If you are like most of the people I
meet every day, you are searching for ways to reduce the overwhelm you feel,
finally begin to make some real headway on your big goals and yet still have
some time left over, to enjoy your favourite and most nurturing activities. The
challenge we all face though, is that in order to reduce the overwhelm we feel
and to make headway on our goals, we need to become more organised, focused and
disciplined, which does not leave much time to engage in our nurturing
activities. We constantly break our promise with ourselves and never seem to
have time for the last item on our list. We constantly tell ourselves we will
find time, when we get an opportunity to enjoy a weekend away or when we have
time for a special event or just simply just another time.
This is the pattern I have observed in
just about everyone I speak to. They are so busy spinning their wheels,
achieving very little, because they never allow themselves to stop, rejuvenate and
make time to engage in their most nurturing activities. If you are one of those
people who think that, the time you spend resting or engaging in any nurturing
activities, is a waste of time, then this article is just for you. There are a
number of benefits which flow to you when you allow yourself to pause, recover,
regenerate and recharge your batteries.
The mere act of resting, engaging in a
nurturing activity or giving yourself permission to recharge your batteries can
firstly act as a reward mechanism, which you can use to help you stay inspired.
We all encounter challenges and obstacles on our success journey. When you have
a positive nurturing experience to focus on, as a reward, once you have overcome
or neutralised any challenge, it is far easier to avoid feeling overwhelmed or
beaten. Find a really enjoyable nurturing experience, which really resonates
with you and who you are.
Next time you encounter any challenges
or obstacles, reward yourself by engaging in that activity, as a reward once
you have neutralised that challenge or obstacle. As you learn this new process
and you reward yourself every time you encounter any challenges or obstacles. When
you reward yourself every time you overcome any challenges, you will no longer
view them as such a huge issue, when you encounter them in the future. You will
just manage any challenge or obstacle, enjoy the reward and come back
afterwards, rejuvenated and with a fully charged battery.
As you learn this skill of constantly
rewarding yourself with an opportunity to rest and recharge your batteries. You
actually get to rest, which in itself will re-energise you. But you also get to
flex your commitment muscle. The more you keep the commitments you make with
yourself. For example, you keep your promise to allow yourself to engage in
that nurturing experience every time you overcome a challenge, or carry out
your daily goal specific priorities. The more you will bolster your energy, by
matching your words and actions. When your promises are consistently backed by
concrete action, you heighten your inspiration and you are far more inclined to
tackle the most daunting tasks and succeed every time.
I am sure you can see the benefits of
allowing yourself to rest, rejuvenate and recharge your batteries. But I can
hear you asking, so how do I do it? How do I learn the art of giving myself permission
to “WASTE” time?
Action Idea:
- Like anything in life, nothing can or will ever happen, unless you actually take action. If you are accustomed to constantly breaking your word with yourself, you need to gradually build trust, by only making small commitments to rest and reward yourself if you know; you will actually follow through and keep the promise. I know this sounds crazy; we are after all speaking about commitments and promises you make with yourself here. But like anything, if you take a gradual approach and you commit to grow into it, you will eventually begin to allow yourself to rest like you need to.
- If something really important does come up, which forces you to push past the promise you made to yourself. Do not simply cancel, just reschedule. By reschedule I do not mean, promise yourself you will do it when you have time. I mean actually pen the time into your dairy at a later date. Treat this reward or rest as really important. Scheduled rest and recovery time is crucial to your success.
- Break your goals down into smaller steps, so that you can regularly experience small successes. Don’t push yourself too hard trying to achieve overambitious goals or benchmarks. The more often you experience small successes and the more often you are able to enjoy the rewards, the more inspired you will feel.
- I have found that when you go public about your small successes and the reward or rest you intend engaging in. You are less likely to break your word with yourself. Ask a close friend or spouse, to check in to ensure that you are keeping any promise you have made to yourself
- We operate really well when we have a routine. Try to include your rest and rewards as a daily occurrence. The more you practice anything, the easier it becomes.
- Start slowly and over time gradually escalate the amount and size of the rewards you offer to yourself. As you engage in more rest and reward, you will see constant improvement in the results you are able to enjoy. You will over time become more energised, creative and innovative, because you will be rested and always operating at your best.
- As your success grows, you will see the benefit of rest and rejuvenation. As you see these benefits accumulate, you will allow yourself to rest and recharge your batteries, independent of any achievement.
There are incredible benefits that flow
from allowing yourself to rest and recharge your batteries. In addition to the
short term benefits, there are numerous other benefits, which will flow to you
too. You will feel far healthier, your stress levels will reduce and you will
feel far more alert, energetic and be far more productive. Making time for
yourself, to rest or engage in a nurturing activity is always within your
power. When you keep your promises with yourself and you actually give yourself
permission, to rest and recover. Your energy, effectiveness and efficiency will
receive a huge boost.
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