5 keys to curb the volcanic eruption of a work life crisis

Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano didn’t just erupt overnight (nor do our work life disturbances). On the other side of the planet, a bunch of earthquakes preceded the eruption over the last month or so (not to mention Taiwan last night). The earths plates have been rumbling and might have very well triggered the lava flow. It’s similar with the our never ending quest for work life balance. Many of us burn the midnight oil to keep the boss happy. The workload often flows into overtime or bringing work home. Challenges at the intersection of the work life merge can stump progress or even success.

We don’t just spiral into the abyss of chaos overnight. There are signals, and signs of impending difficulties. But most of the time we ignore them and keep chugging along. Solutions toward staving off imbalance are highly individual. But if we’re quiet and aware enough to listen to those distinct cries for help from the inner disturbances, we might be able to head off the eruption, before we start to spew the lava of disarray that comes from being thrown earthquakes of interruption. Here are some simple self assessment tools to get you going:

1. Pay attention to your physical health. Have you noticed a headache or pain that has increased in intensity? Do an overall body check. Think about the last time you went to the doctor. Small concerns could signal larger issues down the line. Stress can cause health risks.
2. Do a mental health check. Are you growing irritable at an increasingly rapid rate? Working to please your boss or colleagues can weigh heavy on your psychological health. Imbalances in this department impact productivity, creativity etc. Chat with a friend or professional if you feel you need help. Don’t ignore feelings of depression.
3. Avoid overbooking. We tend to want to get everything into one week. There is bound to be overflow. If you take a look at your schedule, you might find items that can be put off to the following week. This is not procrastination, but effective time management in a 24/7 world.
4. Give yourself permission to stop. I’ve gotten some push back on this topic because competition is hot in the job market, but I believe that we have to schedule the white space in the calendar to relax, review and recharge. For you this might mean exercise or meditation. This will allow you to make work and life decisions from a place of strength, not exhaustion.
5. Commission a second set of eyes and ears to assess your work life scenario. Grab an accountability buddy. Checking in with a friend or colleague to discuss work life challenges goes a long way toward addressing them. They might offer solutions that didn’t occur to you.