Do you look at your profession or business as your identity? As a society, we are obsessed with our careers and accomplishment. However, some take it too far and feel they are only as successful as their business, career or job.

This is nothing wrong with a healthy ego. We should feel a sense of purpose and achievement at a job well done but, if we are not careful that fine line can blur and we become too work-oriented. Take Marla, for example.

A medical professional, Marla cares about her patients. She works in a hospital setting and is an administrator as well as a nurse where she not only manages staff but also cares for patients when necessary. It’s safe to say that many people depend on Marla.

Lately however, this heavy workload had been taking its toll. Marla has been working 15 hour days, is living on caffeine, has gained weight and is having physical issues including arthritis. Her doctor has warned Marla that she needs to slow down.

When I call Marla to see how she’s doing all she is able to talk about is her work. The incompetent people she works with (scary) and how if she does not keep up the pace, the place will fall apart. It gets tiring to hear the same thing from her over and over.

Everything else in her life is a compromise, her husband, family, exercise, spiritual life, hobbies; there is no time in her schedule. To the balanced professional who finds time for outlets knowing they make a healthy and happy person, you know that Marla has identified her life in her work and in fact is her work.

Others can tell you to slow down, smell the roses, sing your favorite songs, and take time for you. Personally, I think you need your own “wake up call” before you can change how you identify yourself. For Marla, it was turning 50 and having severe enough chest pains to be hospitalized. This health scare showed her that she needed to start making other things in her life a priority besides her career.

I caution all of you to make sure you take the time for you, even if it is only 15 minutes a day. Get out, take a walk, try to eat healthy, try to think about other things besides work and business. Believe me you will be healthier for it.

This entry was posted on Monday, September 28th, 2009 at 12:22 am and is filed under Women Only. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.