R and R for Sunday, April 29th, 2012

R and R Tip # 99:  REFOCUS your thoughts and unwind

Sometimes we feel like our brain is tied up in knots.  Our thoughts resemble a massive ball of string, wound messily and tightly together.  When we get so busy with the details of our lives and the countless things we need to complete, we end up feeling exhausted and disconnected.

Our minds becomes clouded and unable to focus and we start to make poor decisions regarding our priorities. We end up working hard instead of working smart.

Here a few simple tips to clean your mind, untangle, unwind, and refocus to  get your mental house in order.  

Deep breathing is a well documented way to regain some mental clarity.  Deep breathing increases the oxygen levels in your body and the brain benefits from more oxygen.

Walking might be the perfect way to exercise and it provides man of the same benefits of deep breathing along with the benefits of exercising your muscles.  Sometimes that movement will burn off some of the excess energy that anxiety squeezes into our minds

Very often we need to rethink the way we do things.  Think about your schedule, responsibilities and daily tasks.  If you have too much on your plate, distinguish between the shoulds and the musts.  Drop tasks that aren't truly necessary.

Don’t over commit. Whether in your personal or professional life, learn your limits and set boundaries. Know when to say, No

Reframe problems. Try to view stressful situations from a more positive perspective. Rather than fuming about a traffic jam, look at it as an opportunity to pause and regroup, listen to your favorite radio station, or enjoy some alone time

Focus on the positive. Take a moment to reflect on all the things you appreciate in your life, including your own positive qualities and gifts.

No single method works for everyone.  Try one and if it doesn't work, try another.  Many things in life are beyond our control. Rather than stressing out over them, focus on the things you can control such as the way you choose to react to problems.  If you regularly make time for fun and relaxation, you’ll be in a better place to handle life’s stressors when they inevitably come.

This is the next to the last tip I'll be sharing with you all.  Next week will be the final post on why Rest and Relaxation is so important in our lives.  I guess it's a good way to end - 100 tips on how to rest and relax, restore, refresh, repair, renew....  I've just about covered every thing I can think of to remind you about why you need R and R in your life.  

Please make sure to check in next Sunday for my farewell entry.

Love, Live, Laugh and Be Happy!

ma