Tag Archives | health
A Hammock on a tropical beach.

Don’t Forget to Charge Your Batteries

By on August 3, 2011 in Life Balance
A Hammock on a tropical beach.

Image via Wikipedia

When’s the last time you did something just for you?

Be honest. I mean just for you, for fun or pleasure with no work pay-off, planned outcome, ROI or ulterior motive…

For most the answer is …uh…I can’t remember. Time alone, to de-stress, re-group and re-charge our batteries is crucial to our health and well-being. Even just an hour or two can have a tremendous impact on our mood, our productivity and our life satisfaction. It can be the simplest way to maintain our sanity in the midst of the crazy pace of life. And it’s considerably cheaper than any therapy or drug out there!

  • Get a massage or facial – to save money try a massage school or do a short chair massage.
  • Take the afternoon off to play hooky – window shop, play golf, go to a movie or steal away to a park with a book.
  • Take a walk or drive by yourself to get some peace and quiet – reflect and think or blast your music and sing (leave your phone at home or at least off.)
  • Treat yourself to a fancy drink or pastry at a café that you never have time to visit.
  • Take a nap – in the hammock or at the beach is even better.
  • Take a yoga class – or Tai Chi, Karate, Zumba or some other activity you’d like to try.
  • Take time for a hobby that you enjoy  – photography, art, wood-working, sewing, cooking, dancing, fishing, whatever makes you smile.

Do something for yourself. It doesn’t need to be expensive or difficult. It just needs to allow you an hour or two to slow down, step  back, take a breath and enjoy life.

Otherwise, what’s the point…

 

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Simple Strategies to Regain Life Balance

By on June 15, 2011 in Personal Growth

My guest post on Producteev.com.

Maintaining a healthy life balance is not only crucial for happiness and well-being; it can be advantageous to your productivity and success as well. A well-balanced person is better equipped to focus their attention and energy on achieving their goals, accomplishing meaningful actions and moving forward.

Each of us has different life situations, many things pulling us in different directions and a whole host of other factors that we collectively call our lives. Despite these dissimilarities, we all seem to be feeling the same challenge to make it all work somehow.

So, what can you do to regain a positive work-life balance? Or maintain that equilibrium once you find it? How about trying some of these strategies that have worked for others!

  • Shut it off – Disconnect on the weekend, at least for one day or a few hours each night. Step away from the computer, turn off the phone and give your brain a rest. Yes, you can do it!
  • Health first – It seems like we’re beating a dead horse sometimes, but it really does make a difference in the quality of our lives and our work if we: get enough sleep, drink more water, fit in some activity and eat a bit healthier.
  • Cut back – It goes without saying that if your life is too full of the wrong things (sometimes even too much of the right things) you will never be able to pull it all together and find your balance. Ruthlessly trim activities that are not absolutely necessary or do not add value to your life.
  • Relationships matter – Make time for your family, spend time with friends and get to know the people around you.
  • Say goodbye to “Negative Nancy” – Minimize contact with people that are negative, complainers, whiners or have bad attitudes. You know who I mean…you do not need other people’s junk dragging you down. Surround yourself with positive, supportive, can-do people whenever possible.
  • Get quiet – Time alone is probably the hardest thing to do for the typical overworked, overwhelmed, busy individual, but it is crucial for lowering stress, increasing happiness and fostering creativity. Meditate, journal, draw, practice yoga or simply sit quietly for a few minutes each day and do absolutely nothing. I dare you to give it a try!
  • Soak up the world - Take a walk and notice what’s going on around you, attend a performance of some kind, play amateur photographer, visit a new town or try being a tourist in your own.
  • Expand your mind – Read a book that sparks your interest, listen to uplifting music, take a class, learn to paint, try something new that you’ve always wanted to learn.
  • Indulge – Get a massage, a pedicure or a facial. It doesn’t have to be expensive; a glass of wine, a special kind of coffee or tea, a wonderfully scented candle or beautiful flowers.
  • Reach out – Join a community organization, volunteer, get involved in the larger world community. It seems counterintuitive to the average person living the typical hectic existence, but doing something to help others most often adds even more to your life.
  • Laugh – Have some fun, find your sense of humor, subscribe to a daily joke or get a tear-off calendar. Nothing makes the world feel right again as fast as a good old-fashioned belly laugh.

 

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Are You Ready for Change?

By on May 11, 2011 in Life Balance, Personal Growth, Success

“It’s not that some people have willpower and some don’t. It’s that some people are ready to change and others are not.” ―James Gordon

Are you ready to make changes in your life? To move to a  more fulfilling, productive and purposeful type of existence?

