| Health experts worldwide resoundingly agree that | | | | · Exercise. Consider membership in a health or |
| workers in all labor categories must maintain a | | | | fitness club. A healthy physical body will give the hard |
| balance between their work and social lives. The | | | | working professional the energy needed to be both |
| dangers of more or over work and less socializing | | | | highly productive with job demands and the ability to |
| cannot be emphasized enough especially for the | | | | keep up with an active social calendar. Other means |
| Londoner. The advantages to having an active social | | | | of getting good exercise can be a walk in the park |
| life are many. Finding a healthy balance between our | | | | or bring out the child in you and dance around the |
| work and social lives is not always easy but some | | | | house while getting ready for work. |
| efforts towards developing that balance can assure | | | | · Take in some culture with art or theatre. |
| we stay productive on the job and at the same time | | | | Museums and the theatre are fantastic venues in |
| have a satisfying and healthy personal life. | | | | which to have a quiet and reflective personal |
| We have all heard of the dangers of stress and | | | | experience. The visual delight of examining a piece of |
| overwork. But what about those of us that love to | | | | art that touches you in a special way or watching a |
| work or have to work for various reasons? There | | | | theatre performance that moves you in a positive |
| has to be more to life than working at our jobs. How | | | | manner can be extremely beneficial. Not every social |
| do we find a balance that keeps us healthy in both | | | | event on your calendar has to include other people. |
| these important areas of our lives? Years of | | | | Socializing with you, for yourself can very often be |
| research and scholarly studies from experts in the | | | | just as healthy an experience as being around |
| UK, London, and worldwide have found the answers | | | | hundreds or thousands of people. |
| to these questions. | | | | · Getaway to a fine hotel or spa. From a great |
| While this article is about offering you the reader | | | | deal of research and personal experience, three days |
| "tips" on developing that balance, it is important to | | | | at a spa is just about perfect. Like many of you, I |
| highlight the dangers any one of us can succumb to if | | | | often don't have the time for a one-day vacation |
| we don't play or socialize in addition to working. | | | | much less three days however; I have found that a |
| An awareness of your stress levels or symptoms of | | | | 3-day mini-vacation has its merits. It's just long |
| stress can give you a hint that you need more of a | | | | enough to take in the full benefits of a massage, |
| social life. Indicators of stress are many but the main | | | | swimming, facials and some of the other amenities |
| symptoms to watch for are: | | | | the hotel or spa has to offer. If one day is all you |
| · Migraine's or headaches occurring more often | | | | can take the time for, then do that. Try to do this at |
| · Inability to concentrate | | | | least twice a year. P.S. Leave the cell phone off, |
| · Not wanting to get up in the morning or | | | | leave the laptop at home and tell the front desk you |
| insomnia | | | | are taking no calls. |
| · Over-tiredness | | | | · Go shopping. Indulge in a shopping trip every |
| · Sudden mood swings not normal for you | | | | now and then. All of us need to treat ourselves to |
| · Isolation from friends and family | | | | that special dress or suit. Buying that toy or |
| The last bullet point mentions isolation. Isolating | | | | electronic game we always wanted can only make |
| activities such as going to work and sitting at home | | | | life a bit better. Even shopping for food can be a |
| every night, avoidance of friends and family and | | | | great way to socialize. Take the time to say hello to |
| taking in little social outings/activities are probably the | | | | the checkout clerk or butcher that has been serving |
| single most dangerous thing we can do for our | | | | you for years. A simple exchange of smiles is a social |
| physical and mental health. Our physical and emotional | | | | interaction that benefits all people on many |
| states of well being depend upon a healthy balance | | | | unimaginable levels. |
| of work and play. The following tips will help you | | | | · Involve your co-workers on your social |
| avoid this common danger. | | | | calendar. There is nothing better than the buddy |
| · Organize a social calendar. Just like your daily | | | | system for a healthy social (and work) life. Let's face |
| "to-do" lists at work, start planning a social "to-do" list. | | | | it, engaging in some social activities is just no fun |
| Knowing what social activities appeal to you is | | | | alone. Keep in mind, socializing with co-workers can |
| essential towards organizing your social calendar. I | | | | also be a great way to maintain healthy work |
| have found an excellent source for researching ideas | | | | relationships. |
| or social activities you may want to consider placing | | | | · Breathe. This may sound simple and |
| in your calendar. Find the time before or after work | | | | unimportant because it is a natural activity we take |
| to get out into the London social scene. | | | | part in every second of the day. Let me assure you, |
| · Dine out. Many professionals in the work force | | | | we can often stop breathing for several seconds at |
| are starting to see the satisfaction and pleasure in | | | | a time. The biological and rhythmic breathing pattern |
| taking the time to experience food consumption in a | | | | of humans often gets interrupted for many reasons. |
| whole new way. I'm not talking about going to a | | | | Stress and automatic response to difficulties in life |
| restaurant and quickly getting your meal down your | | | | are just a few of the reasons this occurs. Why is this |
| throat and into your belly. I am talking about | | | | important? One reason is because we need to |
| expanding your culinary horizons. For example, try | | | | maintain a regular and healthy breathing pattern |
| ethnic cuisine or a new food you have never eaten | | | | throughout our bodies for optimal oxygen intake. |
| before. Dine for hours at a trendy restaurant and | | | | Lack of oxygen can be responsible for depression, |
| savor an eight-course meal with a fine wine or | | | | fatigue and damage at the cellular level of our bodies, |
| cocktail. Most importantly, take your time and enjoy | | | | to name a few. Good breathing flow and control can |
| the experience. | | | | keep you loaded with energy as well as provide a |
| · Dance the night away. The benefits to a night | | | | healthy balance between mind and body. It will also |
| out of dancing could never be overstated. The | | | | make your work life much more tolerable. |
| obvious benefits are the exercise and calorie burning. | | | | These ten tips are by no means the only ways to |
| Dance experts have long asserted that dancing tones | | | | build a social life and maintain a balance between |
| the body in a way no other form of physical activity | | | | work and fun. These tips are many that have been |
| can accomplish. Dancers are considered among the | | | | provided by the best experts on work and social life. |
| elite in athleticism and discipline. Dancing also offers | | | | Those experts being you or those like you, the |
| social opportunities to meet new people. It gives you | | | | workers. Be creative, discipline yourself to organize |
| an outlet to work out aggression and the strains of | | | | your life towards a whole and healthy you both on |
| the workday. Overall, dance is a complete source of | | | | the job and socially. |
| exercise for the physical, social and mentally healthy | | | | Remember that it's not always about where, how or |
| self. | | | | how long or with whom you socialize. Socializing can |
| · Soothe your soul with music. Take in a concert | | | | be as simple as sitting alone and enjoying the flavors |
| or musical affair. Choose your favorite music and | | | | of good food and libations, exercising a couple hours |
| attend an event that will fill you with the sounds of | | | | a week at a favorite gymnasium with friends or |
| your favorite melodies. Music has long been a part of | | | | standing front and center at a major rock concert. |
| the human experience. It has been used for centuries | | | | The point is to get out and be social. Taking these |
| to allow the human being an experience beyond their | | | | suggestions will get you out. No matter what |
| physical bodies. It can be said that music will lighten | | | | profession you work in a healthy balance in work and |
| your mood and nurture your soul. Music, in a form | | | | social life will keep you mentally healthy and |
| that appeals to you, can quiet your mind and release | | | | energized, stress-free and socially empowered. |
| the pain of the workday. | | | | |