By Lori Hanson
Are you energized and excited about the New Year or are you still worn out from the holidays and feeling like you need a break? With the combination of the weather, shorter days and too much to do, it’s easy to feel worn out.
Here’s three quick tips to help you adjust your pace throughout the day to stay relaxed and focused−so you can get more done in less time.
1. Change up the order in your routine tasks.
Do you start every day out the same way? Exercise or walk the dog first, make coffee, read the paper, (oh wait nobody does that any more) watch your favorite morning show and rush out the door to work. Do you stop at the same Starbucks at the same time every day and have the same drink?
Change up the order and sequence in your day:
- If you’ve been watching the morning shows every morning, turn the TV off for a week.
- Take the dog on a difference route this week when you walk, or to a different dog park.
- Order green tea instead of a frakamochalaka©.
- Turn your phone, computer and tablet off when you get home. Take a 1-3 hour break from technology.
2. Take a physical break every hour.
This is easy to do and your body and mind will thank you for it.
- Get up and stretch, take a quick walk around the office, (or house if you work at home).
- Get a fresh bottle of water or cup of hot tea.
- Stop and take a look out the window. Be in the moment of what is happening outside.
- Take five deep breaths. Slowly inhale to the count of five and slowly exhale repeating the word “relax” three times.
3. Plan something new in the evening.
Your body and mind will enjoy having something new and different to do at night.
- If you eat dinner at a restaurant, go somewhere you’ve never been.
- Make plans with a friend you haven’t seen or spent time with in a while.
- Let the kids pick what you’re having for dinner and a movie to watch after home work is done.
- Take 20 minutes to journal before you go to bed. What did you accomplish today? What did you enjoy today? What made you unhappy today and why? What can you do to make your life flow easier tomorrow?
- Spend the last five minutes before you go to sleep visualizing something you enjoy. Something that makes you feel good, so your subconscious mind has something positive to contemplate while you sleep. This is much better than laying in bed chastising yourself for all the things you didn’t get done today, or things you didn’t do right. That’s a waste of time and energy. Reconsider watching the news (and all the negativity) before bed.
Be creative, what does your mind and body want to do to break up the pace and stay relaxed?
©2013
