Health Guides
Selfcare Tips To Recharge Your Energy And Feel More Energetic
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As the Relationship Coach Contributing Writer for Aspire Magazine, in the last three issues we have discussed how to re-energize your personal relationships, how to communicate and understand your children/teenagers and the last issue how to find Mr. (Mrs.) Right.
With the July/August issue of Aspire Magazine, lets focus on your relationship with YOURSELF. How to recharge your energy with self-care tips to feel more energetic.
In order to feel more energetic, who does it have to start with? You yourself!
It is important to take the time to nourish your body, mind and soul on a daily basis, even if only for ten to fifteen minutes. I see this as a huge challenge for many of my clients, both men and women worldwide. Our lives seem busier that ever with the feeling of a fast- paced get stuff done type of lifestyle.
Why is it important to take care of yourself? When you do take the time to take care of yourself, think about how it will pay off in the long run not only health-wise but personally and professionally as well. Your life will flow with more ease, happiness and a lot more fun.
Your goal to energize yourself on a daily basis; even if for only ten to fifteen minutes. Start with baby steps.
Here are a few suggestions-
1) For an instant recharge- take a few deep breaths. REALLY deep breaths with your eyes closed and exhale slowly. If possible, change the view. Get up and walk into a different room or step outside. While inhaling, use all your senses and focus on your surroundings. Focus as if you were going to paint, write, or record what you are feeling. How are you feeling now? Better? Relaxed? More energized? Ready to face the world again?
2) Find a place where you can relax and let go of your worries and stress.
If you enjoy being outdoors- garden take a walk, enjoy the beach. This is your private time. Enjoy the feeling of a safe place and clear your mind. Give yourself permission to BE without any agenda.
If you prefer being indoors- office or home- find a favorite chair, a room or even a corner of a room. Surround yourself with favorite pictures of friends and family, special mementoes, books, candles, music and/or artwork. Create a space that feels right for you. It can be a physical place or a place in your mind where you can go for reflection and relaxation.
The purpose is to be able to allow yourself to connect to a special place and start to feel relaxed immediately.
3) Finally ask yourself these questions
A. If I am not recharging my batteries on a daily basis, how can I remain healthy both personally and professionally?
B. What can I do for myself on a daily basis for at least 10 to 15 minutes, to be the best I can be as a parent, partner, employee or a boss?
Your mission- to defuse your stress and to feel more energized. Keep it simple! There is no right or wrong; its what works for you, your style, your needs and your schedule. Do what you can do easily, even if for only 10 minutes.
Joanie Winberg Known as The Happy Wednesday Lady, Joanie Winberg is a speaker, Relationship Coach, Behavior Specialist and a Certified Laughter Leader. She provides motivational, fun-filled and educational workshops, training seminars and keynote speaking events for your organization, business or school. She is also the founder of The Happy Wednesday Broadcast, a midweek BOOST with inspirational quotes and tips to make Wednesday a Power Day instead of hump day. The Happy Wednesday Broadcast may be heard on WATD- 95.9 FM Boston every Wednesday morning at 8:55am.
For more information go to http://www.happywednesday.com or contact Joanie Winberg at jw@joanwinberg.com or call 508-947-2750.
More infomation at WikipediaSpontaneous Play
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We do not stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing. -unknown
Spontaneous Play
The phone company has been working in our neighborhood installing new cables. Two weeks ago, during part of an early morning installation, they hit a major power line and cut power and phone service to 600 homes. The repair crew estimated that it would take two days to restore the power and phone service. I was in the middle of several large business projects. Since I office at home, my first thought when this happened was, what can I do without access to my computer and emails? I caught myself before I went too far down this path and shifted my focus to what was the opportunity in this situation?
Often what we label as problems are really opportunities. In the Chinese language the same character is used for both a crisis or problem and an opportunity. Another way of looking at this is different sides of the same coin. So when I flipped to the other side of the coin, I immediately saw this situation as an opportunity to play! It reminded me of the snow days we used to have in school; when we had an excuse not to go to school and instead we could play in the snow.
I really needed a break from the projects and with this spontaneous gift; I decided to fully enjoy myself. Instead of worrying about all the things I should be doing, I decided to listen to my heart. I took a long walk and then sat outside and finished a novel. I met a friend for a leisurely lunch and browsed stores that I had been wanting to explore. I purchased spontaneous gifts to surprise loved ones. By early evening the power was restored but not before I had experienced a wonderful, energizing day!
I learned two things from this day. The first was to quickly shift to see the opportunity in an apparent problem. The second was the benefit of spontaneous play. After the much needed break, I returned more creative and revitalized for my projects.
Where do you need a break in your life right now? Are there some opportunities disguised as problems? Look at something you are labeling as a problem right now. If you ‘flipped the coin’, what is the opportunity in the situation? Watch for the signs that your need a break: frustration, short-tempered, low energy, no motivation. What would happen to your outlook, creativity and energy if you had a day or hour to follow your heart? Think of something fun you would love to do if you had an unexpected break and then create one!
