Isn’t it funny how vacation exhausts us? For a one-week vacation, doesn’t it feel like we really need a week to prepare and a week for re-entry? What does that say?
- It’s tough to leave, to get away and let go?
- There’s too much on our plates?
- We’re not taking enough time outside of vacation to rejuvenate?
All of the above.
Let’s face it. Your schedule isn’t going to change today and the demands on your world will probably continue to grow. So what do you do?
Comedian Stephen Write once said:
“The other day I was walking my dog on the ledge of my building. You know some people are afraid of heights. Not me. I’m afraid of widths.”
Can I get a “Ba-dump-bump”?
My point is, as the demand on your time increases — as the building height grows — the trick in life is to figure out how to widen the ledge.
Culled from a few of life’s wonderfully inspirational people in the health sciences, here are a few tips that may guide your hand.
A) Think lovely thoughts and believe in yourself. Positive psychology expert and friend, Christopher Peterson PhD., tells us the “psychologically rich become richer,” meaning positive emotions multiply if we allow them that power. If we view ourselves as likeable people we are better equipped to benefit from positive emotions. In so doing, we have an easier time reframing difficult circumstances. It’s the opposite of a vicious cycle!
B) Connect with others for some positive uplift and a giggle oasis in your hectic days. Sometimes a simple hug or pat on the back, or even a quick laugh at the world’s irony can be enough to de-stress and spark your energy. In a 2009 study at Loma Linda University by Dr. Lee Berk, diabetes patients in a laughter therapy group vs a non-laugther group had lower levels of stress hormones and increased their HLD (good) cholesterol by 23%! Laughter is good medicine.
C) Take heart pumping breaks – walk, stretch and breathe. Neuroscientist, John J. Ratey MD, tells us that research is robust on how exercise helps the brain. Specifically, the fitter you are, the better your attention span for completing tasks. Finish a task, get your heart rate up, finish another task: a healthy anti-multitasking plan for survival in a chaotic world.
D) Finally, my friend and mentor Bog Burg’s June 27th blog post reminds us that there is a difference between rushing and moving with purpose. As a celebrated business and motivation expert he opines:
Self-realization author and teacher Guy Finley wrote,
“You cannot rush without being in some sort of conflict.”
Personally, I find this to be very true. It’s one thing to move with purpose and quickness. It’s quite another to rush. In the first case, we are in control of ourselves; in the second, the situation is controlling us.
If you want to de-stress, take a page from Bob’s play-book, or that of doctor’s Peterson, Ratey and Berk. A little bit goes a long way.
Above all, savor what’s good. Especially those days off.
Look-ee here, pal… Recuperation is not optional! We need you at your best.
And as far as that busy schedule goes…The way I see it, to reach the wider ledge, we have two choice: you can be grumpy and rushed or you can be purposeful and optimistic.
I’m off to follow my purpose on the PATH Ahead, how about you?
I’d love to hear how you widen the ledge in your busy lives?