How to get out of a work slump

Falling into a slump at work can often take place during winter. It’s the time of year when, naturally, our body wants to rest more. Nevertheless, the bills need to be paid.

How does one re-inspire oneself for work during this cold time of year?

Nourish yourself

Living and eating habits should naturally change according to the seasons. Chinese medicine states that not following nature’s cycles is one of the leading causes of illness.

Expect to sleep and rest more during winter and do this knowing that you are providing an essential ingredient for nurturing your body and mind.

Slower and deeper exercise routines are beneficial to stretch out stiff, cold muscles and joints.

Likewise, the main food groups will differ from winter to summer. Foods that nourish during the cold months are avocados, potatoes, butternut, squash, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach and dark green leaves, carrots, nuts and seeds. Onions and garlic do wonders for fighting bacteria and providing extra vitamin C and omega oils should be considered.

Reflect

Winter is the perfect time to reconsider all areas of your life.

Keep a journal for reflecting on emotions, habits and dreams. Use it to answer these questions:

1. If you could choose any profession what would it be? Why?
2. If you had unlimited income, what would you do with your money? Why?
3. What do you spend most of your time thinking about? Is it benefitting you to think about this so much?

Getting to know yourself better will assist you to accept yourself. It will also provide a platform to make the choices that will best suit and serve you.

Keep calm

Impatience, irritability, anger or fear will not change situations, in fact, these emotions cloud clarity of mind.

When you feel a surge of negative feelings well up, place one hand lightly on your forehead and breathe deeply for a minute or two or until you feel balanced again.

When you touch your forehead on both sides, you create equilibrium between the conscious brain (which is activated on the left side of the forehead) and subconscious brain (which is activated on the right side of the forehead).

If you would like to learn more techniques that will assist you to re-inspire yourself for work and life during winter, click here to listen to an interview on Cii Radio entitled, ‘How to get out of a work slump, with kinesiologist Helen Hansen’.

About the Author: Helen Hansen is a kinesiologist who provides private consultations in Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Hansen also hosts ‘Wellness’ workshops for corporates. The ‘Happiness’ workshop inspires staff at work and in life. The ‘Stress Stabiliser’ workshop teaches a variety of stress-release techniques which can be used anywhere, at any time.

You can find out more at www.helenhansen.co

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