There are always those times when it feels like everything is coming at you at once. You feel overwhelmed by the demands that are put on you. These are the time when you want to stand in the midst of all the hype and scream.... "Stop!!!" at the top of your lungs. Well whilst that may be therapeutic, it may also attract some unwanted attention in your direction, so here are some equally effective and much quieter methods of acheiving peace in your hectic life! - Breathe. When you are racing around at top pace, if you were to take a moment to check, you would notice that you are holding your breath. Give yourself permission every now and then to stop and take a deep breath.
- Shake It Out. When tension and stress is building, tightness tends to build in your neck and shoulders. Stop for a moment, take a few slow, deep breaths, dropping your shoulders and relaxing your neck. Shake your hands and body vigorously. You'll feel much better for it.
- Pretend Shower. Take a quick trip to the bathroom, and whilst in there, imagine yourself under the most beautiful, magical waterfall, sparkling with sunlight and warmth. Stand under the waterfall feeling it drain away all tension, all stress, flooding your body, your cells with new health and vitality.
- Belly Breath. Tension will often gather in the upper abdomen. Place your hands on your upper belly, imagine beautiful light pouring into your belly from your hands, then breathe, slowly, deeply, into your belly. Feel it relax and release the build up of tension.
- How Important Is It? Have a serious look at your 'To Do' and Duties lists and ask yourself for each one, "How important is it?". Consider what you can drop, what you can pass on to others and what you need to do yourself.
- Check Your Priorities. Are you working to live, or living to work? Even if you are passionate about your work you still need to take time to enjoy your life, friends, family, hobbies, pets and the world! Go shopping, visit a friend, have a dinner party, walk the dog, have a bath. There are millions of things that you can do to take time out from work.
- Send yourself some flowers. Giving yourself such a gift is a great way to inject some colour and brightness into your working life!
- Remember what you love. Remember what it is you love about your work, family, life. Why did you choose this in the first place? What is keeping you here. If you no longer relate to your original choices, you need to take time to really explore what you are doing and why.
- Stretch. Take a moment to stretch out your body, arms, legs, abdomen, back. Open it all up again.
- Scream. Okay, I give in, screaming can be great! If you've been holding everything in for hours, days, months, even years, it's time to get that pent up energy out!! Go driving in your car, get out into an open natural area and scream - at the top of your lungs, without caring what anyone thinks, scream until you feel exhausted and unburdened.
Remember, this is your life. Not your partners, not your childrens, not your boss's, not your workmates. You must have at least one third of your life devoted to what you choose and at least some of that designated for you alone. Otherwise, what are you teaching your children? That they must sacrifice themselves for others? There is a balance to be had between work and play, duty and joy, giving to others and taking for yourself. So the final question is, do you have that balance? |
