PCC is very interested in your experiences, concerns, and feedback. Listening to clergy and families will enable PCC to better serve and address your needs.

 

 

 

When work and personal life demands compete for time and attention, psychological distress, physiological concerns, decreased work performance and decreased job and life satisfaction can occur. As Roberta Nutt, PhD. of the American Psychological Association said, "We all have stress in our lives; that's to be expected, but if our lives are not balanced, we increase our stress. Work-life balance helps keep us healthy-physically and mentally."

 

Much like successfully incorporating physical exercise, healthy eating, or another habit into our lives, the following tips are steps toward lifestyle change for the happier. Work/Life balance is not something you are born good at, we all have to work on it and sometimes we are better than others. What matters is that you recognize when you've fallen off the horse and that you get back on. As Stephen Covey says, "The challenge of work-life balance is without question one of the most significant struggles faced by modern man." Take a look at these 8 empirically supported ways to find work/life balance
 

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"Finding lists of natural stress reducers is not very hard. We can do a search for them on the internet," writes PCC board member Curt Keller in the second part on relieving stress. "Much of it has to do with brain chemicals and producing good ones while reducing negative ones. And as you seek out what are natural stress relievers, you must think about what you would actually be willing to do and keep doing."

PCC Board member Jessica Baldyga offers strategies on what has helped her balance between life and pastoral ministry. "Some of them may work for you and some of them may not," she writes. "Either way it's important to find those practices that help you and to make those things a part of your life.  When you are able to find balance, it makes a world of difference."

In today's fast-paced world, there is constant pressure on working adults to juggle their responsibilities in the workplace and at home. Perhaps you are feeling overwhelmed thinking about family visiting and preparing a holiday feast?  Finding time after work to buy gifts?  Scheduling a health care procedure you've been putting off?  Asking your supervisor for help meeting a deadline? For starters, take this very brief assessment for a visual perspective of how balanced, or unbalanced, your life is and reflect on your areas of strength and your areas for improvement.   

 

In a 2014 nationwide poll conducted by the American Physiological Association (APA), 69% of Americans list work as a significant source of stress.   This may come as no surprise, but couple this with stressors outside of work and things become a bit more complicated.  In the same APA poll, 50% set aside time for stress relief less than a few times per month, and 46% say they have lost patience or yelled at their spouse, partner or children in the last month.  Managing this work/life dynamic can be a challenge, especially when the holidays are right around corner, too, but with some practice and some "know-how", it becomes much easier.  For some helpful techniques to successfully balance your work and personal life click here.

 

The holiday season can bring with it a mix of emotions.  Many people with emotional challenges who are battling depression, anxiety or those who are reminded of a lost loved one may struggle this time of year.  Understanding the positive ways to cope during the holidays will ease some of the stress.  A few more simple ways to improve your holiday experience include:

 

• Set realistic expectations

• Set a budget

• If possible, avoid hectic schedules

• Plan ahead

• Avoid family differences- forgiveness is key

• Help those that are less fortunate

• Cultivate spirituality

• Avoid excesses (eating and drinking unhealthy foods and beverages)

Another form of mental and emotional exhaustion is burnout.  Being able to recognize the symptoms of burnout and understanding how to treat them is critical to maintaining the proper work/life balance. Click here for signs of burnout and ways to prevent it.  

 

Clergy, spouses, and their dependent family members can access the Clergy Assistance Program (CAP) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Call the CAP at 1-800-433-7916, or Clergy Assistance Program (CAP).  

 

The information presented through the linked articles is for informational purposes only.  IGRC and Chestnut Global Partners do not endorse any products represented in the articles.