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
disinfecting cleaning services Buffalo Grove .."Slow down, you move too fast, you've got to make... Read More
Here's a fun little experiment:Take a few seconds and look... Read More
Where does stress really come from? Is there any simple... Read More
In his book, The 22 Non-Negotiable Laws of Wellness, author... Read More
I learned a valuable lesson recently. A short while ago,... Read More
Do you ever fret? In today's materialistic age, sometimes fretting... Read More
STRESS & TIME MANAGEMENT: Stress is either the source or... Read More
It was a self-exploration that made me understand myself. It... Read More
We are not designed for long term stress.It causes us... Read More
Why Stress Management programmes don't work?It seems that every week... Read More
It was one of the first words you learned to... Read More
In order to free ourselves from the pain of anger... Read More
Don't let stress wear you down. Next time you are... Read More
We function at our best when we are free from... Read More
* The material presented in this article is provided for... Read More
What is the greatest fear of man? Is it death?... Read More
I recently received this e-mail message about stress management (author... Read More
Raise your hand if you have ever been rejected by... Read More
"Let your mind be quiet, realizing the beauty of the... Read More
One of the hardest forms of stress to avoid is... Read More
Often, in today's fast paced world, we forget to take... Read More
Have you ever noticed how we keep falling into the... Read More
Stress is the nastiest 4 letter word you ever met.... Read More
The future is nothing but a fantasy or a daydream,... Read More
Feeling stressed out lately? Don't worry, there is a simple... Read More
spotless home service Arlington Heights ..* The material presented in this article is provided for... Read More
Understanding StressStress has been called "the invisible disease". It is... Read More
In the body, the stress response is mediated by the... Read More
If you have recently lost health insurance coverage through your... Read More
Stress is amazingly persistent, even seductive. We get used to... Read More
IntroductionTime magazine called stress the "The Epidemic of the Eighties".... Read More
All stress comes from believing a thought that argues with... Read More
1. Determine your "unique ability" and capitalize on itDelegate the... Read More
We so often take the feelings of happiness and saddness... Read More
Among the hardest parts of living in the modern world... Read More
Have you recently moved or started a new job? Do... Read More
Q. I wonder if you could help me with a... Read More
If you're like most people, you have your bouts of... Read More
A stressless lifestyle? That's very easy to say. Yet it... Read More
Let's take a look at some of the more serious... Read More
Is your stress level higher than it should be? Are... Read More
First, let's make a distinction between pressure and stress. We... Read More
My grandmother, a feisty and athletic woman in her younger... Read More
1. The Mentor Method: think of your favorite person. Someone... Read More
Syndicated columnist Dale Dauten recently wrote, "One of life's great... Read More
Deceiving? You bet they are. How? Without your even knowing... Read More
Who hasn't experienced "worry" at one time or another? Almost... Read More
File this one under the category of "watch your language."The... Read More
It was a self-exploration that made me understand myself. It... Read More
Looking for all of the answers in how to manage... Read More
Stress Management |