Everybody has to work, because it is the only way you can provide for you and your family. If you don't go to work, you don't earn any money and you simply cannot afford to live the lifestyle you want. Thus, no matter how disinclined you are to work, the motivation to earn money is always there. For most people it is being able to earn a wage that keeps them going to work every day, though there are some individuals who rather than just working to live, actually live for their work. They may not have any interests outside of their job and so focus all their energies on their career.
This isn't always a bad thing. If you enjoy your job, why not spend your time coming up with ideas and completing the tasks that need doing? You're actually rather lucky if you enjoy the work you do, since many people find themselves stuck in a dead-end job that gives them very little satisfaction. These individuals have to find some way of motivating themselves to get up in the morning and so they focus on the fact it is only by working that they are able to purchase luxury items and participate in their favourite hobbies.
There is a danger that if you live to work you won't have anything other than your job to keep you occupied. If you fall ill and are no longer able to work, will you have anyone to look after you if you have never bothered to cultivate any relationships outside of the workplace? Everyone needs somebody to lean on, occasionally, but if you work long hours and never make an effort to meet people you could find yourself all alone in the world. Whilst you are working you have something to concentrate on, but what about when you retire? It is therefore worth recognising that there is more to life than just work.
If, on the other hand, you are someone who loathes your job, but keeps on working to earn money in order to live, you may want to reconsider what it is you are doing. Since you will be working for the majority of your adult life it might be worth looking for a job which challenges or interests you and which doesn't make you feel anxious and depressed. This may require you to shift your focus on to what the job actually entails, rather than how much money you are likely to earn. Perhaps you're earning enough money to make it worth enduring a boring or stressful job, so that you decide to remain in the rut you find yourself in.
At the end of the day, it is your life and so it is up to you to decide what your priorities are. Obviously, the ideal situation would be one in which you have a fulfilling job that pays well and leaves you with enough time to spend with friends and family. However, everyone is different and if you enjoy your job and aren't interested in having a family, you may decide to concentrate on your career and nothing else, whereas if all you care about is your family and life outside of work your career may be of less concern to you. As long as you're happy, it shouldn't really matter.
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Wednesday, 20 November 2013
Is Your Job Causing You to Gain Weight?
When you're piling on the pounds it is tempting to look around for a convenient excuse, such as you don't have the time to exercise or make nutritious meals because of your job. However, although your job might make weight gain more likely, it doesn't mean that you have to accept this situation. At the end of the day, you put on weight by consuming an excess number of calories and so you obviously have to look at ways to bring down your calorie intake or increase your calorie expenditure or perhaps a bit of both.
It is certainly better to be proactive about your weight gain than to simply blame your job, as this won't help in any way. Of course, if you have a long commute to work and spend a lot of hours in the office, it can be hard to make time for exercise. It can also be difficult to motivate yourself to get up early to go for a jog and the last thing you feel like doing when coming home from work is going to the gym. You therefore have to look for ways to increase your activity levels that will get you burning more calories without seeming like an inconvenience.
This may require you to cycle to work, instead of taking the car, or getting off the bus a stop early and walking. You may decide to start taking the stairs instead of the elevator and maybe doing a few squats and lunges in the office when no one is looking. It is important to make exercise part of your day, so that it becomes a habit and you don't question whether you should do it or not. Regular exercise is the most effective way of ensuring you maintain a healthy weight, especially when you have a job which involves sitting down all day.
You also have to look at your diet if you find yourself getting heavier. You may not have time to cook your own meals, but that doesn't mean you can't eat something lower in calories. After all, it is consuming a greater number of calories than your body burns that leads to weight gain. You therefore have to reduce your calorie intake by eating fewer snacks and serving smaller portions at meal times. It is also a good idea to replace calorific snacks, such as chocolate, with something that is filling and not as calorific, such as fruit.
It can be a challenge to control your calorie intake when you have a stressful job that leads you to comfort eat and you can't be really be bothered to pay much attention to the food you consume. However, if you want to avoid weight gain or you hope to lose a few pounds you have to make an effort to curb the number of calories you consume and get more exercise, as this is more productive than simply moaning about your weight and blaming your job when really it is up to you to take responsibility for your actions.
It is certainly better to be proactive about your weight gain than to simply blame your job, as this won't help in any way. Of course, if you have a long commute to work and spend a lot of hours in the office, it can be hard to make time for exercise. It can also be difficult to motivate yourself to get up early to go for a jog and the last thing you feel like doing when coming home from work is going to the gym. You therefore have to look for ways to increase your activity levels that will get you burning more calories without seeming like an inconvenience.