Vicki Miller Copyright July 2005
As a Life Transition Coach I work with clients to identify what’s most important to them and prioritize around these values. I help my clients identify and remove obstacles in the way and bring clarity and focus to their dreams. What is your dream? Are you undergoing a major transition and not clear where to turn? Call (972-306-4489) or email me, (coach.v.miller@verizon.net), to set up a complimentary, no obligation 30 minute coaching session. Download my FREE e-Book, 12 Fun Ways to Change Your Life, or sign up for my FREE monthly newsletter at http://www.thrivingthroughchange.com
More infomation at WikipediaThe Importance Of Self Care
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Big week. Very big week. I had some larger than life meetings with some people who can actually help me make my ultimate career dreams come true. Its exciting and can be overwhelming, but Ive realized the importance of one thing.
I need to step back and take care of myself when Im busy. Its the best thing I could ever do for myself.
Take a client of mine who recently had a launch of her new product. There were the parties and the fund raisers. There were the meetings and the press events. There was excitement, and the fulfillment of a dream that she had been working on for many years. After the big event, she was sick for a month. Colds, flu, congestion, aching, you name it, she had it. And as soon as she got well, she jumped on a plane and did a tour promoting her product. She ran and ran and ran herself into the ground and itll be no surprise to anyone to hear, she got sick once again.
Another client I work with dealt with another stressful event which ultimately caused her illness. This lady is a manager and had to cover during work for a few employees who were out with pregnancy and a surgery. My client is completely capable and able to do the jobs of her co workers well, but the stress got to her. She ended up caving and fell ill at the end of her ramped up time. She ended up missing several days of work in a row as a result, which ultimately did not help the department. As a matter of fact, it COST the department. It slowed down the work because of the several sick days.
What these two clients had in common was that they put their work before themselves. They put the goals of their company before their own, and sacrificed over and over until they made the sacrifice of their health. They ended up having to take off a lot of time from work after the fact and their work probably suffered while they were there because both of them worked while they were sick.
Putting ourselves first often sounds selfish. It sounds like were self important or too good to work too hard. Nothing can be further from the truth. If we value the company or our work, well value ourselves first. If we take care of ourselves, well be strong for our company. If we take care of ourselves, we wont get sick after the busy time, or stressful times.
Taking care of ourselves means different things to different people. To me, it means getting in exercise several days a week and eat healthy foods. It means getting lots of down time, to be alone and to read and write. To me, it means getting to spend time laughing and playing with my son and reading to him or drawing with him. To me, it means connecting with my husband and getting to hear about his daily events that take place. It also means, connecting with my family and my friends via phone or in person. Lastly, it means that I have prayer time, and complete quiet time where I can just listen.
I find when I do these things, and take great care of myself, and have a lot of time just alone or being with my close circle of friends and family, I feel more productive. Im more creative, and Im happier. I feel more centered, and more balanced. I lose the anxiety, and the stress. I can also handle more stress because I feel stronger.
Its taken me years to find the formula that works for me. I know immediately when Im out of balanced. I start losing things and my clothes pile up in my closet. My desk gets overly cluttered and my house looks messy. I start getting a bit pudgy and my clothes feel tight. My nails and my hair start to look worn and I dont feel the inner spark that I love to share with others.
So like today, in the midst of my excitement, I took the morning off to spend with my dog. She needed me. She had a cough. So I took her for a walk. I read my bible and I wrote in my journal. I spoke with my mom a few times and emailed and called a dear old friend. I spent time out on my porch just reading and soaking in the sun shine. Later, even after work, I felt good. I handled some parental stress that is a part of a working moms day such as dinner, bath time and getting a splinter out of a screaming childs finger. I handled it all with grace and ease. I felt fine that even though there was a bit of chaos around me, it didnt affect me. I was in the flow and it felt right.
When we finally get this lesson about taking good care of ourselves, weve usually already done it wrong for a good many years. I sure did. I used to live on adrenaline and was a complete junky. As a result, I never felt really good. I was overweight and out of shape. And, Id prefer to not go back there.
So to challenge yourself, just review for yourself what YOU need to do to feel good about yourself. Do you need exercise? Do you need a special meal? Do you need to bask in the sunlight or get a massage? Whatever it is, make it happen. Trade massages with someone else if you have to, but figure it out.
Your body will thank you. Your mind will thank you. And ultimately your life will thank you, and reward you, just for taking care of yourself.
Mary Gardner, The Charisma Coach! Is and executive Communications and Lifestyle coach, speaker and consultant. She travels the country appearing on news programs promoting her ideas, and hosts a popular blog at http://www.marygardner.com
More infomation at Wikipedia