I am Deirdre Cronnelly and I run a company called AFRESH, which does what it says on the tin, namely assist individuals take a fresh look at how they manage their life, particularly career and wellbeing.
I am also the Performance Coach on www.irishjobs.ie helping people stay motivated and well during the job hunt.
Think about your body as though it were a great car with an amazing engine - if you want to keep that car working well you got to put decent fuel in it, take it out for the odd run and don't over drive or overheat it and you need to get it serviced regularly - so how does that translate into looking after yourself?
1. Fuel
Fuel is good! You must eat good food to avoid energy slumps and keep brain working.
a. Your brain is made up primarily of fat so it needs to be fed good fat. You get your good fat into you by taking Omega 3s and by eating oily fish which you can get cheapily enough in supermarkets- tinned herring, mackerel etc. You can also add linseed to your diet if you don't eat fish take an omega 3 supplement.
b. Avoid energy crashes by eating every 3 hours and snack in between and making sure you have low GI foods which don't cause your body's sugar level and consequently your energy levels to fluctuate - low GI foods tend to be non processed and brown in colour - brown bread, brown rice etc- good low GI snacks are fruit and nuts and seeds.
2. Liquids
a. Watch your alcohol intake - very easy if you know you don't have to be up early to stay out or have an extra glass of wine - alcohol is a depressant - have it in moderation.
b. Drink water throughout the day - it keeps headaches away and can control appetite.
3. Exercise
Take the car out for a run! I it sits in the garage without any activity it isn't going to work well; it is the same with your body.
a. find something you like and do it - run, swim, zumba, football - anything!
b. Exercise - it releases positive endorphins, more upbeat, gives you more energy. You will feel good factor and be better able to cope with stress better and sleep better.
4. Sleep
Don't let the car overheat means resting your body and getting enough sleep. Generally we need 7 to 9 hours sleep a night - if you are not getting that find out why and see what you can do about it
5. An NCT/check up!
Take your body for an NCT.
It is really important if you are getting stressed or down when looking for a job and not having much luck - getting like this can cause major health problems so pop along to your GP if you find it's getting in on you - if you don't think it's that serious and you don't want to go to your GP then talk to a friend or family member. It is really important to ensure you have the right support around you what ever that may be.
If you are not well when hunting for a job then it is unlikely you will achieve your potential so remember; looking after yourself will positively impact your performance in all areas of your life and most crucially at this time for your job hunt!
Best of luck
www.afresh.ie
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