This may require you to cycle to work, instead of taking the car, or getting off the bus a stop early and walking. You may decide to start taking the stairs instead of the elevator and maybe doing a few squats and lunges in the office when no one is looking. It is important to make exercise part of your day, so that it becomes a habit and you don't question whether you should do it or not. Regular exercise is the most effective way of ensuring you maintain a healthy weight, especially when you have a job which involves sitting down all day.
You also have to look at your diet if you find yourself getting heavier. You may not have time to cook your own meals, but that doesn't mean you can't eat something lower in calories. After all, it is consuming a greater number of calories than your body burns that leads to weight gain. You therefore have to reduce your calorie intake by eating fewer snacks and serving smaller portions at meal times. It is also a good idea to replace calorific snacks, such as chocolate, with something that is filling and not as calorific, such as fruit.
It can be a challenge to control your calorie intake when you have a stressful job that leads you to comfort eat and you can't be really be bothered to pay much attention to the food you consume. However, if you want to avoid weight gain or you hope to lose a few pounds you have to make an effort to curb the number of calories you consume and get more exercise, as this is more productive than simply moaning about your weight and blaming your job when really it is up to you to take responsibility for your actions.
Signs Work is Taking Over Your Life
If you are unable to go a single minute of the day without thinking about work, it is clear that work is starting to take over your life. This isn't a healthy situation to be in, particularly if other areas of your life are suffering. When all you can think about is work you won't be able to give your full attention to your children or partner and your obsession with work could interfere with your social life. It might be difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep, so that you're always tired and struggle to concentrate, whilst you may neglect your exercise regime and pick up increasingly bad habits, such as eating junk food and drinking too much.
If you constantly feel overwhelmed, stressed and anxious because of your work, it might be time to consider looking elsewhere for a job or at least finding a way to improve the situation you're in. This might involve talking to your boss and working fewer hours or seeking the help of a counsellor, so that you can talk through your problems with someone. What you shouldn't do is ignore a situation where work is taking over your life and you're left feeling depressed and run down all the time.
If you don't address the problem it is only going to get worse. If you really enjoy your job, you might not be that bothered if work takes over your life, but you have to remember other people in your life. Although you may be happy to keep working after everyone else has left the office, what about your children and partner? If you're single, this may not be an issue, but surely it is beneficial to take a break from work and spend some time with friends. It is generally when you are unable to switch off from work and just relax that you start to pick up bad habits and develop health problems.
It is even worse when you hate your job and dread going into work, as not only do you have to endure your time in the workplace, you might find it difficult to sleep because you're worried and nervous about having to go to work. There are a variety of reasons why you may not like your job – it could be the nature of the job; you may not like the boss; you may be the victim of bullying or sexual harassment or you may be struggling to keep up with everyone else. Whatever the reason you dislike your job, you have to find a way to stop obsessing about work and have a life outside of the office.
If you feel as though work is taking over your life and having a detrimental impact on your physical health and mental well-being you clearly have to take action, because although your job may help to pay the bills there is more to life than money. You don't want to find yourself in a situation where your health begins to suffer just because you are unable to escape from your work.
If you constantly feel overwhelmed, stressed and anxious because of your work, it might be time to consider looking elsewhere for a job or at least finding a way to improve the situation you're in. This might involve talking to your boss and working fewer hours or seeking the help of a counsellor, so that you can talk through your problems with someone. What you shouldn't do is ignore a situation where work is taking over your life and you're left feeling depressed and run down all the time.
If you don't address the problem it is only going to get worse. If you really enjoy your job, you might not be that bothered if work takes over your life, but you have to remember other people in your life. Although you may be happy to keep working after everyone else has left the office, what about your children and partner? If you're single, this may not be an issue, but surely it is beneficial to take a break from work and spend some time with friends. It is generally when you are unable to switch off from work and just relax that you start to pick up bad habits and develop health problems.
It is even worse when you hate your job and dread going into work, as not only do you have to endure your time in the workplace, you might find it difficult to sleep because you're worried and nervous about having to go to work. There are a variety of reasons why you may not like your job – it could be the nature of the job; you may not like the boss; you may be the victim of bullying or sexual harassment or you may be struggling to keep up with everyone else. Whatever the reason you dislike your job, you have to find a way to stop obsessing about work and have a life outside of the office.
If you feel as though work is taking over your life and having a detrimental impact on your physical health and mental well-being you clearly have to take action, because although your job may help to pay the bills there is more to life than money. You don't want to find yourself in a situation where your health begins to suffer just because you are unable to escape from your work.
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