Virginia WaltonI know that Easter and Passover usually occur close together, but I did not realize that this year Ram Navami and Ramadan are also in April.
This means that most of us have some additional family and/or religious obligations on top of our already busy lives.
Then if you are like me and live in an area that has seasons, it’s time to start getting ready to be outside again. Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful after the dreary rainy months to be outside but that means, yard work, planting, mulching, moving deck furniture back outside.
As a matter of fact, as I was working on this article, I stopped because I remembered I had to text my power washing guy.
So, we have family gatherings, religious obligations, spring yard work, returning to the office, conferences, upcoming graduations, communions, confirmations, and bridal showers for the summer weddings. This is in addition to work, family, and life in general.
Plenty of time for all of this…. NOT!
Before I share the three tips, I am going to preface them by saying, these are simple and not hard to do, but you have to commit to making these non-negotiable.
1. Do not skip your quiet time or morning meditation.
This does not have to be 30 or 45 minutes sitting cross-legged on the floor chanting. I am talking about 5 to 10 minutes each morning to be still. Get your coffee or tea and sit down to enjoy it. Turn off your mind.
If you are calm and relaxed, you will be able to handle the stress the day throughs at you.
Think about the difference between when you add something to a pot of water or oil that is boiling. It splashes and makes a lot of noise and can be dangerous even if it was something small. But if you add that same thing to a pot that has not yet boiled, the reaction is manageable.
The same principle applies to you. If you are already stressed and boiling, the small stress is going to be a lot messier than in calm water.
Start your day from a place of calm, not boiling!
If you tell me, you don’t have 10 minutes a day free, we need to talk today! Because if that is true you will not be able to sustain the pace for long and it will cost you dearly in the end!
2. Expect something to go wrong.
This way when it happens, you are again coming from a calmer place and rather than freaking out, can say, “I expected that.”
This gives you the opportunity to prepare yourself. After all, if you are or were in Risk Management, you know you need a backup plan.
3. Sleep. You have to get enough sleep.
Do not sacrifice it for the sake of your to-do list. Trust me, in the end, you will perform better and more efficiently if you shut down and get a good night’s rest.
Think about how your laptop starts to get dim when the battery gets too low or the car reacts when it gets way too close to E. Everything needs a source of energy to perform at its best. You are the same.
Skipping sleep when you are super busy and stressing out is the worst thing you can do. Exhaustion feeds the stress and reduces your productivity making you busier.
As I said earlier, this is non-negotiable.
These are simple, but I realize it can be hard to change your habits. That is where I can help. If you are thinking, I’ve been doing this so long I don’t know another way, I understand.
I’ve been there. But trust me, you can do this, and I will help you!