All In A Days Work

Americans are more stressed out than ever and the pressures and tensions experienced in everyday life are causing higher rates of mental health issues, chronic illness and life-threatening events such as heart attacks. The 2015 Stress in America report by the American Psychological Association found nearly one-third of adults said stress negatively impacted their physical or mental health in a significant way, about five percentage points higher than in 2014. The report states money and work remain the top two sources of significant stress. Fostering a healthy work-life balance needs to be a priority to keep stress levels down, which in turn keeps medical costs low and positively affects those you interact with, such as family members.

With work to do, families to take care of, health issues to deal with and seemingly never enough time to enjoy hobbies, acknowledging the need for a work-life balance is the first meaningful step to achieving one. Here are some tips for making the most of both worlds to lead a healthier and happier life.

Let Technology Assist You

Americans are interacting with their smartphones more than ever and the number is only expected to increase. If you’re not moderating the time you spend on them, you can disrupt your work-life balance. Time magazine reports Americans look at their phones an average of 46 times per day, up from 33 times in 2014. If you’re browsing social media when you could be finishing a work project, the amount of time it takes to complete an assignment could increase exponentially as your attention is constantly diverted. Using a security suite application like the Samsung Knox, available on a device like the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge, allows you to separate work from playful distractions since you can toggle between the standard mode and a separate secure container just for running work applications. The Flipd and Freedom apps also allow you to block specific apps during select periods of time.

If you use a wearable device such as a Fitbit Alta, you can get reminders every hour to walk around so you don’t remain sedentary throughout the day. Use your hourly walks to get some fresh air outside, catch up with a friend for a short chat or listen to your favorite music for an instant mood boost.

Care for Your Body

Those who claim eating healthily and exercising are impossible to fit into a daily schedule are only resigning themselves to an increased likelihood of developing disorders like Type 2 Diabetes, worsening their blood pressure and susceptibility to heart attacks and decreasing their life expectancy. The President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition projects that, by 2030, half of American adults will be obese. Stanford Health Care reports people who are obese or even overweight are significantly more likely to develop heart disease and bone and joint diseases than those who are not. Health conditions such as these negatively impact the possibility of a healthy work-life balance because of increased medical bills, the negative impact on the ability to work, increased time spent in hospitals and doctors offices and decreased time spent on hobbies and with loved ones. If your health is not a top priority, you increase the likelihood of more stressors in your life.

Besides taking care of yourself physically through regular exercise and balanced nutrition, improve how your mental health affects your work-life balance by proactively paying attention to the impact it has on your moods and actions and by working to make it more positive. The University of Michigan recommends taking the following steps:

• Working on self-confidence by learning new skillsand engaging in hobbies
• Surrounding yourself with people who love and support you
• Quieting the mind through activities such as meditation

If you work for an employer who demands so much of your time that you are not able to nurture the spiritual and personal aspects of your life, it is vital to examine your goals in life and how your current career works to support them. If you enjoy your job, talking with a supervisor about how certain aspects can help you improve your work there—such as the ability to work remotely part of the time or set your own schedule—can help you achieve the personal goals to sustain a better work-life balance.

This review was made possible by iConnect Influencer Management, Febreze and Swiffer was compensated for my participation in this campaign, but all opinions are 100% mine.

It’s one of my favorite times of year – Fall! Though summer ending makes me sad, I love the cooler weather, leaves falling, campfires, hoodies and sweatpants. Fall is also the perfect chance to get organized, cleaned-up and prepared for winter.

There’s a lot of things that can be done in the fall to prepare you for winter (which actually makes for an easier spring) the key is to be prepared and have a list of everything you need to get done.

Pack Up the Deck.
It seems like once summer is over – it’s over fast. So making sure all your ‘summer’ stuff is picked up and packed up is the first step. Clean and dry and items you plan to store or cover – such as outdoor furniture. Store or winterize your pool, and any toys or items that are normally left out during the summer. Get a waterproof cover for your grill, so you can still use it through the fall or even winter months. Also I would suggest cleaning out hte gutters, Trust me – you’ll be glad you did once the first snow comes!

Clean The Garage.
If you are like me you have a tendency to let things go a little during summer – after all, you’re too busy having fun right? The garage (or basement) tends to be a junk collector for us – as we clean out bedrooms and closets, so this is the perfect time to get rid of all your junk and organize. We always have a ‘fall’ yard sale, and then donate anything left to Goodwill. For anything else that you need to store, buy hooks, peg boards, and shelves to store and organize it. Not only does it make room for your car to actually fit in the garage during the winter, but it gets you a bit more organized and ready for the holidays as well.

“Refresh” Your Home. 
Again, there’s a lot of stuff that gets left for “later” when you’re busy having fun during the summer. But school is back in session – and so are the chores! Do your ‘spring’ cleaning – in the fall. De-junk, de-clutter, organize, do some deep cleaning and make the home smell good as new with products like Swiffer Wet Jet and Febreze.

The New Swiffer Wet Jet has a new pad with absorb & lock strips for improved absorption -making it easier to clean up dirt and grime.
The new cleaning solution formula is more effective for cleaning, and the dual-spray nozzle gives off a powerful spray for a better clean.

Spritz your curtains and couch (or even your car) with the new, woodsy scent of Febreze Fabric Refresher Big Sur to add a touch of fall. I love using Febreze to freshen up each week to make my house smell clean and welcoming!

One lucky winner will receive a #FallReset Prize Box including  some amazing products from Febreze and Swiffer – and more! Winner will be selected October 1st.  (must be a resident of the U.S.)

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