Life is short. It was meant to be lived. How will you start?
Form good habits and become their slaves! (Og Mandino)
1)
What’s in your frig? What do you consume
regularly? Avoid coffee, alcohol and dairy. Keep a journal of what you eat.
Stay hydrated year round. Consume water, tea, fruit, soup, vegetables which are
all high in water content.
2)
Rate your Overall Health, which includes not
just your physical state, but your emotional and spiritual situations too. How
do you react to life? Are you enjoying it or are you worn out? Stress and worry
cause so much disease in the body. Don’t go there! God is in control. Ask Him
how you should be living.
3)
Take steps to make changes! Plan ahead. Manage
your life. Be prepared. Step One – Breathe. Step Two – Recognize that all you
want to accomplish cannot be done in one day! Delegate. Say no. Set boundaries
and know that it is okay to do so! Smile. J
4)
Live Love! Love God, Love your neighbor, Love
Yourself enough to take steps to get back on track! Love your family, friends,
people you don’t know. Perhaps spend some time volunteering in order to give
back to your community.
5)
Schedule Time on your calendar for You! What is
your passion? Reading, running, gardening, opera? Make an appointment for
yourself and keep it. Consider getting a massage or going to a chiropractic
appointment. Take those vacation days regularly. Visit some place locally that
is new to you, whether it be a restaurant or park or perhaps it is place that
you don’t go often, but always think a visit is a good idea because it makes
you happy… the library? J
Or perhaps see a movie or play at a local theatre.
6)
Keep Work in Perspective. Most of us have
forgotten that by definition, a job is just a job. (job=job) While you may
aspire to be the best employee that you can be, remember that the job should
only require your attention for 7.5 hours each day, 5 days a week. There are
supposed to be at least two 15 minute breaks in the day somewhere, however, we
all know how easy it is to get tied up and do without them. Schedule them!
Learn to work smarter, set limits and don’t feel bad when you leave the office
and did not manage to accomplish the other 100 things on your to do list. By
design, there is always too much to do. You are one person, a part of a team,
generally dependent on others for various projects and their completion. Coming
in fresh and rested each day is just as important as showing up! Getting run
down defeats the whole purpose of earning a paycheck to live! So be well and
make good choices.
7)
Get rid of cable and say goodbye to consistent
noise. Do you really need to have the TV on 24/7? Other options - Spend time
with your family, go outside, read a good book, commune with God!
8)
Be creative. We are made in God’s image and God
is super creative! Look at all the different types of people he put on the
planet! Doodle, paint, sculpt, make jewelry, or decorate furniture!
9)
Move your body! (That’s why you have one. J) Don’t sit at a desk
all day… take a walk; park your car at the back of parking lots to get those
steps in… dance, run, skip or what about joining an acting troupe or choir?
10)
Figure out your best qualities! What are you
good at? Could you use those skills to help others? Are you using your
strengths at work? If not, perhaps take steps to pursue employment where you
could be executing them. Or, talk to your current boss about how you can
re-write your current job description to include them.
11)
Respect Yourself! Sleep is so precious and absolutely
required. Also, remember to see your doctor for regular check-ups to make sure
that you are aware of anything that might need to be addressed. Be positive! Don’t
fall prey to negative thoughts and don’t compare your weaknesses to the
strengths of others. You have wonderful attributes too! God created all of us
differently so we could help each other.
Peace of mind is a necessity. Work in the
items above to your life and there is a very good chance you will be a happier,
more pleasant and less stressed individual.
Carpe
diem!
Laura
Photo
above copyrighted and taken by Laura Moody.
It is
of new growth on her dogwood tree that will have white blooms later this
Spring.
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