Resolve to Take a Breather

by | Jan 1, 2019

Darcy Luoma is one of America’s most highly credentialed coaches. She’s worked in 48 industries, with more than 500 organizations, and has impacted tens of thousands of leaders and employees.

I’m happy to report that I am already feeling rested, as my girls and I decided to just stay home for the holidays this year. No time spent on highways or in airplanes, and plenty of time to enjoy each other, and RELAX. I have been consciously bringing more stillness into my life for years, and I cannot begin to tell you all the ways it has changed me for the better.

Not only is my stress level way down, but I have lots of time to be creative, focus on what matters most to me, and enjoy some peace and quiet. This is definitely a luxury, and one that not many single moms have. But you can have it too! You just have to commit to finding tiny bits of time to take a breather.

This week, I challenge you to find 15 minutes a day to just BE. You can do it while you’re walking if you’d like, but you’ll have to turn off the podcasts and immerse yourself in your surroundings. Other options are to wake up 15 minutes early and enjoy your quiet time in your warm bed, or go to bed a few minutes early and relax. But NO writing to-do lists for tomorrow or berating yourself about all the things you didn’t get done today.

Here are a few other tips to help you:

  • Schedule it! If you’re like me, if something isn’t in your calendar it doesn’t happen. So, put your 15 minutes of stillness in there.
  • Let your phone police itself. Lots of phones now have options where you can set limits on screen time or schedule daily downtime. This can be a great way to reign in your late night scrolling habits, making time for a little self reflection instead.
  • Don’t be scared of doing nothing. It’s okay to do nothing. In fact, it’s super important, and Forbes magazine has a list of reasons why.
  • Find hidden opportunities. We now feel compelled to fill all our minutes doing something. You can reclaim a few while waiting in line, sitting on hold, or waiting for your kid to finish karate (speaking from experience). Resist the urge to check email or scroll the news, and just wait quietly with yourself.

If you start with just 15 minutes a day, you’ll begin to realize some of the benefits of a slower pace for both your brain and your well-being.

What a great way to start off 2019 with a healthy new habit! 

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