This article details the implications of ill-balance and some things to consider about wellbeing
Wellbeing is a combination of a person’s physical, mental, emotional and relationship health.
Wellbeing is strongly linked to feeling joyful and having a sense of purpose – be that at home or at work. In short, it could be described as how you generally feel about yourself and your life.
As busy working parents or carers, how can we stay healthy and feel consistently vital amidst our work and family responsibilities?
This course provides practical ways to balance your daily demands as parents, carers and professionals so that you can take your career and family wellbeing to a new level.
What are the implications of ill-balance?
Australians are stressing more than ever according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
- 75% of Australian’s surveyed admitted that stresses in their lives adversely affected their physical health (ABS)
- 1 in 3 women experience anxiety (Beyond Blue)
- 1 in 2 Australian men will have cancer by the time they are 85. (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare)
- 1 in 3 men at any one time are living with a chronic health condition. (AIHW)
- Stress at work is now ‘a worldwide epidemic’ (WHO and UN ILO)
Over time, continued strain on your body from stress, overwhelm, depression, and/or anxiety can lead to serious health problems, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, anxiety disorder, and other illnesses.
The question is, as busy people, how are we to avoid the dismal statistics and health conditions listed above, amidst our at times demanding work and family responsibilities?
Some things to consider when it comes to wellbeing
It doesn’t matter how organised we are at work if our home environment is neglected, and vice versa. The two are closely intertwined and will always impact on one another, so it is best to not place your focus on one, but to keep your eye on the ball with both. When one appears to be slipping, give it a little more care and attention and look at what has entered to create the slip. This way you can prevent it from happening again.
Consider that how we are at home impacts how we are at work. Think of it as if one particular aspect of your life is not addressed and taken care of, it affects all other aspects. For example, a messy and cluttered room or work desk can contribute to a messy and cluttered mind. All of this has an impact on our overall health and wellbeing.
Perfection does not exist. More to the point, it only serves to put pressure on ourselves that eventually leads to disappointment and self-degradation. Worrying about what other people think, setting unrealistic goals or expectations, or judging ourselves and others, all contribute to the eternal wheel of perfectionism, a wheel that many people find difficult to step off.
Letting go of needing things, or ourselves to be perfect, is key to achieving good balance and wellbeing.