PAUSE – 13.32 – Go Ahead…Make Your Day!
Reflection: I woke up yesterday feeling just a tad overwhelmed. Does that ever happen to you? I’m guessing it probably does.
My tendency in earlier times would have been to vault out of bed, dive into the day and plow ahead on the tasks at hand. Hmmm…vault, dive, plow…not the most graceful approach to life!
Yesterday, I resisted the urge to frenzied action. Instead, I spent fifteen minutes on my yoga mat, savored my first cup of coffee, read from a book of inspiration, and made a few notes in my journal.
In particular, I noted things for which I was feeling grateful. Nothing too extraordinary on the list – health, family, the internet, automatic washers (laundry, you know), and Roughriders headed to the Grey Cup. Can you tell my mind was all over the place?
Knowing that a taxing day lay in wait, I also made a commitment to do something renewing for myself at lunchtime. A 20 minute walk in the fresh snow or a 20 minute nap – depending on my mid-day need and frame of mind.
Over the years, I’ve learned the power of investing in self-care…first! The day always goes better when you start by doing something kind for yourself. And, I’ve learned that we benefit most from this practice on those days when it seems we can least afford to take the time.
Action: So, how did you start today? And how will you start tomorrow?
What simple but significant acts of self-care and kindness might steady your mind, govern your pace, lift your spirits, and sustain you through the demands of the day that lies ahead?
Whatever it is…go there…do it! You’ll notice a positive difference all day long!
Quotes Of The Week: Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again. – L. Frank Baum
Take time to take care of yourself, before time takes care of you! – Helen Cohen
Resource Of The Week: Looking for a few ideas on how to treat yourself more kindly? Scout out Cheryl Richardson’s book, The Art of Extreme Self Care (Hay House 2012).
And here’s a brief article on the same topic by Helen Cohen: 7 Ways To Effectively Practice Extreme Self Care.
Readers Write: In response to last week’s e-zine, Al Desko or Al Fresko, Pause reader SF replied: We really do lose out on so much by not taking a mid-day break. Some of my best ideas have been generated by chatting with a colleague over lunch (even a brown-bag lunch in a break room). I hope your calculation of working an extra 16 days a year helps put it into perspective for people. That’s more than two full weeks of vacation. Maybe we need to start calling it vacation hour instead of lunchtime.
Tags: burnout, health, overload, overwhelm, Pat Katz, Patricia Katz, pause, perspective, productivity, Saskatoon, self care, speaker, stress, time out, wellness
I start my day with my yoga practice and journalling. If I miss one of these things the day generally goes badly for me. Self-care really does make all the difference!
So true, Lia. It’s a great combo!