Tuesday, 12 May 2009
Spring has sprung! The flowers are blooming, the days are longer, it's a perfect time to check in with your mental outlook! Here are 10 ways to renew your mind:
1. Get the creative juices going. In these tough economic times, what are you really good at? How are you unique? What can you contribute to society? Spend 15 minutes a day for several days brainstorming ideas on how you can turn tough times into prosperous times and take action on your favorite idea.
2. Turn off the news for 1 week. That means ALL news. Internet, newspapers, TV, etc. Notice how the detox changes your outlook on life.
3. Go 24 hours without complaining about anything. If something goes wrong, resolve to make it right, and move on. If you catch yourself complaining start over until you go 24 straight hours. Then repeat.
4. Evaluate your friendships. Make sure the people closest to you help you grow, feel good about yourself, are positive, and support you. Who you spend time with is who you become.
5. Focus on TODAY- tomorrow has enough trouble of its own. Speaking of TODAY, what can you do today that you keep putting off? What's one massively important thing that could change your life if you just DID it? Go do it. Now.
6. Smoke without the cigarette. That's a fancy way of saying, breathe.
Have you noticed that smokers take deep breaths in, and let deep breaths out, and it's very relaxing? Try it, without smoking. Do this several times a day. You will find it feels great and really opens up your mind.
7. Dance. Dance around your house, dance in your bedroom, dance naked, go salsa dancing, whatever. But dance. Dancing changes your physiology in a drastic way and shifts your energy level almost immediately.
8. JUMP out of bed. And then spend a few minutes in gratitude for the new day. In the shower, brushing your teeth, etc. Think about what you are grateful for. Notice how the gratitude ends up staying with you through the day.
9. Be good to yourself. Eat well, exercise at least 30 minutes a day, talk to yourself all day long (in your head or out loud if you prefer) like you would talk to your best friend, get regular chiropractic adjustments and massages, drink 8 glasses of water a day, and get 7-8 hours of sleep when possible. Your mind will be more alert when you are working, if you do these things. If this is too overwhelming of a list, start with one thing you aren't doing, do it for one month and when you feel it's a habit, start something else.
10. Laugh every day. If you aren't laughing, life has gotten too serious. Be joyful, and joy will come back to you.
