Work: Not just the job or housework. Anything that expends energy:
- exercise: vital for life, although we can over-do this, over-training can put you back
months
- how much is your life driven by chores that maybe could be outsourced?
- could you get more productive or efficient?
- do you really need to take more on?
Mind: Concentration, focus, mood and memory all need energy and space to function:
- mindset: Abraham Lincoln summed it up: ' most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be'.
- Do you actively challenge yourself to be grateful at all times?
- meditation: yes, I know, you may not feel sitting in lotus position and 'ummming' is for you. However, try 5 minutes of deep breathing (5 seconds in through the nose/ 5 second hold/ 5 second out through the mouth) a day and
then tell me if you notice a difference in your mood or not!
- reduce negativity: we are pretty harsh on ourselves so try putting the breaks on when you catch yourself doing it. Become more self aware.
Play: Anything that you love doing and makes you feel alive. We all need more of this, yet leave room to recharge and earn those fun vouchers at work.
Rest: Last but not least and definitely the most important. Neglecting this can derail ALL the above.
- rest as hard as you train...6 days a week of hard exercise will eventually lead to burn out or injury (I've been there a few times!)
- sleep: not getting enough, at the right time will mess up
everything. Obviously we all know how we are when we don't get enough. However, did you also know that some studies show that we can put ourselves into a state physiologically similar to pre-diabetic with only a 2 hour decrease in what we personally need..really bad for body composition! It is also when we mentally put everything into the right box so 'sleeping on it' works!
We need to find ourselves in the centre of this compass at all
times. It does take work and sometimes goes against our perceived priorities (i.e. social life, starting a business, relationships).
However, with a little work and awareness we can position ourselves with energy to spare for everyone and every thing and , most importantly, yourself.
Let me
know how you get on...or anything you feel I should add! This is a two way street!
Stay balanced!
J
