Focus

For quite some time now multitasking has been a buzz word and many people strife to be masters of multitasking.  However, it has been proven that there is not really such a thing as multitasking.  Our brains simply are not capable of doing more than one thing at a time.  In reality what actually happens is that although we are trying to do two or more things at the same time we are only switching back and forth between the various tasks.  This requires a lot of concentration and often, instead of being more productive, we end up making more mistakes and this in turn causes us a great deal of stress. Eventually we become less able to really focus our attention on one thing in particular.

 One of the key factors of success in anything is the ability to focus on the task at hand, but also on our goals.  To help us achieve focus it is a good plan to make meditation a part of our routine.  Just five minutes of dedicated meditation can help us to clear our minds and realign our focus.  Meditation does not have to be linked to any specific religion, but it is simply being quiet and being present in the moment.  It is to clear your mind of all the clutter whizzing through it at the speed of light.  What often helps is to find a thought or an idea to repeat in your mind while you are quiet and present in the moment.  Many refer to this repetitive thought, word or idea as a mantra, but this in turn has a religious connotation for many people and thus they veer away from it. I prefer to think of it as a positive affirmation.

Repeating this affirmation guides our thoughts and helps us to focus on the positive.  It can become  the motto or catch phrase of your life and when you think it or say it out loud it can immediately reset your alignment in accordance with your goal.  It can be as simple as "I can do this", or "I believe it will be so" or it can be a specific scripture such as "Be still, and know that I am God".  Quotes are great affirmations to think about.  Write your quote, word or thought down where you can see it and be reminded of it often.  Engrave it on your mind and soon your life will begin to reflect that thought.  It is a great way to inspire yourself to be a better version of you.

I leave you with this scripture:

Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV)

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.

Break Away

Don't you just love Mondays?  Feeling rejuvenated after a great week-end, Mondays invite you to start afresh.  A brand new week awaits filled with new challenges and new opportunities.  However, if you are like most people out there then Monday is not really your favourite day of the week.  Maybe you dread the overflowing inbox awaiting you, or having to sort out all the problems that had accumulated over the week-end.  Then there is no better day to start planning your next getaway!  Instead of working during lunchtime, use that hour to plan a well-deserved week-end away.  No, don't make excuses, now, you do deserve it, in fact you owe it to yourself, your family and your loved ones.  Even your colleagues will benefit from a happier, more relaxed you.

Even if you love your job, working is stressful and stress can break us down, both physically and mentally.  Taking a break, even a short one, has a renewing effect on our body and our mind.  It helps us to refocus and to regain perspective about what is important.  It can even help clear our minds helping us to find solutions to problems we are faced with.  It may even spark some new ideas.

Taking a mini-vacation a few times a year is a great way to re-connect with our loved ones.  It helps to build and strengthen our relationships.  In today's hectic life we very easily start living past one another.  Getting away from schedules, deadlines and responsibilities help us to relax and spend uninterrupted time together.

Taking the occasional break also helps to boost productivity, as well as creativity, as your batteries have been recharged and you have renewed energy for your workload.   

When you plan your getaway remember that it does not have to be expensive or far away.  Even just going to a nearby town and spending the day sight-seeing can be an excellent way to relax.  Take a picnic basket along packet with healthy food and even a decadent treat or two.  There are often very beautiful places right on our doorstep that we pass by and never bother to explore.  However, you will be surprised what gems these places have in store.

Happy planning!

Reboot

I hope you have had a relaxing week-end and had some quality time with friends and family.  Maybe some of you give a sigh of relief that the week-end is over, feeling as if you need a holiday to recover from it!  Whatever the case might be I want to encourage you to spoil yourself a bit tonight.  Disconnect from social media, have an early supper, take a long relaxing bath and go to bed an hour earlier than usual.

Having a good night's rest is one of the best tonics there is.  It is important for our physical and mental well-being.  Inadequate sleep can leave us feeling easily irritated and bad-tempered.  It can hamper our performance at work, hamper our ability to retain information and even endanger ourselves and others. A good night's rest have several less obvious advantages.  It can help restore our tissues, improve our memory and boost our immune system.  Getting a good doze of zzz's can also help to regulate our blood sugar levels and aid in appetite and weight control.  There are few things so naturally rejuvenating as a good night's rest.  You wake up energized and ready to face the day.

Many people, however, have difficulties in switching off and falling asleep.  If this is your problem then it is a good idea to start winding down an hour before going to bed.  Have a relaxing bath and disconnect from all media, yes, that means SWITCHING OFF your phone.  Try listening to relaxing music and have a mug of warm milk with a dash of cinnamon and honey.  A cup of chamomile tea is said to improve sleep.

