Is that ticking clock in the background really helping us work harder and more efficiently? Or is it giving us incentives to rush, slack off, or feel frustrated? In what context do deadlines help us or hurt us?

Businesses are still cutting down their staff hoping to maximize profits with as few workers as possible; for those of us who are lucky to have a job, now is not a good time to slack, or we could be next on the cutting board. Thankfully there some strategies we can take to combat with a busy work schedule and still maintain sanity.

As we enter a new year, I would like to recommend we all take a new focus on what it means to live relaxed and centered. The holidays have ended, the economy continues to hurt, and many find themselves under hefty work schedules, but it is never a bad idea to take a step back to rejuvenate ourselves.

At first the idea of business and spirituality together may seem contradictory. We are often told that businesses are only driven by the incentive to make more money, while spirituality entails abandoning this attachment to material wealth. With this attitude hanging over our heads how can a spiritual person ever expect to become a successful businessman?

Often the most successful people in our society are the ones who are the best planners. They are visionaries. They have the ability to direct their intentions in ways that others are unfamiliar with. They can see a path from point A to point B and, although it may not be correct from step-to-step, they have the incentive to start walking it.

Sometimes it just isn’t worth the extra push: taking a break throughout a busy work schedule can help increase your efficiency and work quality.