Work Your Proper Hours Day is February 22, 2014, a Saturday this year. The day recognizes the millions of people at work who regularly do unpaid overtime, giving their employers billions of dollars of free work. If you are one of those people, consider how well or poorly you are balancing your life and what effect this is having on your mindset. Then, consider four alternatives to help you make the most of your own time:

1. Take a proper lunch break. Read something interesting, get some fresh air and take a walk. You’ll be surprised how much more refreshed you will feel when you go back to work.

2. Engage in stress reduction. Take several short breaks during the day to close your eyes, breathe deeply and say “relax” to yourself when you exhale as you imagine a pleasant scene. Overwork and stress are detrimental to your mental and physical health.

3. Leave work on time and enjoy your evening. Enjoy your relationships whether with a significant other or with your children. They will all appreciate it and you will feel better and more relaxed when you retire for the night.

4. Give yourself mental permission to enjoy your own time. You can affirm to yourself that “I work best when I care for myself”. If you repeat it several times, before long you will get in the habit of working your proper hours. AND YOU WILL ENJOY YOUR LIFE MORE.

As always, remember that when you Change Your Thoughts You Change Your Results.