Continue the holiday feeling

It is normal after a holiday to feel a little blue, but even if you haven't been  on holiday recently, this is a fun exercise to do:

• Close your eyes for a few  seconds, or allow yourself to think without distractions
• Take your mind back  to your (last) holiday and feel how you felt, see the location, hear the sounds,  taste what you ate and drank
• Identify what in particular it was about your  holiday that you loved. Be as specific as you can
• Brainstorm ways in which  you could replicate those feelings on a regular basis and be as creative as you can
• Pick one or two ideas which you can incorporate into your everyday life

If you are struggling  for ideas, here my top ten:

1. Sunshine - get outside at least once a day including a lunch break (however quick)
2. Relaxation - for a few minutes a day, breathe properly, in through your nose so that your stomach extends, and look straight ahead but notice your peripheral vision (or close your eyes and visualise your holiday)
3. Exercise - choose an exercise that you enjoy and incorporate it into your routine
4. Nature - can you explore places near to where you live at the weekend
5. Time with your loved ones - make regular time for the people who are important to you. Make them a priority.
6. Excitement - why not take up a new hobby or challenge?
7. Good food - try cooking some holiday dishes and experiment with new recipes
8. New plans - if you came up with new ideas on holiday, put the next step in your diary and make it happen
9. No emails - create a prioritised plan for your first week back and make sure you create time in the day when you don't check emails
10. The grass is greener - Acknowledge and appreciate what you do have in your life (it's a good habit to think of this every evening - with your kids too).

If you have other ideas, do comment below and let me know...

If you are finding it really hard to go back to work, maybe you need to re-think your job or career.  It may seem idealistic to aim for a job which you enjoy but many people do achieve it. Some just tweak their existing job. Others take a big leap. If you are looking for a change, some career coaching could be the ticket to changing your life for the better: http://www.balancedmum.com/career-coaching/index.php. Give me a call on 07764 235394 and we can discuss how.

How old would you feel if you didn't know how old you were?

I celebrated my 40th birthday this week and I started thinking about age and the stigma it has in our society. I don't feel any older than I did in my twenties except that I am much wiser. If you awoke from a coma with no memory of your age and no mirror, how old would you feel? I think that is the most important thing, not the number derived from your birth certificate.

 

Quick Quote
"You are as young as you feel. If you begin to feel the warmth of your soul, there will be a youthfulness in you that no one will be able to take away from you." ~ John O'Donohue (Anam Cara: A book of celtic wisdom)

 

You are as young as you think
You may have heard the saying that you are as old as you feel. But how you feel is dependant on what you are thinking. So I believe that you are as young as you think. Age is a state of mind. You can choose to think the thoughts that you had 20 years ago, although you would probably choose to get rid of the more silly and negative thoughts!

 

Some tips on staying young:

• Keep up with the changing world  
• Regularly interact with people younger than you  
• Keep learning, including from your children and younger generations  
• Stay open minded - I think people start appearing old when they have fixed views and can't see other perspectives  
• Remain curious  
• Exercise and relax regularly 
• Wear clothes which make you feel younger (bright and fun) 

My grandma, in her 80's was always helping the "old lady" down the road who was 70. Grandma refused to be old! 
"Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter" ~ Mark Twain

What do you think?