When was the last time you took a day just for yourself? If you're a small business owner or anyone else for that matter, you answer is probably never. I first learned the principal; of Extraordinary Self-care Day at a workshop given by my friend Terri Levine the author of Work Yourself Happy. Essentially an Extraordinary Self-care Day is taking one 24-hour period where you take care of yourself. You do no work at all. I know, I can hear your protest. I protested too when I first heard this idea "But you don't understand, I have to check my voicemail, I have to return phone calls, I have to answer my emails and on and on." I protested in my very best entrepreneurial voice. The truth is any of us can take a day for ourselves without consequence. Believe it or not, the world will keep spinning. Calls will wait as will email.
This is a day just for you. If you normally do the cooking on your Extraordinary Self-Care Day, you will refrain from making meals. Trust me your family will not starve. Obviously if there are small children or infants that depend on you, you would have to modify this. Overall try to do nothing that is related to your normal work. This is a pampering day just for you.
The first time I did this, I discovered just how my work relates to things that I do on any given day. Most of my reading was centered on business topics. Being an entrepreneur and self-employed, I was convinced I had to be working all the time. I was wrong. Kicking and screaming, I embarked on my Extraordinary Self-Care Day. I took a walk, read part of a novel, took a luxurious bath in our soaking tub (something I never used to do) and just hung out and took care of myself. What a concept!
It's been a year now and my Extraordinary Self-Care Day has become an integral part of my life. I not only feel better, and am having more fun, I have my life back. Doing this regularly has enabled me to put my work back into perspective. I no longer work seven days a week and I no longer do email throughout the day.
The interesting thing is that because of my taking this time to nurture myself, I'm actually more productive. Because I'm taking better care of myself I have more clarity and I'm able to better focus on the task on hand. Because I am taking better care of myself, I am more creative and productive. Most of all, because I am taking better care of myself, I feel better and have more happiness, after all isn't that what it's all about?
So your assignment, if you choose to accept it, is to schedule one 24-hour period, sometime within the next 10 days, when you can give yourself an Extraordinary Self-Care Day and then go and do it. Once you've done this, see how you might be able to do this weekly and when you feel really ready, schedule an Extraordinary Self-Care Day for what would have been a normal work day.
? 2004 Jim Donovan - PO Box 1147, Buckingham, PA 18912 - (215) 794-3826
Jim Donovan is the author of "Handbook to a Happier Life, a motivational speaker and coach. For a no cost bonus product & more, visit http://www.jimdonovan.com
If you had all the information and tools you needed to live your dream life, would you use them? Yes? Click here ==> http://www.jimdonovan.com
car service from Midway Burlington .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareI came out of a nightmare 5-year period of anxiety... Read More
The Mask of "I've Got It All Together"It's so easy... Read More
I once worked with a woman whose zest,joy and enthusiasm... Read More
The brain uses feel-good transmitters called endorphins when managing daily... Read More
In his book, The 22 Non-Negotiable Laws of Wellness, author... Read More
Traffic jams. Toddler tantrums. Deadlines at work. Money troubles. Too... Read More
When Army leaders fail to control battlefield stress, they lose... Read More
"When you breathe, you inspire. When you do not breathe,... Read More
June is the month of the honey moon. Custom holds... Read More
1. Take a relaxing bath. Add music, candles and a... Read More
Picture the following scene:It's Sunday evening, the weekend is winding... Read More
A grandfather, whose grandson came to him angry at a... Read More
I love a good story and I know I'm not... Read More
Did you know that more than half of our adult... Read More
Amazing thing, overwhelm!You don't usually see it coming. It just... Read More
Top Ten Ways to Reduce Your Stress at Home1. Create... Read More
In the fast-paced world that we live in today, it... Read More
The best way to reduce your stress is to really... Read More
What part of no don't you understand? - Bumper stickerThe... Read More
My grandmother, a feisty and athletic woman in her younger... Read More
So many of us live a stressful life. Unfortunately, when... Read More
Do you worry all the time?Do the following symptoms bother... Read More
Make stress less of an issue for you in your... Read More
Do you get frustrated with your spouse, your kids, your... Read More
Among the hardest parts of living in the modern world... Read More
Granger limo Chicago ..Do you feel that you just don't have the time... Read More
Let's face it! The majority of our time is either... Read More
When was the last time that you truly took a... Read More
The predominant role human conditioning plays in a stressful environment.... Read More
Q: We recently had someone come to our company to... Read More
Worry, big or small blocks positive vibrations from entering your... Read More
Q: Someone told me that the Chinese symbol for crisis... Read More
It's no secret that we women, by virtue of our... Read More
Q. I have just recently come to recognize that I... Read More
Something the successful business person needs is - lots of... Read More
Tough leaders are usually seen as ogres. Their exacting demands... Read More
Q: What is Stress?A: Very basically it is the physical,... Read More
Don't let stress wear you down. Next time you are... Read More
Often, in today's fast paced world, we forget to take... Read More
Imagine driving down the road. You are driving with a... Read More
CHICAGO - According to a recent article in the September... Read More
Q. So many times in my life, I seem to... Read More
The United Nations declares workplace stress to be a worldwide... Read More
In a recent CMA survey of 2251 physicians, over 45%... Read More
Why Stress Management programmes don't work?It seems that every week... Read More
Adversity is an unavoidable part of life. Death of a... Read More
There is good stress, and there is bad stress. Good... Read More
It's summertime and chances are you can remember a summer... Read More
No this is not related to praying, this is how... Read More
The number one most popular issue that users of a... Read More
Stress Management |