7 important things to do for yourself
7 ways to find inner balance.
Do you work to live or do you actually live to work?
Nowadays, our lives seem to be consumed by our jobs. Job competition is strong, we are probably all feeling the need to perform to our maximum and often do a lot of extra hours of work. This is not the only thing. In this day and age we are experiencing an information overload.
Did you know that more new information has been generated within the last 30 years than in the previous 5,000?! Being surrounded with so much information causes the so-called busy lethargy: having trouble making decisions and feeling that you are running yourself ragged, but still not getting anywhere.
Do you feel this way sometimes?
We’d like to give you some suggestion to break the circle and find balance in a stressful routine.
1) Learn to pace yourself: take breaks and learn when to prioritise yourself over work. A short break for conscious deep breathing gives you a moment of relaxation and clarity.
2) Consider your thoughts: take control by determining how much information you let in. With mindfulness exercises you can learn to concentrate on the present without any wondering thoughts. In addition, mindfulness helps to reflect on our thoughts without any judgement.
3) Avoid scheduling yourself to death: make some holes in your schedule to step away from your desk and computer screen, to find the connection with nature and with your inner self. Take a long walk, look out over the sea, or observe the skyline of your city from a new perspective: feel that you are alive!
4) Practice relaxation techniques like this breathing exercise that encourages the calming and receptive aspects of ourselves to shine through:
Sit cross-legged or on a chair with the soles of your feet flat on the floor. Place your left hand relaxed in your lap. Close the right nostril with the right index finger and breathe long and deep through the left nostril. The eyes are closed. Do this breathing exercise for 1-5 minutes.
5) Get enough sleep: make sure you sleep deeply and wake up feeling refreshed. Try to go to sleep before 10.30pm, sleep in a dark room, free of distractions, and allow yourself to descend very deeply into a full relaxation. When you are tired, many problems seem bigger than they sometimes are. Find our valuable tips for a better night’s sleep here: Good night! Our tips for a better sleep.
6) It is ok not to finish your to do list once in a while: we all know deep down the world will not stop spinnig if some things are missed. But it is good to remind ourselves. Every to-do list is long but everything on it gets done better (and usually faster) when you take time each day for yourself, starting by getting back to the basics of natural living.
7) Treat yourself with a cup of hot tea: use relaxing herbs like lavender, valerian root or other precious essential oils to make the most of your tea break. Savour every sip and enjoy the simple act of keeping a warm cup in your hands.