Don’t be ashamed to answer no! This may not be the right time in your life. You may not be ready to examine what you have been doing. You may not have a burning desire to accomplish something more than you have so far. You may not feel that it’s important to know where you’re going in life or sort out the meaning and purpose behind your life and work.

That’s OK. Really. Just briefly consider that clinging to your old habits and attitudes may be costing you more than you think. It can be physically and mentally freeing to let it all go and try something different.

Consider a career shift if you don’t feel fulfilled.

Examine your family roles and dynamic.

Analyze your routines and habits – both personal and professional.

Evaluate the health of your relationships.

Assess or re-assess your goals and priorities.

Look at your health patterns.

Move toward a mindset of generosity, kindness, forgiveness and gratitude.

You may find many areas where it’s time for a change. What would you like to do about it? Change is inevitable. Why not make it a considered change rather than a forced one?

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Complete Contentment is Not a Fable

By on May 6, 2011 in Life Balance

animalsComplete contentment may be one of the most treasured states that we will ever have the opportunity to experience.  It’s there somewhere buried under the surface of stress, worry and anxiety. We just have to dig down deep and pull it up. Re-frame our focus and be open to a different way of looking at our lives.

Yes, we’re busy.  Certainly we have way too much to do and not enough time to do it in.  Of course we’re under stress and pressure.  Undoubtedly we’re exhausted and overwhelmed.  And? That’s life my friend.

If we step back for a minute, don’t we like something about our work?  We surely love the money and benefits we get from it if nothing else. Perhaps we even get satisfaction or recognition from it. If not, then at least it finances the rest of our lives.

We certainly value and love our children, family and friends.  They’re annoying at times, but funny and supportive at others. We may never know what to expect, but they add something of significance to our lives and keep us from being dull.

We can even the respect how tired we are. That usually means that we are contributing something to the world and hopefully accomplishing our goals and that feels good.

Contentment not a place you get to, but a place inside you that you can step into and experience at any time. It is quiet and busy, calming and energizing all at the same time.  It may be submerged under chores and worries, busyness and chaos, but if you look deep enough it’s there – I promise. You just have to look!

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Are you Super Woman? (Or Superman)

By on May 4, 2011 in Personal Growth

I saw a bumper sticker awhile back that said, “I am woman. I am invincible. I am tired.” That sure sums up the way most of us live our lives. Who says we have to be perfect and do it all? Just because we can have and do anything we want does not mean that we must do everything! We especially can’t do it all at once. Cut yourself and your fellow man/woman some slack. Just stop the madness!

THE INBOX WILL NEVER BE EMPTY and THE TO-DO LIST WILL NEVER BE FINISHED!

But wait, aren’t we supposed to be trying to be more efficient, to get more done each day, to reach all of our goals. Well, yes, but… and it’s a huge but… We are not supposed to be working ourselves into a frenzied existence of poor health, unbearable stress, self-flagellation and discontent. THAT IS NOT A PRODUCTIVE LIFE.

Pace yourself. Take a breath. Have some fun along the way.

Kiss Super Woman goodbye! Let’s shoot for “Efficient, reliable, creative, hard working and fun, but not perfect” instead. Yeah, that’s what I’m shooting for. The cape was never really a flattering accessory anyway.

To get us started down the path here are some strategies we can use to make the shift:

  • Let go of the idea that you can do it all.
  • Ask for help! (Or delegate if you must.)
  • Be flexible – things come up, priorities change, plans fall apart.
  • Laugh at yourself – it’s a must.
  • Repeat after me – “I’m sorry, but no.” It gets easier with practice…lots of practice.

Come on, give it a try. What have you got to lose? Perhaps a little stress!

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Don’t Neglect Your Health

By on April 15, 2011 in Life Balance

April, though not intentionally planned, seem to be the month for doctor appointments for me. Eye doctor, family doctor, dentist, even a visit with the dogs to the vet.

What does this have to do with productivity you ask? Well, everything actually. No matter how much we may deny it we are humans with needs and flaws. Just like any machine, when it is properly cared for it runs smoother, more efficiently and is actually cheaper to maintain in the long run. Do you take your care in for new tires and an oil change? do you take your pet for their annual exam and immunizations? If you don’t – shame on you – get it done. Why should you be any lees important and need any less care and upkeep?

This month schedule your necessary “maintenance” and I promise you will be more productive in every way.

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Tea

Why You Need a Morning Ritual

By on April 6, 2011 in Personal Growth

TeaDo have a morning ritual or routine? No? You might want to think about designing one. It’s pretty simple.

The manner in which you wake up and what you do upon waking will set the tone for the rest of your day.  Will your day be peaceful and fun or hurried and harried?

Think about how you wake up. What type of alarm do you have? What do you do when you first wake up? Do you watch the news, rush to the shower, grab your coffee and run out the door; or do you exercise, meditate, eat breakfast with your family, and sit and savor your morning coffee or preferred beverage?

