Tune In, Turn Out, Take Time

Though many of us have stayed close to home for well over a year and have not had the chance to fully immerse in reckless summer abandon, that doesn’t mean there aren’t simple things we can do to recharge our souls and lift ourselves up.

This past holiday weekend provided another window of opportunity to tune in, turn out and take much needed time for yourself.

There’s plenty that’s been reported on the benefits of vacation and time off. There are countless statistics on how vacation enhances productivity and creativity.

Lin Manuel Miranda who created the most phenomenal Broadway show ever, Hamilton, has spoken publicly on his inspiration for creating his masterpiece. As reported in an interview he did with?Make It/CNBC?he was leaving on vacation with his girlfriend, now wife, and wanted to take a big book with him to read. Knowing no more than the average person about Alexander Hamilton...that his face was on the $10 bill and that he died in a duel...he grabbed Ron Chernow’s biography on Hamilton. And thus Hamilton, the musical, was born.

There is also ample research connecting physical and mental health and overall happiness to our ability to change our perspective, unplug and indulge in fun, play and self-care. Our attention to nurturing our spirits is not idle play but really a critical ingredient in enhancing our happiness, momentum and self-worth.

Because nobody wants to be running on empty, I encourage you to turn your attention to resting, playing and surrounding yourself (safely) with things and people you love.

Here are a few tips to recharge your battery and enter the post holiday season living and working as fully as possible:

1. Tune In...Get a real sense of how you’re feeling in this moment. Acknowledge what your body, mind and spirit are yearning for. Based on your current circumstances, how are you reacting? What emotions are rearing up for you? What experiences have you internalized that are working against you?

Controlling your emotions is not the intention here. But rather to honestly experience what you’re feeling so that you recognize it for what it is and can move through it with self-awareness and self-compassion.

One thing you can do to cultivate awareness of your feelings and move through them is to sit still without external distractions and breathe deeply and intentionally. There are not only physical benefits you incur like slowing your heart rate and restoring your composure but the beautiful benefit of mitigating an ever rising escalation of feelings that don’t help you.

Another simple practice is to express daily gratitude. Write down what you’re grateful for and why and then say it aloud. Gratitude cannot coexist with despair or feelings of being down. When we’re grateful it shifts our mental awareness to all that is good in our world that has lasting effects on our well being.

2. Turn Out...connect and share with those that are important to you, either physically or virtually. I know for me, when I’m needing a boost of energy or a dose of happiness I connect with people I love or have been thinking of. And if I’ve tuned into myself (step 1) I have a greater ability to listen and learn from others, because I’m taken care of and I can put my full focus on others. Reuniting is a wonderful way to be there for others and make the most of our holiday time together.

Other ways to turn out and connect are with animals and nature. The energy of the natural world is life affirming. It’s an easy way to experience a level of calm and beauty and wonder far beyond our capacity to manufacture on our own.

3. Take Time...really, Make Time. The precious time that you make for yourself to rest, have fun and live life fully is time well spent. Thoughts of doing it are one thing, but actually doing it is another. It will be an experience that warms your heart, comforts your soul and is pure magic at a time when you really need it.

Quote of the Week

What if we recharged ourselves as often as we did our phone?

~ Laugh At Adversity

With heart and brilliance,

Noreen