BUSY LIFE IN LONDON

How To Prevent Exhaustion

Success often turns to failure for the busy London young professional. Human resource directors at leading British companies and public sector groups believe that 30% of their London staff suffers from exhaustion. Work-related stress, depression and anxiety cost Britain f530 million a year, with workers taking 13.8 million sick days.

LET’S TAKE a CLOSER LOOK- Claire is a 34 year old Global Value Equity Analyst at a private bank in the City of London. She commutes to the city from her home in Hampstead where, along with her husband Tony, she is raising twin six year old daughters.

“I was taught that I should be beautiful, intelligent, charming, generous, loving, maternal, elegant, wealthy, gracious, independent, fit, sophisticated, spiritual, sexy and demure all at the same time. I expected to be all that,” she says, “and still do, I guess.”

Claire’s day starts at 5:30 when she taps off the alarm, jumps into her jogging clothes and goes for a three mile run before preparing breakfast for her husband and children. She then reviews the coming day with her husband and helps her daughters get ready for school.

“Then I rush my own preparations and dash to the train,” she says wearily. “I usually grab a cup of coffee from the station vendor and use my phone to reply to the messages that start pouring in while I’m on the train.”

The commute back to Hampstead is again filled with answering messages. “It seems that every second is imperative. When I get home I play with the girls, make dinner and visit with Tony. There are just so many constant little bits to my day. I’m always anxious that I’ll forget something, or offend someone, or not give Tony enough attention, or be impatient with my daughters.”

Skipping lunch, coffee every 20 minutes and snacks at her desk are starting to take their toll on Claire’s energy and general sense of well-being. “I don’t sleep well, either,” she reports. “I have too much on my mind and often take paperwork to bed. Recently, when I’m overtired, I get headaches. They can keep me up half the night.”

Claire is still a slim, beautiful, blue-eyed blond. Her movements are a little abrupt, however, and she seems to stare rather than make contact with her eyes. At first glance her natural beauty impresses, but upon closer inspection you begin to notice that she hasn’t dressed with any attention to detail. Her shoes don’t quite compliment her dress and her makeup is incomplete. She is distracted most of the time and, now and then, simply walks away while you’re talking to her. Sometimes she’ll turn back and say, “Oh, sorry. I have to run.” But then she seems to wander away, not depart with dispatch.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? - If you see yourself in Claire, you could be exhausted and headed for burn-out. Researchers have found that one of the dangers of impending exhaustion and possible burn-out is the huge capacity to deny. A survey of 2000 London young professionals revealed that in excess of 30% of women were taking anti-depressants. 18% of them did not tell their family they were taking medication.

TRY THIS TEST - If you answer half of the following questions positively you are in the high risk group headed for burn-out.

1. Do you have less energy now than you used to?

2. Are you finding it hard to fall asleep?

3. Do you wake up feeling tired in the morning?

4. Are you falling asleep in front of the TV in the evenings and don’t have much energy left for life outside work?

5. Are you eating on the run?

6. Are you trying out a new fad diet?

7. Do you believe that you have to be stressed to get anything done?

8. Do you survive on caffeine and sugar?

9. Are you too tired for sex?

10, Do you feel that you are expected to be too many things to too many people?

TAKE ACTION - Whether you fall into the high risk category or not, if you are a young professional working in London, you might consider taking the following precautions.

LIMIT CAFFEINE

Caffeine is a stimulant that blocks sleep neurotransmitters and over excites adrenal glands.

INCREASE EXERCISE

Practice Yoga or other stretching and relaxing exercises.

USE MAGNESIUM SUPPLEMENTS

Drink natural mineral waters to replenish magnesium levels lost to stress.

EAT COLORFUL FOOD

The phytonutrients in colorful fruits and vegetables act as anti-inflammatory, detoxifying, hormone-balancing agents.

SLEEP SMARTER

Do not watch TV in bed. Your photosensitivity will make your body think it is still daylight.Drink a 1.5l bottle of Magnesia just before going to bed. The calming effect of magnesium has been proven to aid in restful sleep.

STAY AWAY FROM PROCESSED FATS

Processed fats are toxic to the body, especially if you're run down. Eliminate hydrogenated fats and trans-fats from your diet.

ALWAYS BE OUT WHEN THE SUN IS OUT

Living in London you must take every opportunity to let the sun heal you and give your entire body a boost.

16 February, 2014

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