After all, running at full tilt on a mixture of adrenalin and enthusiasm can only last so long before we burn ourselves out or collapse in an undignified heap.
Health and wellbeing should be the top priority when it comes to deciding what is most important in the daily routine of work and family life.
It is widely accepted that regular exercise will increase your body's capacity to burn calories which in turn gives you more energy throughout the day.
Increased exercising also leads to a strengthening of the immune system and after all we all know that mum is not allowed to get ill!
Working out makes you feel good too; the release of Endorphins brought about by exercise can be a great buzz. It will help to relieve stress and induce a good night's sleep, remember how you yearned for that when the kids were small.
But don't think that you have to become an Olympic athlete or join an expensive health club, just getting out in the fresh air for a 20 minute walk will work wonders as will simple stretching exercises such as yoga or Pilates.
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Diet and nutrition also has an effect on the way we feel, what we eat and drink can have an effect on the way we deal with our day to day situations.
We've surely all heard the saying, “Breakfast like a King, lunch like a prince and take supper like a pauper”. There is a lot of sense in this old saying, a good breakfast will certainly set you up for the day and will also give you the opportunity to spend some quality time with your children and/or partner.
Try to eat healthy nutritious foods that have a slow calorie release throughout the day, coupled with your exercise regime they will ensure consistent energy levels.
Keep caffeine to a minimum and try herbal or fruit teas for an alternative to traditional hot beverages. Fruit juices will boost nutrition and drinking plenty of water will avoid dehydration which can lead to headaches.
Don't work in the dark as poor lighting can affect your health as well, causing symptoms like eyestrain, fatigue and headaches”
It will also an effect on your ability to work efficiently, after all we all know what it is like trying to squint at a computer screen or read paperwork in a poorly lit office Natural sunlight is still the best form of lighting so try to choose your work space/office with this in mind.
The bigger the windows the better and if possible take as many breaks as you can outside, this will also give your eyes a break from staring at a computer screen for too long. Remember, working for long periods of time in poor lighting can have a permanent effect on the health of our eyes.
The Construction Health Safety and Welfare Regs (1996) requires“That every work place, traffic route and access is properly lit”..
.Light can also affect how we feel, SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is a type of winter depression that affects an estimated half a million people every winter between September and April, in particular during December, January and February. It is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain due to less daylight hours and the lack of sunlight in winter. For many people SAD is a seriously disabling illness, for others, it is a mild condition causing some discomfort.
Treatment can be as simple as the installation of a special light box. Advice is available from the Seasonal Affective Disorder Society,
Sada.
Be careful not to forget the importance of good posture, as it can have a direct effect on our health. Sitting all day long in a chair that was designed for slouching in front of the telly will inevitably lead to back pain. Sitting is a chance for your back to recover from the stresses of daily activities; you can enjoy this recovery only if your seat supports your back properly.
A good seat should allow the muscles in your back to relax; and will also relieve pressure under the buttocks and thighs, maintaining blood flow. Sit up straight; this may take some effort as most of us habitually slump when seated. Unless your chair is exceptionally well designed you will probably benefit from using a cushion to help support your lower back, this will help to keep it in the correct posture. Choose a chair that is low enough to put your feet on the floor without creating pressure on your thighs. Otherwise, put something under your feet, a box or cushion will do.
A seat that's too high will make you slide forward into a slumped position. Because standard desk height was chosen for paper work, most people will benefit from a footrest when using a computer (when your elbows should be at desk height).
Remember too that RSI (repetitive strain injury) can result from working in a poorly designed office According to RSI Awareness, in 2006 nearly half a million people in the UK suffered from some form of RSI. The problem is increasing principally through the intensive use of computers and other technology that involves large amounts of keyboarding. Posture related health problems are also growing due to the sedentary nature of many jobs.
Open Ergonomics offer good advice on avoiding back pain and other problems in the workplace, including ideal office assessments and ways to avoid physical problems due to badly designed office space. Visit their web site at Openerg.
Last but not least, remember to relax whenever possible. “Different strokes for different folks” is the key phrase here. After all, some people will relax while hanging precariously off a mountain or cliff, while most of us will settle for a comfy sofa and a large glass of wine with either the telly or some music in the background.
The important message is to find the thing that suits you best and make the time to enjoy it, whether it's a long soak in a warm bath with scented candles burning or half an hour with a good book.
