12 Minutes to Stress Free

How many hours do you spending working?

If I had to guess, you’re probably working more hours than what you’re getting paid for or what’s truly best for your well being.

I know overworking seems to be popular these days but it’s important to understand that it can be extremely damaging to your health and relationships. When you consider that, there’s absolutely no reason to overdo it, even if you have bills to pay.

In fact, the harder you push yourself, often the less effective you actually are.

I know exactly what you’re thinking… And I’m not at all saying never to put in extra hours! I’m just bringing to light the fact that sometimes it’s not necessary, not noticed, and not appreciated at the level it should be. So sorry but someone had to say it, right?!?!

It’s time to learn how to balance all the aspects of your life without just focusing on work. Sure, work is extremely important as it provides the income necessary for you and your family to live, eat, and enjoy life. But it also wears you down, especially if you go non-stop.

The trick to balancing work with the rest of your life lies in this EASY 12-Minute Exercise each day:

Three minute meditation. This exercise at the beginning of each day is crucial. Meditating can mean the difference between attacking your day with ferocity and approaching it with an aura of calmness.

Meditation centers your mind and calms your spirit. It also helps relieve any tension you feel about the day ahead.
Meditation can help you focus on your inner power and remind you that you’re important to others and to the world.
Meditation helps you set your intentions for the day so that you move through your day in alignment with the flow of universal energy.

Three minutes for planning. Once you’ve meditated, it’s time to plan your day. Planning means reviewing your calendar, organizing your tasks, and prioritizing your responsibilities so that you’re not overwhelmed and can be where you need to be, on time, and be productive.

Prioritize your tasks based on their importance.
Be realistic about what you can accomplish in any given day. Reschedule things if necessary.
Try your best to stick to the plan for the day. Having a clear plan for what you want to accomplish helps to keep you focused and stress-free.

One minute check in. In one-minute intervals throughout your day, check up on yourself. Assess how well you’ve been able to stick to your plan. Have you accomplished your important tasks? Have you been able to manage your day without feeling anxious or put upon?

There may be times when you’ll have to readjust your list of tasks. There are bound to be unforeseen circumstances. But what’s important is that you take them in stride.
Avoid letting unexpected events throw your plan out completely.Take a moment to change your approach. Be flexible and affirm to yourself that you’re learning how to go with the flow.4. Five minutes for winding down. Now that you’ve come to the end of the day, it’s time to wind down. You’ve probably never allowed yourself the opportunity to do that before. Taking time to wind down is the best way to relieve the stress of the day.

Engage in some relaxing activities. How about a couple good yoga poses or would you prefer to sit quietly and listen to jazz music? Would you enjoy listening to a comedy skit on SiriusXM during your commute?Don’t forget to change clothes when you arrive home. And definitely let go of what happened today by knowing that tomorrow you’ll be refreshed and ready to go after some dinner, downtime, and a good night’s rest.
Winding down also opens you up to spending quality time with loved ones. You’ll probably agree that at the end of a busy day, you may be too tired to interact with anyone. That will change when you allow yourself the time to wind down each day.

Once you try it, you’ll realize that this approach works.

And feel free to tweak this little program anyway you’d like. Maybe you need more time to wind down? Or maybe you like planning your day while you have your morning coffee so it takes you a little longer. Totally fine! Do what works best for you!

THE BOTTOM LINE:

Designating these 12 minutes each day can really help maintain a balance between your professional and personal life. You’ll show up better for your family and enjoy other aspects of your life more fully.

And you’ll enjoy a calmer existence that you didn’t think was possible!