This article continues our series about renewal. Renewal is important. It means you can have another chance to get it right, a change of direction, a paradigm shift. The dictionary defines “paradigm shift” as “a fundamental change in approach or underlying assumptions.” This is a perfect description of our approach. Hopefully as we progress you will see your paradigm shift happen as we explore how to renew, refresh and recharge.
“Taking care of yourself doesn’t mean me first; it means me too.” L.R. Knost
You can refresh and recharge by taking care of your-self. Self-care, taking care of your-self, is self-love. The love you have for family, for your friends, your dog or cat or horse comes from within you, from that self-love inside you. The problem occurs when you don’t take the time to recharge your reservoir of self-love. You can’t really provide love to all those you care for when you don’t take care of yourself.
We all need a break. Everyday our schedules get full of things we need to do, appointments, daily tasks, dropping off, picking up. Taking care of family, pets, friends, and keeping up with all the obligations you put on yourself. We can find ourselves overtaxed in the midst of chaos and clutter, both mental and physical.
Last night did you plug your phone in to the charger, or put your watch on the charger or perhaps you made sure the computer or tablet was charged? But how long since you took time to recharge you?
What does it look like to refresh and recharge? Like most things it’s different for everyone, but it includes doing what YOU need to do. Take stock of where you are and what you are missing.
New Rules for Renewal
Some general self-care practices do apply to everybody, You should get enough sleep, eat nourishing meals, stay current with wellness appointments and find personal enrichment. Take time for yourself throughout the day every day. Lastly, to help keep stress and anxiety under control, take vacations and take a sick day when you need to.
“Only 48% of US workers say they use all their vacation days, according to Pew Research Center. Those who don’t take all their time off say it’s because they don’t need it, or they worry about falling behind at work or feel badly about co-workers carrying their load. A few even think vacation time hurts their chances for promotions or could cost them their job.” bloomberglaw.com
8 Ways to Renew, Refresh and Recharge
1. Rest
Resting keeps your body and brain ready to go. Rest provides:
- Improved learning abilities and energy levels.
- Increased memory retention and focus.
- Regular sleep routines that give you a better quality of sleep.
2. Meditation
Meditation can change the way your brain works.
- Relaxed breathing can redirect thoughts.
- Focus on a word like calm or beauty can relieve stress.
- Mindful walking can bring a sense of renewal and calm.
3. Exercise
Exercise improves your mood and boosts endurance.
- Reduces stress increases your pain threshold.
- Exercise gives you more energy and a 5-minute walk can improve focus, calm your mind and change your mood.
- Exercising, particularly with others, increases endorphins and oxytocin, helping you feel connected and happier.
4. Journaling
Journaling can improve your physical and psychological well-being.
- Journal to detail daily successes and lessons.
- Journal to purge and de-clutter your mind.
- Journal to plan activities & action plans.
5. Hobbies
Hobbies develop physical and mental health.
- Hobbies can reduce stress and blood pressure.
- Being mentally engaged maintains brain connections and cognitive health.
- Engaging in hobbies boosts self-esteem and social abilities.
6. Reaching Out
Reaching out or a random act of kindness makes us feel connected.
- Calling a friend benefits both giver and receiver
- Random Acts of Kindness (like paying a lunch tab at a grade school) provide positive feelings to both giver and receiver
- Giving to others can change a life and imparts a feeling of control over chaos.
7. Napping
Just20 minutes of quiet can change your whole day, which can change your whole month, which can change your year.
8. Unplugging
Unplugging will reduce stress and anxiety, improve sleep, enhance relationships, provide physical benefits and boost productivity.
Give yourself more rest and better self-care. Commit today to take at least 5 minutes a day for you. Recharge and refresh your day. Simplify or beautify your surroundings. Do some things that make you feel good to be you. Refill your well of love so you can keep loving and caring for others.
We love the special people, pets and causes, in our lives. We want to take care of them, but who is more deserving of this intense feeling of deep affection and satisfaction than the person staring back at you in the mirror? Now you know how to renew, refresh and recharge. Take time to renew YOU.
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