Here I am today, taking a day off so I can relax and put the pause button on life. I had to take time from work to make time for me. I started the day with a yoga class, and will be going for a hot stone massage. It’s super exciting to have a day to myself, in the middle of the week!
When did you last take time to make time for yourself? Plan something now 🙂
To help you on your journey to living well, check out my Amazon Giveaway for a chance to win: http://amzn.to/2cJmgOk
As the seasons change, we tend to change our habits. Going from wearing shorts and flip flops to wearing long pants and boots. Take the opportunity to make one more change for yourself as we shift seasons. What is one thing you want to do differently? What will that one thing do for you? How will it make you feel? Close your eyes and envision yourself doing this new thing. Now ask yourself, how can I weave the change into my schedule? What can I do this week to get myself closer to my goal?
A great story on how being in the moment, while doing something as simple as washing dishes can calm you. Read on: http://www.youbeauty.com/life/study-washing-dishes-reduce-stress/
What are your plans this summer? Have you been thinking about anything you would like to change? Anything you would like to focus on doing more of?
Now is the time to take action. Think about what it is you want, and consider the following elements for a successful goal.
Specific. Rather than a goal like ‘stop stressing out all the time’ think about something more concrete. Think about the broad goal, and what it really means. For instance, what is ‘stop stressing out’ all about? What is the root cause of stressing out all the time? Think about the ‘why’s’ for a few minutes. In this case, the why’s could include scheduling too many things, not getting enough sleep, and not having enough help to get stuff done. So you might pick something more specific as your goal, like ‘avoid scheduling too many things.’
Measurable. So if you wanted to avoid scheduling too many things, how would you measure that? You can think about the current state, and how many things you tend to schedule in a day right now. Maybe it’s 10 things. So your goal could be to reduce the number of things by 20%. Number of things you plan in a day is measurable.
Achievable. You want your goal to focus on things you have some control over. If you have zero control over the number of things that are on your calendar, then you probably need to focus on a different goal. Chances are, you have some things that must get done, like grocery shopping and paying bills and going to work. But you likely have choices about how much overtime you put in, or how many social activities you plan.
Realistic. It doesn’t make sense to say you will never stress out ever again. So take some baby steps first. You can always set another goal once you achieve the first one.
Time-Bound. You need to put a target date on the calendar to make yourself accountable. This will help you avoid procrastination and give you an end point to stop and measure your progress.
So let’s get ready for a great summer! If you would like to read more about goal setting, check out:Â http://topachievement.com/smart.html
“All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.” ~Buddha
What are you thinking right now? Are you thinking positively or negatively? What will get you closer to what you want?
I too fall into the trap of negative thinking, particularly when I am worn out and stressed. The key is to recognize when you have started thinking negatively, and turn things around.
So how do you turn things around? There are a few simple things you can do, like giving yourself a short break, or reflecting on three things you appreciate about your life. Stopping to smell the flowers (literally) also helps. Simply pause and reset yourself. Focus your energy on what you are striving towards, rather than what you don’t want.
Today take a few minutes to do something for yourself. Something that brings you joy and makes you happy. Enjoy the experience and appreciate yourself for taking the time to enjoy life.
You can reduce stress and live well. First, notice how you feel right now. Close your eyes for a moment. Scan your body. How does it feel? Are you tense in places, or mostly relaxed? Take a deep breath and exhale. Focus your attention on any places that feel tense. Exhale into those spaces. Allow the tension to release.
There. You have practiced wellness. Every moment you take care of yourself counts.
Healthy living is huge. We hear about ways to live better all the time. Things we can do to be more healthy. But what exactly is health anyways? It can’t mean the same thing for everyone.
For me, living healthy means a mix of work and play. It means getting some exercise – walking the dog, chasing after my son, getting to yoga class. It also means a mix of treats and food that nourishes my body. I love licorice. So I eat it. But I also make a point of eating salads and some vegetarian meals. I go for a mix. There’s no right or wrong, no absolute. I don’t know if there is even a perfect mix. I know my body’s needs change daily, so what I need to do to live healthy changes too.
What does living healthy mean to you?
Melanie Noble 