Welcome friends to Episode #141 of the Own Your Best Life Podcast. The holidays are a great time to unwind and relax, yet it can often feel like you’re off to the races with more obligations than time. Whether traveling, hosting or trying to catch up on two weeks of work, it can feel like anything but the most wonderful time of the year. This podcast is for you if you want to prioritize your well-being but feel it’s tough to do so during the holiday season. As we head into January…let’s try it again. It’s time to prioritize your well-being.
I’ve often found that right before a trip or vacation, work and life speeds up as we do our best to finish everything before we leave or take time. I remember even before we got married trying to hurry up and finish all these forecasts and insights as I was hunched over the laptop at our dining room table before we headed off to Hawaii. The last thing that felt realistic, was to relax. It was in fact, the opposite experience. Feeling like I was being wound up and shot out of a cannon into the next thing.
Holidays and vacations were a double-edge sword. Something that looked good in theory, yet created additional pressure. Sometimes, I even felt like I wish I didn’t take time off – or even better, I took time off but just used it to work, undisturbed.
What I realized, however, was that this was still a symptom that there was either too much going on or I hadn’t yet figured out how to truly disconnect from my work.
Sometimes, the reality is that you actually put a lot on your plate whether it’s the obligations of tending to your family and friends during the holidays or whether you’ve taken on additional workload. There are some simple decisions that you can make to unwind this additional load, although it might be the hardest decisions for you to make. Let go of some of the pressure you’ve put on yourself.
Other times, it’s because you have a hard time separating yourself and your life from your work. This is especially true if you’re in an intense job or you’re an entrepreneur where you know that your work or lack thereof can have a sizable impact on others lives or your own.
It’s easy to just tell you to take time for yourself during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season but I would be remiss if I just did that.
Step 1
First ask yourself, “what can I say no, not yet, or not for me to?” and do it now. Make the mental decision even if you can’t reach out to someone to just not add that one more thing to your plate that feels like a weight. Add what feels energizing instead, and your life will expand in its energy.
Step 2:
Once you do that you’ll know that you have to learn how to manage your stress more effectively. I teach that to my clients in the routines that they have, the way they use their mind and how they show up energetically. Without being able to manage stress, your stress will expand as your impact and role expands – which often means that you will either shrink down in what you go after or you will expand your impact at a cost to your health and personal life.
Step 3:
If you’ve done step 1 and 2, then you can take on some of the tactics around unwinding during the holidays.
There are many different ways to unwind during the holidays, and what works best for you will depend on your personal preferences and circumstances. Here are a few ideas to consider:
- Take some time for yourself: Set aside some time to do something that you enjoy, whether it’s reading a book, taking a warm bath, or going for a walk. It’s important to take care of your own needs and give yourself permission to relax.
- Disconnect from technology: Consider taking a break from your phone, computer, and other screens to give your mind a chance to rest. You could spend some time in nature, go for a hike, or simply sit and enjoy the silence.
- Get some exercise: Exercise can be a great way to reduce stress and improve your mood. Consider going for a run, hitting the gym, or trying a new activity like yoga or tai chi.
- Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness involves paying attention to the present moment without judgment. You can practice mindfulness by focusing on your breath, observing your surroundings, or engaging in activities that require your full attention, such as coloring or knitting.
- Spend time with loved ones: The holidays are a great time to connect with family and friends. Consider setting aside some time to spend with the people you care about, whether it’s over a meal, a game, or simply having a conversation.
Remember that it’s okay to take breaks and do things that are relaxing and enjoyable. The holidays can be a busy and stressful time, so it’s important to take care of yourself and prioritize your well-being. Yet, make sure you’re making the decisions to let go of additional pressure, manage your stress before you start moving into action mode with your time.
Your life is important and creating the life you want where you feel energized instead of apathetic towards the activities you have in your day is so important.
Many of you may delay these changes, but this way of thinking will truly save you years.
If you’re ready to Own Your Best Life, I want to invite you to watch the free training on how to Stand Out and Lead, using spiritual, high-performance strategies. You can access the training at https://may-empson.mykajabi.com/stand-out-and-lead.
You can then apply to join my Spiritual Achiever® program, where you’re going to create your next chapter with spiritual and high-performance strategies to achieve time and financial freedom using my proven method. It’s risk-free. You either start seeing results within your first month or I give you your money back. Schedule your call HERE. We’ll see you inside.
That’s it for this week. Have an amazing one and a Happy New Year if I don’t talk to you before then.
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