Consider some of these options:

  • Get a pleasant sounding alarm; nature sounds, pleasant music or one of the light alarms that slowly gets brighter.
  • Don’t watch the news! Studies show it causes stress and anxiety – and if you must get your news fix, then at least wait until you have relaxed first.
  • Take a few minutes to sit still, breathe and mindfully meditate on being grateful for another beautiful day.
  • Move! Exercise or do some type of movement – yoga and walking count.
  • Eat a nutritious breakfast- No a coffee and muffin at the drive thru does not count. We know that a good breakfast is good for our health and optimal functioning.

Try to get your day off to a good start with a peaceful morning ritual. You might have to get up before the kids to get this done, but it is worth the effort.

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Do We Even Know How to Saunter Anymore?

By on March 23, 2011 in Personal Growth

Generally I am lucky to barely even glance at the word of the day as I peruse my feeds, gadgets and daily morning intake of information. Today however, I was struck by the sheer audacity of the word. Saunter.

Saunter (verb) Walk leisurely and with no apparent aim.

Synonyms: stroll

Usage: The teacher watched his students saunter back into the school building after lunch, apparently in no hurry to get to class on time.

Yeah right… When was the last time you saw anyone saunter? Do we dare? Do we even know what that means anymore? This life, this world we live in, this culture of busyness we are immersed in does not allow for sauntering anywhere. Not at home, not in public, certainly not in the workplace.

Our children have never learned to stroll, as adults we never slow our pace, even the elderly retired folks I know seem to be in a hurry on their evening strolls. What has happened to us?

Perhaps we can’t return our lives to the slower, less stress-laden pace of yesteryear, but could we at least try it once in awhile?

This week, saunter somewhere, anywhere, just to show you can.

I dare you!

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Ultimate Personal Branding

By on March 18, 2011 in Life Balance, Personal Growth

What do you want your legacy to be?

Forget for a moment about marketing materials, your website, social media, referrals and that sort of thing.

Think about what I like to refer to as your ultimate personal branding; your tombstone, your obituary, your legacy. What do you expect or better yet, wish people would say about you at your funeral? Be honest, what do you want to be said in the conversations behind closed doors? At the coffee shops? In the grocery store? Or the board room?

I was in the middle of writing this post when I happened to get my Tip of the Day from Michael Neill at Supercoach.com. I was shocked to see that he had written almost exactly what I had been thinking. So in keeping with my productivity strategies, why duplicate work? Well said Michael!

Here’s Michael’s post:

Deathbed Goals

Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least. – Johann Wolfgang Goethe

Have you ever heard the question “How many people on their deathbed they wish they’d spent more time at the office?”

For me, this always begged another question:

When people are on their deathbed, where do they wish they’d spent more time?

One of the more famous answers comes in this essay, often attributed to a woman named Nadine Stair but originally published in 1955 by humorist Don Hero

If I had my life to live over, I would try to make more mistakes. I would relax. I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I know of very few things that I would take seriously. I would be less hygienic. I would go more places. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less bran.

I would have more actual troubles and fewer imaginary troubles. You see, I have been one of those fellows who live prudently and sanely, hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I have had my moments. But if I had it to do over again, I would have more of them – a lot more. I never go anywhere without a thermometer, a gargle, a raincoat and a parachute. If I had it to do over, I would travel lighter.

It may be too late to unteach an old dog old tricks, but perhaps a word from the unwise may be of benefit to a coming generation. It may help them to fall into some of the pitfalls I have avoided.

If I had my life to live over, I would pay less attention to people who teach tension. In a world of specialization we naturally have a superabundance of individuals who cry at us to be serious about their individual specialty. They tell us we must learn Latin or History; otherwise we will be disgraced and ruined and flunked and failed. After a dozen or so of these protagonists have worked on a young mind, they are apt to leave it in hard knots for life. I wish they had sold me Latin and History as a lark.

I would seek out more teachers who inspire relaxation and fun. I had a few of them, fortunately, and I figure it was they who kept me from going entirely to the dogs. From them I learned how to gather what few scraggly daisies I have gathered along life’s cindery pathway.

If I had my life to live over, I would start barefooted a little earlier in the spring and stay that way a little later in the fall. I would play hooky more. I would shoot more paper wads at my teachers. I would have more dogs. I would keep later hours. I’d have more sweethearts. I would fish more. I would go to more circuses. I would go to more dances. I would ride on more merry-go-rounds. I would be carefree as long as I could, or at least until I got some care – instead of having my cares in advance.

More errors are made solemnly than in fun. The rubs of family life come in moments of intense seriousness rather that in moments of light-heartedness. If nations – to magnify my point – declared international carnivals instead of international war, how much better that would be!

