Happy Monday everyone!
With all the uncertainty and disruption we may get to face occasionally in our lives, most of us have experienced different levels of response.
Some responses have been organic, some forced.
With each response, there's a shift - to either show up even better than before or go into some form of dissociation. I've been on the other end of the shift more times than I'd like to admit and sometimes stuck in the middle.
Do the words "I can't adult today" ring a bell?
Yes. Yes it does.
We're not all having the same experience. Some of us are being happily more productive, some of us are overwhelmed. Some of us are being cheated of our livelihood, and others are able to find the diamond in the rough.
So, for those of us feeling overwhelmed, and/or "uncentered" during uncertain times, It has become even more important to re-establish our own sense of normal and generate positive energy around us. If the old ways are not necessarily working to your advantage, then rather than happily fall into a pit of negative vibes and stay there, I say Take A Break.
Refocus
Rejuvenate
Recenter
“You drown not by falling into a river, but by staying submerged in it.” - Paulo Coelho
Establish a new plan of action to practice staying grounded and present. I'll share 3 ways I practice taking a break:
Take A Break and...WALK
I've added walking (and the occasional hike) to my daily routine for the love of sunlight, movement, nature, and a mindful escape. The added bonus is getting my 15 - 20k steps a day done. This is a necessary health goal for me to achieve daily especially as a pre-diabetic.
Adding an outdoor physical activity to your routine will help increase your Vitamin D levels, decrease your risk for depression and cognitive decline, as well as slow down the release of stress hormones. Some of my most creative ideas come to me during my mindful walks; more so than staring at my laptop in “decision making coma” all day.
Walking is man's best medicine
- Hippocrates
Take A Break and...TREAT YO SELF!
Pick a day out of the week or month and treat your self to something exclusively yours. I was introduced to the “Treat Yo Self holiday” while watching an episode of Parks and Recreation thanks to the characters Donna and Tom. It's hilarious!
On "Treat Yo Self" day, you are encouraged to go all out for yourself. The goal is to pamper yourself with no questions asked. "Treat Yo Self" day is officially Oct 13th but honestly, you can pick your own day and make it do what it do. Get creative with it.
Online shopping for luxurious self care items? Treat Yo Self!
A day off from work?
Treat Yo Self!
Ordering a delivery of your favorite meal?
Treat Yo Self!
A quite evening with yourself sitting under the stars?
Treat Yo Self!
Take A Break and...CHECK IN
....with yourself. Ask yourself what you need. Ask yourself what is it you don’t need right now. Ask yourself what is predominately lifting you up or bringing you down, and understand what is in your control to influence a response. You see, it’s not so easy to show up for others if you don’t start with yourself first.
Start with self. End with others.
Be honest with your emotional state of being. It’s ok to tell someone “I’m not ready to be what you need right now. Give me some moments”. I check in with myself by being still and asking "self-reflection" questions, rehearsing affirmations to influence positive energy, and my favorite guided meditation - "21 Days of Abundance" with Deepak Chopra.
It's all practice and a continuous journey. Don't give up on yourself.
“Hitting the wall is real. Hard days suck”. Take a Break and Live Well.
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