We often think that nurturing ourselves is selfish. Is it really?? I heard a quote from a a brilliant Zen Master that has been imprinted in my mind, “You Can’t Go Around In a Broken Boat and Pick Up Passengers.” Simple, yet profound and true. We can’t be our best selves for our family, our company, our friends if we don’t invest the time and energy to take care of our emotional and physical wellbeing. When we row forward at lightening speed all of the time, without a break, eventually we crash and burnout. Then we can’t really help anyone. As the world is spinning and changes occur, it’s even more important to secure your boat so that you can glide through the journey with more joy, ease and success. Here’s a few tips to keep your boat sturdy for the long haul:

1. Plan. Time Investment: 15 minutes. Have you ever raced around in the morning with too much to do before getting out the door? Take some time at night to review your schedule. Check what you have planned for the next day and have everything packed to go. Reduce your stress level – When you’re racing around in the morning, it creates a frenetic pace for the day. Leave a little buffer time in between scheduled activities for the unexpected so that you can remain grounded.
2. Get Out! Time Investment: 5 – 10 minutes. Have you ever noticed how being outside and just taking it all in helps to clear your head and shift your perspective?  If you are having a difficult day, go outside. It can help to increase your productivity. Even if it’s only for a brief period. Take a short walk. Breathe. Pay attention the environment around you – the sun, clouds, trees, the stars. Go back in and set the world on fire!
3. Laugh! Laugh! And Laugh Some More. Time Investment: 5 minutes. – When was the last time you laughed at work? Or laughed with your spouse or children instead of getting upset? Sometimes we take ourselves so seriously. Pause and look at the humor in challenging situations. It can relieve stress, make you feel good and create positive energy for everyone around you. Do you remember laughing so hard that you cried? A man that I had I worked with, loved to poke fun at me. One day, after a stressful meeting, he plastered my office with 30 yellow sticky notes inscribed with positive affirmations that he had heard me say. When I first saw the notes, I was perplexed. Then when I read them, instead of getting offended, I laughed so hard that I cried. Just thinking about it, makes me laugh now.
4. Be Quiet. Time Investment: 30 minutes. Meditate. Taking the time out to meditate, helps you to have more control over yourself, your feelings and your day. It helps to keep you balanced and calm, even while the world is moving rapidly around you. You’ll accomplish more and your boat will withstand the storms.

Do you have any tips that you would like to share? What to you do to stay centered and relieve stress?

The post Stop the World, I Need to Get Off appeared first on Inspired Intent.

1. An Attitude of Gratitude List. Time Investment: 20 minutes. – But before the season gets too close, make a list of each person that you will encounter at a holiday get-together. You can make one list for each holiday event – Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas etc. Next to each person’s name, write one thing about them that you are grateful for – big or small, whatever comes to mind… “Aunt Betty” may be a self-appointed food critic but when you had the flu, she was the one that made you home-made chicken soup, out of love for you and genuine concern. So rather than focusing on people’s idiosyncrasies, focus on what you love about them.
2. Don’t Take Anything Personally. Time Investment: 30 seconds. If someone says something to you that you’re not thrilled about, do not let it reel you into a reactive state. Then…Go back to tip #1 on the list!  What is the one thing that you are grateful for about this person? Think about it and then release attachment to the situation. Also remember that “Uncle Joe” may have made comments about “Aunt Betty’s” cooking for years, so she may be operating from her bruised ego and it may have nothing to do with your “stuffing being too dry.”
3. Breathe! Time Investment: 60 seconds. When you are feeling overwhelmed, remember to take in some oxygen. Breathe in through your nose easily, not your mouth. When you breathe in through your mouth, it initiates a stress response. Your mouth is for singing talking, and eating. Your nose is for breathing and smelling the aroma of the pumpkin pie.
4. “You” Time. Time Investment: 30 minutes. Meditate. “But I’m too busy, I don’t have time for that right now.” When you’re that busy, you need it the most. You can actually gain more hours in your day because you’ll be more energized, more joyful, less stressed and less reactive. You can think clearer and have more flow. One really cool benefit of meditation is that when you do it daily, #1-3 become automatic – you automatically feel grateful, don’t take things personally and breathe easy.

Have an amazing and joyous holiday! Hey if you make that vegan, soy free, gluten-free pumpkin pie, I’ll take “Aunt Betty’s” share!

Blessings – Michelle

The post Holiday Stress Relief Tips appeared first on Inspired Intent.