Balance your life!

Think of your life as a weighing scale:

It just makes sense that for us to compensate, or offset stressful events in our life, we need to find something positive to hold on to.  For example, stress in the office could be managed with a strong marriage, or strong friendship.  Maybe this is the rationale why some people resort to hobbies, or even vices.  It keeps people more "insane".  If stress is necessary and uncontrollable, we at least should find things we can control and be happy about.

What Stress Can Teach You About Knowing Yourself

The best way to handle stress is to get to the core:  What is causing your stress?

You could distract yourself with so many fancy things..eat out...go shopping...do facebook... but in the end, you still have to face reality.  You have to face your stress.  There's no escaping it.  Sooner or later you have to face it. The sooner you do it, the better.

If it is about your job, you can ask yourself the following questions:
1.   What is/was it about your job that you love/d?
2.    Are you continuously "growing" and learning in your present job?
3.   Upon reflection, what is causing the real stress? the job? people? environment?
4.   What can you do about the stress?  Is it something within your control?

I am doing this blog because I myself am experiencing burnout.

After serving so many years in an NGO, I finally am admitting that I am reaching a point when I say I am starting to fall out of love with what I am doing.  The worst thing that you can feel towards anything or anyone is apathy.  Hate is not the opposite of love.  Apathy is.  For how can you feel indifferent about something you care about?  You can only feel hate because you are concerned.  You feel about the person or about the issue.

Before, I used to feel guilty about leaving the NGO.  What about the children I'll be leaving behind?  Who will care for them?  I've already earned enough experience to do my job well.  What if the person who replaces me does not know anything about the job?  How will she do it well?  How will I be ensured that they are in good hands?  How can I even imagine  leaving them? Am I turning to be a bad person?

I've been held back for so long and I have buried those thoughts thinking it may all just be a phase.  It was just a matter of paradigm shift.

But here I am again, thinking the same thoughts after all these time.

I finally have come to realize that saying goodbye may just be the right thing to do.  I can only give so much.  It is difficult to continue giving when I don't have "it" anymore.

Get a Massage!

I recently met up with a girl friend for a lunch date.  Unfortunately, it appeared that she was sick with cough and colds, and for two weeks already!  I suggested she head to the spa for massage because it will make her feel better. She replied that massages are only for mere relaxation. 

What?! 

Massage does not only make one relaxed, it also enhances the flow of oxygen and blood in the body.   Moreover, pressing significant points will help improve different organs.  Massage also contributes to good sleep.  I remember my dad complaining he hasn’t been getting quality sleep for about 6 months, and only several sessions of a good, therapeutic massage helped him.

Now, there are different types of massages but what usually works for me, and for first timers is the Swedish massage.  This is characterized by rubbing oil on different parts of the body.  The oil could also be aromatic enticing the body to relax.

There is also Thai massage but this requires pulling the body in different directions. Whenever the masseuse tells me to hold her hand and relax, I brace myself and tense up knowing how my body will be contortioned in the next few seconds.  It requires getting used to this kind of massage.  My husband loves this and usually sleeps soundly even before we leave the spa area.  I do enjoy getting the 30-minute back massage especially since my back tenses whenever I feel tired or stressed.  But I still enjoy getting a good body rub so I still suggest the Swedish massage.

The Shiatsu massage is also called dry massage since it does not make use of oil.  If one is wary about getting sticky, this is a good option.

If such options appear to be off the budget, the blind masseuse in the malls and some corner establishments will do.    This will also work if you are not comfortable taking off your clothes in front of a stranger.  For only PhP70, you get a 20-minute upper body massage.  The best I’ve met so far is Kuya Wilson from Philcoa. I’ve seen him very careful and meticulous in pressing different body points.  Also, I noticed that even if he is already massaging a client and others are just about to start, he still finishes last.