Archive for teachers
Top 5 Reasons to Take Back Your Time
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In the book, Take Back Your Time: Fighting Overwork and Time Poverty in America by John De Graaf, we are encouraged to organize a Take Back Your Time Day on the fourth Friday in October as a way to avoid overwhelm, exhaustion and overwork.
We are consumed by “time poverty” and “busy-ness”. A recent USA Today article featured a study commissioned by Westin Hotels & Resorts where 1,500 employed professionals were polled by STUDYLOGIC. The study found that 64% of workers admitted they had canceled or postponed a vacation this year and 33% said it was because of stress at work, too many responsibilities or too busy to plan a vacation.
Take back your time…you’ve earned it! Vacations are intended to refresh and give you a break from the stress of work. Why not take advantage of the opportunity to regain energy and rejuvenate so you’ll better be able to perform at an optimum level?
And, here are 5 good reasons to take back your time so you can stay refreshed and energized …
- Gratitude - Show appreciation for the things you already have in your life and the universe will bestow more gifts in your life. Take a break from your to-do list and start a gratitude journal. Write down at least 5 things you are grateful for every day.
- Self-Care – Carve out some space from you “busy-ness” for self-care so you will have the mental and physical energy to enjoy your abundance. Make sure you schedule “me time” on your calendar so you can do the things that you enjoy.
- Schedule wisely – When you try to squeeze in “just one more thing” into your already crowded schedule, you open yourself up to overwhelm, frustration and energy drainers. Set realistic priorities and complete one task before moving on to the next one. On occasion, take a “mental health day”, don’t answer the phone, check email or text. Relax and enjoy spending time with YOU.
- Organization - Organize your to-do list by what’s important NOW. Everything doesn’t have to get done today. Organization gives you a sense of confidence and accomplishment. When have some organization in place, tasks don’t seem so daunting.
- “End your day with some downtime - At the end of your day, take 15 minutes to unwind and relax. You deserve it! Sit quietly, take several deep breaths and calm your mind from the days busy-ness.
Until next time…
Gladys Anderson - Life Coach, Therapist, Author
Certified Life Coach, Family therapist and Group Coaching Specialist, Gladys M. Anderson, helps nurses, teachers, social workers, therapists and other care-giving women to set limits so they have more time, more joy and more energy for self-care. To get tips, start living out loud with enthusiasm, energy, passion, and self-confidence now, get your FREE copy of Building Strong Boundaries to Create More Breathing Space in Your Hectic Life
How To Throw Light On Fears That Keep You In The Dark
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Are you feeling like you are scrambling around lost in a dark tunnel without a flashlight to guide you? Fear can make you feel that way.
Don’t beat yourself up. There are a lot of women who experience that same feeling while doing and giving even more to our families, careers, and community responsibilities that we often feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of things we have on our plates.
I’ve felt that way myself from time to time while I was trying to juggle a gazillion hats, taking care of everybody but me and living a life of overwhelm, confusion and anxiety.
The same kind of fear you feel when you find yourself in an unfamiliar dark place with no way to see your way out is the kind of fear that a lot of women experience every day. It’s the kind of fear that puts limits how you live your life, keeps you stuck in roles you didn’t create and hinders you from living a life of freedom and joy.
We all have moments of fear but when it immobilizes you and keeps you from living your best life, that’s when it’s time to shed some light on fear and expose it for what it really is.
So how do you do that?
- First, you must understand the difference between healthy fear that keeps you safe and unhealthful fear that keeps mired in overwhelm, worry and uncertainty. Fear is a False Expectation Appearing Real [without any proof]. Take a close look at the belief you hold that is powering the fear. For example, if your comfort zone doesn’t allow you to risk taking on a new challenge or pursuing an opportunity that you know you want, maybe you’ve received a negative message early in your life that you’ve translated into a strong negative belief about yourself and/or your abilities
- Secondly, know without a doubt that fear has no power except that which you give it. Look fear straight in the eye and say, “you can no longer control me and keep me hostage”. Take back your power with a vengeance.
- And, last, but not least, be able to recognize when unhealthful fear appears in your life. Consider the times when you didn’t speak up just so you would avoid conflict. Question your real motivation for not taking a desired action. Are you operating out of guilt, frustration or because of perceived expectations?
Once you are clear about what fears keep you stuck in intolerable situations and overwhelm, you’re in a position to write a new script for your life where you become the sole author, editor and producer of your new destiny.
Doesn’t that sound yummy…
To stay connected and get more tips, join us in the Self-Care Circle and receive your FREE copy of Building Strong Boundaries to Create More Breathing Space in Your Hectic Life
Until Next time…
Gladys Anderson - Life Coach, Therapist, Author
Gladys Anderson, founder of Coach for YOUR Dreams, is a certified life coach, licensed marriage and family therapist, writer and speaker. Gladys combines years of experience, training and a genuine commitment to helping nurses, teachers, therapists and other care giving women to set limits so they have more time, and energy to devote to self-care.