Archive for Well-Being
What Do You Need to Be Your Best?
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I believe one of the best ways to get to the core of what’s important to you and to travel the road towards simplicity is to ask the right questions. So I am starting a series called Moving Towards Simplicity. You can answer these questions in your journal, in the comments below or at the MySimplerLife Facebook page.
Question #7:
What Do You Need to Be Your Best?
People deserve to have you when you are at your best. You help more people when you are at your best. I am not talking about perfection and being totally healthy. But, how good you can feel today. What do you need for that?
I need a daily quiet time, to exercise (dance, walk, lift weights, do yoga) 5-6 times a week & to eat at least 5 fruits and vegetables. I need to write/journal and look after my emotions. I need 8 hours of sleep. And I need to see people outside my family 2-3 times a week.
How about you? To be my best I need…
A Simple Sandwich
Posted by: | CommentsAfter winter, I have been craving fresh fruits and vegetables. I have until May here for local produce, but the produce at the grocery store is getting better.
The tomatoes were finally red. Yea!
So on this sandwich:
Pita bread
Hummus
Ham (or whatever meat. I left it off for the first sandwich)
Avacado
Feta Cheese
Red Onion
Reaching Capacity
Posted by: | CommentsHow do you know when it is time to simplify? When you are reaching capacity.
(Going beyond capacity isn’t pretty. Photo by MyLifeStory)
As a volunteer, you want to give your joy, passion and your strengths to something that is dear to you. When you are involved in so many causes or projects, it’s hard to give your all to any. When you are asked to take on another project, you can truthfully say that you wish you could, but you are at capacity right now.
The same goes for social events. Some of you can enjoy more social events than others. When you feel you really need to recuperate, rather than go to another event, you have reached capacity.
Knowing your own capacity and limits is helpful when making decisions on what to take on. And what to let go of.
You need to keep checking in with yourself because capacity changes depending on self care, how much you have on your plate, how spiritual nourished you are and things like hormones.
As you look at your life, where have you reached capacity? What can you let go of?
Bringing You Joy
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Music brings me so much joy. I sing soprano in the church choir and get my music that way. But, I realized I wasn’t spending as much time with music at home. Time for the calendar.
I added times to play the piano, to listen to music and play GarageBand with my daughter, music dates with my husband where we reminisce and play "Who sings this?"
Many times our lives are not filled with things that bring us joy because we don’t consciously create those times.
Instead of automatically turning on the TV, surfing the net or other passive leisure activities, what would your life be like if you added times for joy?
What if you planned for play, hobbies, friends, and self-care?
Your calendar is full of things you’d rather not do. Why not add things you want to do?
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Photo by Shankar
Getting it All Done on Break
Posted by: | CommentsSo you want to get it all done this break from work? I suggest – don’t.
Most of my clients have super big goals for this week. So I have had to talk some of them down. Vacation time is not only to get your home back in shape, it’s to recover and to spend time with your family.
Check your to do list, is there a balance? Not perfect balance because that is elusive and doesn’t really exist. But, a simple balance.
Do you have home projects on the list, like decluttering the bedroom or getting through some paper piles? Have just a couple on the list and once those are done you can always add more. After all, I am sure there is already some cleaning up from the holidays that also needs to get done.
How about family activities? Maybe visiting the grandchildren, taking the kids to the movies, or having a family game night. Try to have some family time every day on vacation.
Then there is recuperation time. Do you have any relaxing time on your list? Some reading, extra quiet time to think about the year ahead, long walks, or coffee with friends. Add daily recuperation time to your list.
If you don’t enjoy this vacation time, if you have it, then you will start the new year back at work as tired as you left.
How about if you don’t have vacation?
I am self-employed, so I have work to do. I am trying to work less this week, but there is still work. If you have to work this week too, maybe leave most of the home projects and other projects till after the New Year. Enjoy this time with your family & friends and get some evening recuperation time for yourself.
Off to go to the in-laws to celebrate Christmas!
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Photo by: Michael Cory
Stop.
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Stop. Breathe. Breathe again. Now continue on your regularly scheduled day.
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Photo by Brea Dargis
Support Yourself in the Future
Posted by: | CommentsMonday is the sentencing and I know if will be difficult as we read about how we have been impacted. So, today I am planning ways to support myself. I am going to go to bed early the night before. Take the day off work/clients. Put a long walk in nature into my schedule. And ask for prayers from people.
As you look at next week, where do you see spots that may be difficult for you? How can you make them easier?
If your week looks like smooth sailing, then concentrate on self-care. You are going to need your strength sometime in the future, so spend this week exercising, eating well, writing in your journal, taking breaks and connecting with the ones you love.
Do what you can to support yourself in the future.
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Photo by Rosmary
Extra Half Hour
Posted by: | CommentsIf I go to bed later, I am usually spending my time watching TV or reading. But, if I wake up earlier I am more likely to exercise and have a quiet time.
How about you? What happens when you stay up later? What is different when you wake up earlier?
Here’s an idea for this week to try out: go to bed ½ hour earlier and wake up ½ earlier than usual.
How? Your day is so packed, you are running till you crash on the couch. At bedtime you are still so tense from the day you need to unwind. Here are a few suggestions: have the whole family do chores right after dinner to get them out of the way, prepare for tomorrow earlier, don’t watch TV shows close to bedtime that get your heart pumping, play relaxing music instead. If you get your need to dos done earlier, then you can get into bed about 1/2 hour before you want to sleep to cuddle, read, journal, listen to music or any activity you find soothing. Ideally you would be getting 7-8 hours of sleep a night or your energy level and productivity probably won’t be going up.
What will you do with that extra 1/2 hour?
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Photo by Warren Norohnha
Why Do You Need a Retreat?
Posted by: | CommentsRetreats are a vital lifeline for me. If I don’t get that time alone, I feel irritable, scattered and like I have lost pieces of myself.
When was the last time I took time alone?
Have you been stuffing down feelings trying to keep it all together?
Do you want to escape your life for a little while? Does everyone seem to annoy you?
Do you feel hollowed out mentally, spiritually or physically?
Are you in the midst of transition and change? Divorce. A new job opportunities. Working with an empty nest. Or have a decision you need to make?
Perhaps you have felt you have lost yourself under stacks of to do lists and other people’s expectations?
Why do you feel you need a retreat?
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If you are unsure how to create your own retreat for renewal you can check out my New Retreat Kit.
Have You Unplugged, Yet?
Posted by: | CommentsA lot has been written lately about unplugging. Taking a day a week or a month at unplug from technology so you can re-connect with yourself and with the ones you love.
But are you doing it?
Since we don’t see it as a necessity, we can find all sorts of excuses – my family will get mad at me if I turn of their technology, I just need to make one more phone call, but a show I like is coming on…
How can you make unplugging work for you?
- Plan for this time and anticipate it. Create an email autoresponder saying you are unplugging for the day. Pick up the house the night before. Run your errands during the week.
- Plan activities that you love to do that will keep you and your family away from technology. Stroll, go to the beach, play games, visit friends, watch the sunset, dance in your living room with your family, do something creative.
- Remember the importance. Do you remember free time when you were younger? I remember growing up Sundays we would go to church, have a big dinner, read the paper, go on nature walks or other family activity. In the evening we would do our own thing, relaxing. How would it feel for you to unplug?
- Turn off the cell phone. Unplug the TV. Hide the DVD player and video games. Keep the computer off.
- Create a ritual to remind you of your unplugging – lighting a candle, changing clothes, a few minutes of deep breathing.
What do you need to do today to be able to take a day off this weekend to unplug?
