Re-Entry With Ease

I just got back from a 3-day business workshop that was designed to help women entrepreneurs break through success and money barriers.

It was informative, emotional and healing but it was also a bit of a marathon, going from early in the morning until late into the night.

I enjoy these kinds of events especially because I’m committed to my personal development and self-growth. I love to immerse myself in new ways of thinking, bond with other women and meet fellow entrepreneurs.

I find the experiences to be fulfilling and inspiring but then I have to come home.

This time, my re-entry was difficult.

Not so much emotionally, which is often the case, but physically. I typically drag my feet, not wanting to jump back into my life. But this time was different. I was just physically exhausted.

Coming home and diving back into my life was more about returning to my normal rhythm and routines when all I wanted to do was sleep.

And life – as it does- was hurtling along. In addition to my work obligations, I had many family ones too. And before I knew it, I was feeling utterly overwhelmed.

So I took a step back and recalibrated my To Do List.
 

1.     Look Hard At The Week Ahead

When I looked at my appointments and tasks, I immediately began prioritizing and had to genuinely reassess what I could do and what I wanted to do. This meant postponing deadlines and changing appointments that I could easily alter.

I needed to be honest with myself about what I could sensibly and sanely get done.

2.     Release that Judgment!

Doing the above step was about choosing NOT to feel crazed and insane. I really don’t like it when I have to change an appointment or modify a due date and yet, I also want to be realistic about my time, energy and commitments.

Sometimes something has to give.

In years past, that was always me. I sacrificed my peace of mind or physical health to get everything done. Now I realize that some things can be modified and it really isn’t a big deal.

See if when you make changes, you can do it without ‘shoulding’ yourself or scolding yourself for not being perfect.

3.     Honor YOU First

Many of us are givers. We freely and lovingly take care of those around us because we enjoy it and it’s fulfilling. Sometimes, givers can fall into resentment, particularly when we forget to honor ourselves.

For givers, taking care of us can be really hard because it’s easy to interpret self-care as being selfish. Yet, this couldn’t be farther from the truth!

One of my teachers used to frequently use the analogy of a water pitcher. In order to give to others, the pitcher must be full and the pitcher (which is you) can only get filled through self-care, taking care of you.

When I came home on Thursday morning, having just arrived on a red eye, my body was shaking. I needed to carve out some time to both physically rest as well as mentally, emotionally and spiritually process the event I had attended.

Even when we make plans and think we’ve factored in all the down time we need, we may just find that life has thrown us a few unforeseen snags. So, just like these unexpected commitments, we need to modify accordingly and shift around our schedule so that we can still take care of us.

Knowing how to prioritize and being sincere when you do need to cancel or postpone can be freeing. After all, we’re human, every person can understand feeling over-extended or stressed. By being honest, you may also be helping the next person to do the same.

Can you take care of you on re-entry? Let me know how that will work for you!

Leave me a comment below!

Are You Off Course? 3 Easy Ways To Get Back On Track

Has this ever happened to you?

You’re cruising along in your life. Business is good, your days feel successful and fulfilling. You’re physically strong, energized and healthy. You’re accomplishing a lot. In fact, getting stuff done is almost effortless! The relationships in your life are solid and secure. Life feels joyous. You’re happy and in the flow.

Then, all of a sudden, something happens and kapow! Everything comes to a screeching halt.

Maybe you get physically sick and can’t get out of bed for two weeks. Perhaps you lose a major client and it sends you into a tailspin. But suddenly, you’re out of the flow. Now life feels hard.

Where did that energy, that desire, the mojo go?

In the vantage point of this new lackluster place, your old “productive” self feels like a dream.

If this sounds familiar, it’s because we can ALL relate. One of these scenarios occurs on and off throughout our lives in both small and huge ways. Maybe it’s a day of feeling off your game, maybe it’s six months.

I used to think, “when this issue is gone, it’ll be smooth sailing from here on out.” But then one day I realized, No. Life is always providing challenges for us to overcome and some of those are curveballs.

The question is, how do we get back into the game?

Here are 3 Ways that have really helped me get out of the funk and back into the flow.

1.     Stop Judging

Part of what happens when I slip out of my groove is that I judge myself. Suddenly I feel less productive, less energetic, and a lot more apathetic.

When I judge that place, and make it wrong, it becomes much harder to move through it. However, if I can accept and acknowledge what it is - just a moment rather than a weakness – I am more easily able to step out of it.

2.     Ease Back In

Think about yourself like a car – very few can go from 0 – 60 mph instantaneously. We have to regain that speed over time. Ask yourself, what’s the first thing I can do to resume my regular schedule?

If you usually run two miles a day, can you start with one mile or perhaps even a half a mile?

If you normally make 20 calls a day, how about starting with 5 or maybe even 10?

3.     Recognize It For What It Is – Temporary 

What we’re experiencing is simply a reset. All of us want to be going strong 24/7 but the reality is we cannot. Sometimes we need breaks.

Ask yourself : What does self-care look like to me?

Is it a calm walk, a relaxing bath, a quiet chat, uplifting music?

Incorporate self-care and ways to relax into your regular life. By scheduling these, you’ll likely be able to maintain your groove longer and more easily without getting blindsided.

But even when you do need a timeout – remember that it’s temporary and necessary.

Life is full of ups and downs.

It’s just that most of us like the ups more than the downs. But when we remember that it’s all part of the journey, we can accept those down times and embrace them for what they are – a reminder to go slower, a reset or time to stop and think.

When you find yourself in a down place, be gentle, remember it's only temporary and see if incorporating more self-care will enable you to move through it a bit more quickly.  

How can YOU incorporate more self-care into your life? 

What's the ONE thing you could do right now? 

Tell me by leaving me a comment below! I'm always looking for new ways to enjoy life.

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