, if possible. Maybe that\u2019s an office, or a desk in your living room or the same corner of the couch or kitchen table (depending on how much space you have). She also suggested changing clothes as soon as you get home (or perhaps stop working), \u201cto \u2018take off\u2019 the day\u201d; and not checking email or working for at least one hour after waking up and two to three hours before bed.<\/p>\n Boundaries are critical when you\u2019re just starting your career, too. You might be tempted to work long hours and be available to your clients all the time. However, Canonico said it\u2019s best to set boundaries right away. This way, \u201cyour clients and colleagues [don\u2019t] have to \u2018unlearn\u2019 having 24\/7 access to you. It\u2019s easier to loosen as you go than tighten along the way.\u201d<\/p>\n Other examples of boundaries include: not responding to work-related matters on weekends, and requesting another team member if you\u2019re feeling overworked or overburdened, said Webb, who has a private psychotherapy practice in Clifton Park, N.Y., and pens the blog The Peace Journal<\/a> about helping people develop emotional wellness as a lifestyle choice.<\/p>\n Your \u201cboundaries with work should suit your work environment, the needs of your position and your individual needs to have the best result.\u201d<\/p>\n Revisit old hobbies. <\/strong>Reflect on the activities and hobbies that you loved as a child, teen or young adult. Then carve out time to practice them. According to Webb, this might be anything from sports to hiking to baking.<\/p>\n Revisit relationships. <\/strong>\u201cWhen someone\u2019s work life takes precedence, their personal relationships often start to suffer,\u201d Webb said. This is why she recommended refocusing on your relationships with a partner, kids, friends and family. Spend quality time with them. Have real conversations without interruption.<\/p>\n Create space to just be. <\/strong>\u201cWe have to intentionally create space for our true selves to emerge, which means holding time for ourselves to just be,\u201d Canonico said. This is also a helpful way to practice tolerating discomfort.<\/p>\n Canonico shared these examples: You might spend 20 minutes in the morning drinking your coffee or tea, without any digital devices, or spend Sunday afternoons by yourself. Notice what thoughts and feelings arise. Where does your mind go when there\u2019s no task or structure?<\/p>\n If you do need some structure, Canonico suggested finding writing prompts or doing Julia Cameron\u2019s Morning Pages<\/a>.<\/p>\n Meet like-minded people.<\/strong> Check out local meet-up groups, spiritual centers or adult sports teams, Webb said. Think about other places around potential passions, such as book clubs, art clubs and non-profit organizations. Tierno\u2019s clients are initially fearful that their work success will suffer if they focus on other things. However, she finds the opposite is true: \u201c[P]eople\u2019s work lives actually flourish when they dedicate time to rounding out their life experience. That fulfilled person brings far more energy and curiosity to their work life, and is a heck of a lot more interesting to talk with at the company holiday party.\u201d<\/p>\n Visit Original Source<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you love what you do, it\u2019s all-too easy for it to consume your identity\u2014especially if your career is demanding and fast-paced. You find yourself checking email after hours, and thinking about work. All. The. Time. You find yourself falling asleep with a laptop in your bed. It\u2019s also all-too <\/p>\n Read More<\/a>
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\nExperiment with new experiences.<\/strong> This might include anything from trying watercolor painting to taking a dance class to participating in National Novel Writing Month, Canonico said. Even if you end up not enjoying an experience, that\u2019s still important information. \u201cThere\u2019s no such thing as failing when it\u2019s an experiment.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Shared by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S., Contributing Blogger<\/a> August 29, 2018<\/p>\n