A choice of 10 'vital' activities for You in 2019

“The mark of a great man is one who knows when to set aside the important things in order to accomplish the vital ones”, as Brandon Sanderson wrote in “The Alloy of Law”.

Your health and stamina come first!

Here is a choice of ‘vital’ activities you can offer to yourself in 2019. May I invite you to print their list and simply pick two or three you can embrace in Q1 of this year?

Vital Activity #1 - Yearly comprehensive health check-up

Schedule it next weekend!

Vital Activity #2 - Sleep profoundly and wake up gently

Ensure your bed is good for your back. Sleeping early and waking up early is more rejuvenating than sleeping late and waking up late.

Adopt a relaxing 'ritual' before you sleep, signaling 'bed-time' to your body (for example, read a novel that takes your mind away from stress). Drink a full glass of (hot) water as you wake up - squeeze in a quarter of a yellow lemon in your water.

Vital Activity #3 - Take a short power-nap to be as fresh in the afternoon as you are in the morning

Research has proven its huge benefits, so just dare to! Ask your personal assistant to prevent any phone calls or meetings for 30 minutes. When you travel, shorten your lunch and arrange to rest for a while.

Vital Activity #4 - Offer yourself one full day off from work each week

No access to emails. Ideally - turn-off your phone. Spend quality time with others (be fully present to them) and do creative activities that inspire you.

Vital Activity #5 - Optimize your diet

Make a yearly appointment with a qualified dietician, and require practical and convenient enough advice. Anything else won't stick to your routine and if you don't eat much fruits and vegetables, do meet that dietician promptly!

Vital Activity #6 - Exercise more at home and at work

If you don’t have time to go to the gym, hire a personal trainer for a few sessions and ask her/him to teach you exercise-routines you can do at home and at work.

Find your way to make those exercises exciting, so you don’t get bored (do them with someone, watch something interesting, listen to music, etc…).

Vital Activity #7 - Ensure your body posture at your office is sound

Ask a certified chiropractor or an osteopath to assess your body postures and give you advice.

Arrange to stand when you work at your computer. Stand up, stretch yourself and walk around at least mid-morning and 2 times along the afternoon.

Vital Activity #8 - Reduce or eliminate smoking and alcohol consumption

Seek assistance of a professional if you can’t kick away your addiction(s) to toxic substances.

Vital Activity #9 - Pamper yourself regularly to a massage or a reiki session (for example)

Just make sure you enlist professionals with proper credentials!

Vital Activity #10 - Discipline is key to success! Enlist an accountability-buddy!

Ask her/him to regularly check up with you how you are doing with your commitments.

Insert regular reminders about your commitments in your electronic calendar, so they pop up and renew your focus.

What about your own idea(s)?

The ‘corporate athlete’ you are can benefit greatly of a support team, just as sports champions do. How about hiring the temporary services of a doctor, a personal trainer, a dietician or a chiropractor, on a need-basis?

Just as professional athletes need renewal after their intense efforts, you need it too. I will recommend a number of easy practices to rejuvenate yourself as we explore together how you can enhance your intellectual vigour, emotional well-being and spiritual health in the coming weeks. Should you wish to dive into that exploration right away, just download this guide.

Lord Buddha said, “Every human being is the author of his own health or disease”, and a Chinese proverb adds, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is now.”

Action-time!

Jean-Francois Cousin is a global speaker and executive coach and the founder of Greatness Leadership Coaching. His latest book “Game Changers at the Circus: how leaders can unleash Greatness in their organization” is available in major bookstores and on Amazon.com.

Marshall Goldsmith wrote about it: “Enjoyable and compelling, this timely fable and its lessons read like a novel but serves as an important business manual. With wisdom and context from a long and successful business career, Cousin has painted a vivid picture of how to enact change effectively. Page after page of insight!”