The Tera Transformation Times - February 2024

As we all know by now, our physical and mental energy levels vary throughout the day. For me, the deepest dip is between 1:30 and 5:00 pm. This is the time when it is quite difficult for me to choose the right foods, exercise, or do any kind of productive or healthy habit.

In the traditional working hours of 9:00 am to 5:00 pm with teams located in different time zones, it may be challenging to completely block our low-energy time. So I decided to follow these six suggestions published last month in the New York Times to increase energy during the day.

1) A five-minute break during the day - I take mine at about 11:00 am. The exact time is not important, but the recommendation is to take the 5-minute break before we feel depleted. The goal is to move away from work (and screens) for five minutes. What I like about this one is that it is short enough to fit in even in the most hectic of days. You can sit in the pantry and have your water, listen to a favorite song, walk around the building (or floor), or sit in your car and relax.

2) Moving for three minutes - There is a suggested routine in this article that I really liked. Feel free to modify it based on your own capabilities and preferences. The goal is to combine several types of exercises for 30 seconds so we can move our entire body. I combine this routine with being silly, which makes it much more fun.

3) Be mindful of what you eat - Beyond what we all know - fruits, vegetables, protein, whole foods over processed foods - we want to pay attention to what we eat when we eat. That means enjoying the flavor, texture, temperature. When was the last time any of us really tasted an apple, hummus, or even that overpriced fancy coffee? When we pay attention, we get a couple benefits at once: the actual enjoyment of what we are eating, which improves our mood, and we eat less because there is enough time for our brain to send the signal that we are satiated and our body to receive it.

4) Protect your energy from others - We all have that friend, colleague, or family member who is so draining we either need to be full of energy before talking with them, or take a nap afterwards. Pay attention to who they are and how they impact your energy levels. Instead of calling, you may text them or call them in between meetings; that way you literally have only five minutes.

5) Create moments of flow more frequently - In the last quarter of 2023 I started to crochet once more. I did it as a way of calming my micro anxiety for little annoyances of everyday life. I do a decent job at it; it is a hobby, nothing else. The beauty of it is that I lose myself in that task. My brain calms down, I exercise my creativity, and I have the right level of challenge for the activity to be considered fun. There are a few ideas in this article from Legos to paint by number that you can try to see which one suits you.

6) Monotasking over multitasking - This is the hardest one for me even when I can feel much more mentally exhausted when I multitask. I am in a conference call, and I am doing online grocery shopping. Or scrolling through some retailer's sales. Been there, done that, have the t-shirt? Pick one activity that you currently do while doing something else - washing the dishes while listening to music, driving while listening to a podcast, shopping while being in a meeting - and do only one. I started with no audiobook while in the kitchen whether it was cooking or doing the dishes. The first few days, I thought I was going to die. I now enjoy it immensely and actually relax while I am doing those activities.

For other suggestions on how to keep your energy up throughout the year, take a look at the content on this article.

Published and Upcoming Articles

Last month I wrote about why setting goals is scary and how to change your mindset regarding time. I invite you to experiment with the tips and tools proposed in the article and modify them to fit your needs and personal style.

Both are also available on video

Why Setting Goals is Scary: Uncover the Power of Creating Goals

Changing Your Time Mindset: Shifting from Scarcity to Abundance

In February I will be talking about leading by example and handling change. Both have practical tips that you can start implementing immediately.?

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Quote of the Month

The higher your energy level, the more efficient your body The more efficient your body, the better you feel and the more you will use your talent to produce outstanding results. Tony Robbins, American author, professional speaker

Laughter is the best medicine

Background of the month

The Chinese New Year is in February and this year is the year of the - drum roll - dragon! which happens to be my sign.

Here are some fun facts:

• This holiday is called Spring Festival and lasts 16 days from New Year's Eve to the Lantern Festival.
• The Chinese New Year in 2024 will be on Feb 10th.
• It is traditional to serve long noodles and dumplings, symbolizing a long life, and good luck and wealth, respectively.
• Red, a lucky color in China, is predominant in decorations, representing happiness, beauty, vitality, good luck, success, and good fortune.
• Even though, in the US it is called the Chinese New Year, this holiday is celebrated in many other Asian countries.
• Washing, sweeping, or taking out the garbage are not allowed as these activities could inadvertently wash out or remove good luck from the house or person.

One Last Thing Before You Go

It would be immensely helpful to know what type of content you want to receive in this newsletter. Please post your feedback in the comments section or contact me directly via LinkedIn.

For more content, join our email list and receive helpful articles, humor, and the latest publications by completing this form with your name and email. In gratitude, we will send you a free e-book on how to become an emotionally intelligent leader.

Si deseas recibir contenido en espa?ol, únete a nuestra lista de correo electrónico. Completa esta forma con tu nombre y correo electrónico y, en agradecimiento, te enviaremos un libro electrónico gratuito sobre cómo convertirte en líder emocionalmente inteligente.

See you next month!