Refocus for Busy People

I’ve had a spotty Internet connection today which at first was very frustrating with so much to accomplish online. When I decided to go outside, take a walk, and see the situation as an opportunity to take a break – this blog post formed in my mind.

Like most people, you may find it difficult to balance all the tasks that demand your attention. You may even find yourself saying, “If I just had more hours in the day!”

Do you feel stressed out, down in the mouth, or a bit low on motivation? If so, you might be wistfully waiting for a vacation even when we just had a ‘long weekend’ here in the US.   But what can you do, when you just got back from vacation, your weekends are full, and your evenings are all spoken for?

Start planning another vacation?

I hear so many people comment that they spend more time planning their vacations than they do their lives. Let’s start getting more out of our lives and needing that vacation less with This Month’s Stress-Busting Tip.

Vacations really are overrated, at least as far as managing stress is concerned. Chronic daily stress simply cannot be reversed in a week’s vacation. The next time you’re confidence takes a hit (how many rejection slips can one writer take?), your manager bites your head off (while adding more responsibilities), or your urgent to-do pile is so tall it’s leaning like the Tower of Pisa (and your energy is sinking just as fast), try one of these quick-lifts, adapted from the book, Recharge in Minutes by Suzanne Zoglio, Ph.D.:

1. Stop to Really Breathe. Sit quietly, inhale to the count of six as if filling a balloon just above your waist and then slowly exhale, feeling your balloon deflate and any tension subside. Repeat 3-6 times.

2. Keep a Commitment to Yourself. It’s easy to sell off little pieces of yourself by keeping commitments to everyone but you! List 6 things you’ve been “meaning” to do. Do something to forward that intention in the next ten minutes? The heck with what others think of you…value yourself!

3. Throw One Back. Consider one “little fish” that you caught without trying…from a friend, a boss, or family member. Now, shore up your courage, admit that you over committed, and throw it back.

4. Get Physical. If your mind is in overdrive, give it a rest and let your feet take over for 5 minutes. Run up and down stairs. Go weed in the garden. Do jumping jacks or a dozen sit-ups…or sprint to the store for a latte.

5. Unplug from Civilization. Turn on your voice mail and shut your door. Close your eyes and retreat to a favorite place. Hear the rain as you’ve heard it before, and smell the musty earth. Feel the sun caress your skin…and let it melt the tension. Stay for ten minutes; then as you leave, carry with you the serenity you experience in nature.

6. Get Out of the Blame Game. When life is spinning out of control, dishing out the unexpected, it’s easy to get caught up in finger pointing. The problem is that until you focus on what you can do, you’ll experience the stress of low control. Forget the blame and look for a way out.

7. Keep the Faith. What we think influences how we feel, and how we feel influences how we act. When you suffer a blow, bounce back with the encouraging words you’d offer a friend. Recite a favorite prayer, read an inspiring quote, or just repeat silently, “I can handle this” or “The universe conspires on my behalf.”

8. Dream Your Life Forward. Pretend it’s two years from now and you are writing to a close friend. Describe where you’re living, what you’re doing, who brings you joy, and how you are making a difference. Dare to dream…and write it down.

9. Turn Complaints into Questions. When you complain, you drain your brain. It’s an admission you’ve hit a dead-end. Instead, turn every gripe into a question that gets your brain fired up in search of a solution. From “I’m out of luck” to “How can I turn this to my advantage?” or “What can I learn from this?” or “Who could help me with this challenge?” Stomp out global whining…and you’ll plug up a huge energy drain!

10. Go on a Life-Is-Great Date. When you’ve had a streak of bad luck, celebrate. Hey! Who needs champagne when you’re high on success? When you’re stressed is when you need the lift! Meet a friend, make a reservation at a favorite restaurant, study a picture of a loved one, or just take a walk with Mother Nature!

AFFIRMATION: Today I will take a moment for myself because I know that I Can.