I first came across the phrase ‘deathbed goals’ in the book Conscious Living by Gay Hendricks, and I immediately resonated with the idea. What are those goals which, on your deathbed, you will either be glad you achieved or regret not having achieved?

By devoting your life to these goals now, you ensure yourself a meaningful life, regardless of how things turn out…

Today’s Experiment:

(I’ve filled in my own answers to these questions below. If you would like to share your answers with me, please send them to michael@successmadefun.com!)

1. When you are on your deathbed, what are the four or five most important things you will wish you had done or be glad you did?

My answers :

1. Been a good father
2. Been a good husband
3. Been a good friend
4. Been a good person
5. Lived a good life

2. Imagine your funeral (or if you prefer, your 80th birthday). What would you like each of the important people in your life to say about you?

Turns out, I won’t really care if I was successful in the eyes of the world. I’ll settle for being successful in the eyes of Nina, Oliver, Clara, and Maisy! Here’s what I’d love to hear them say:

He always endeavoured to live what he taught and when it mattered, teach what he lived. The truth is, we liked who we were when we were with him. We became experts, geniuses, capable, resourceful, funny, loving, caring, and kind. Eventually, we realized we were that way even without him there. He was always supportive, but it turned out he was only holding us up long enough for us to get used to the altitude and realize we could fly.

3. How would you like your epitaph to read?

A friend to life and all who dwell within her.

Have fun, learn heaps, and live your life by the mercy of what matters most to you.

Reprinted from Michael Neill’s Supercoach.com

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That Guilty Overworked Feeling: How to Reduce It

By on March 16, 2011 in Personal Growth

Guest post from David in Australia!

Everyone is feeling overworked these days. But stress relief is on the horizon. Take a look at these ten tips on how to avoid that guilty feeling that you’ve been overworking yourself beyond what is good for you.

1. Stop Complaining
If you think you’ve got too much work, the most important aspect is how you react. If you do nothing but complain, think about how you react to someone else complaining about their job. Stop your complaining before your life is ruined. Remember, complaining is a toxic poison that will kill you. Top performers do not talk about how they’re being overworked.

2. Prioritise
Prioritise your work by realising what work you have to do, what work you should do, and what work you can skip doing entirely. No matter how much you think you can do everything, realise that doing everything is simply not possible. Cutting corners is not something to avoid; embrace the fact that you cannot do everything all the time.

3. Organise Your Time
Your time is your most valuable resource. Use a system to set up your tasks for every day, week and month so that you can see your commitments at one glance. Set aside some time every week for leisure time, for family time, and for hobby time. Take time for a vacation, and keep your personal relationships at the top of your list.

4. Cut Back on Busy Work
There’s that work we all have to do that does nothing to produce what we want. Concentrate on the 20% of the tasks on your To-Do list that return 80% of the profit. Don’t worry that you’re ignoring work; take pride in these unproductive work tasks you can forget about because you let them fall away. Delegate if you have to.

5. Stop Working
Keep track of the time you spend working, and do not let the rest of your schedule suffer. Understand that an extra few hours you spend on work when you’re exhausted is not worth the effort. Get a good night’s sleep, and come back tomorrow to that task refreshed and better able to do what needs to be done.

6. Dedicate a Space
Besides dedicating time and effort for work, set aside a workspace where you do your work. Let everyone know that when you’re in that spot, you are working and the DO NOT DISTURB sign is up and blinking away in bright neon. It goes beyond privacy; it’s all about focus on the task.

7. Set Expectations
Let your co-workers, your manager or supervisor, and your clients know what they can expect from you. Tell everyone what your commitments are at the start of any task related to them, what your boundaries are for that task, and the structure of the working relationship. Be ready to stand by what you say.

8. Learn to Say no
In conjunction with the last tip, learn how and when to say “No.” If you take on a task that will eat up all of your time and effort, yet you know you cannot commit those resources, have that word ready. Think of alternatives, though. Can you pass the job to a freelancer looking for work, or out-source the job?

9. Talk and Listen
Having someone just listen to you is great. Cultivate friends and colleagues and even mentors and managers who will sit down and listen to you unburden yourself -remember, no complaining. And be ready to return the favour and let your ear be available for them.

10. Stay Healthy
Do not take your health for granted. Sleep, diet and exercise are all important, and must be fit into your schedule. Get at least five hours of sleep a night – we know no one has enough time every night for eight hours. Eat good healthy food, and avoid the unhealthy stuff as much as possible. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Get fit and stay that way.

This post was written by David who is co-founder of one of Australia’s leading comparison websites where he contributes reviews of credit cards for many of the best business credit cards offering rewards such as cash back and frequent flyer points.

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