Great! There you have it, your wellness tip No 2 for June.  I hope you found this so boring that your are already nodding off.  Sweet dreams....zzzz

Take A Walk

A new day, a new month.  Open the windows wide and let the sunlight in.  Breathe in the crisp, fresh air.  Take a moment to savour the beauty all around you.  Put this past, hectic week out of your mind and enjoy the wonder of this perfect moment.  Make a date with yourself and take an hour or twenty minutes to go for a walk, maybe through the still sleepy neighbourhood or your local park.  Feel the stress leave your body and endorphins flooding your senses.  Take note of the little things as you walk along.  Feel the sunlight on your skin and the earth beneath your feet.  Notice the wind stirring the leaves or a bird hopping from branch to branch.  Make it a daily event on your calendar.  It is good for your mind, your health and your spirit.  When we take a daily walk outside our hearts beat faster and this improves our blood circulation.  It is also a great metabolism booster plus the effect of sunshine, fresh air and a feeling of well-being all help to counter-act feelings of depression. 

Making time for a daily walk is not an indulgence, but a priority.  Encourage your family to take a walk with you, it is a wonderful opportunity to bond with your spouse, your children, your parents or siblings.

I leave you with this quote:

Psalm 96:11-12 

(New International Version )

11 

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;

    let the sea resound, and all that is in it.

12 

Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;

    let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.

Celebrate!!!

What a beautiful day it is, a little chilly, but the sun shines and the skies are clear.  Another hectic week has passed.  Do you count the days to the week-end or do you mark the weeks off until it is time for your annual leave?  That's great, we should always have something to look forward to.  However, in the process the ordinary, often hectic days pass us by without much of a memory retained about the day itself.  Weeks and months fly pass in the blink of an eye, and when we look back we can seldom even remember what we have done with the time.  Is this how you feel too?  Then maybe it is time to start celebrating.  No, I am not talking about birthdays or special occasions.  I mean, you only have a birthday once a year, public holidays, weddings and family events only happen so often.  I am talking about celebrating the ordinary, yet, wonderful happenings which fill our lives everyday.  Did you make your deadline?  Celebrate!  Did your toddler wake you up at five this morning boasting a new tooth?  Celebrate.  Is it the first day of a new season?  Yep, celebrate it!  Did you discover a new strand of grey hair?  Oh, what horror!  Celebrate it, you have earned it!

Take out your great-gran's carefully packed tea set, decorate the breakfast table with flowers, bake some fresh scones and celebrate being alive!  What a gift, what a treasure!  Celebrate the people who are alive, but also celebrate the people who have passed on and who have left you with the legacy of their beautiful souls!

Rejoice at the sunrise, toast the sunset, celebrate the heartbeat of your husband or wive there next to you and invite Gratefulness to reside in your every thought.

Yes, life can be tough, terrible, sad and it can leave us mangled, but while we have it, right this moment, whatever the circumstances, look for that little spark of hope, a faint flash of joy and celebrate it. You MAY, but more than that you SHOULD.  Be happy, dearest friends, and may you find something right at this very moment to celebrate.

Take a Chance, Make a Change

People once asked a wise man what is his most important message he would like to share with the world.  The wise man thought for a while before he answered. His reply was simple, but not really what his followers expected.  He answered, "This too shall pass."

Change.  It is the one constant in life.  Yet most of us fear change.  We are afraid of the uncertainty it holds.  We prefer the security of our comfort zone.  Many people, however, dream of change.  They imagine what it would be like if they changed their careers, moved to a different city, tried out a new hairstyle or revamped their image.  Not so many of them actually do it.  Sometimes we might even go as far to share these dreams with others only to be discouraged by words such as "oh no, you would look dreadful with short hair"  or "you won't really be able to make a living as an artist".  Thus we stay stuck, tucking our dreams away.  You see, people are not only afraid of their own changes, but also fear what your change will do to their lives.

I want to tell you that it is quite OK, you MAY change.  You may try out a new hairstyle, paint your house pink or pursue your dream of becoming a dolphin trainer.  Yes, there are no guarantees, and yes, change is scary but more scary is never taking the chance and regretting it forever.  Of course, it does not mean that you must just recklessly take the plunge.  No, it is important that you do your research, make sure that it is what you really want and weigh up the pro's and cons carefully.  Equally important is that you must make sure YOU want to make the change and that it is not somebody else's idea for your life.  You must do it for yourself, for your own happiness.

Change may be unsettling, but it is also very exciting, and you may be amazed where life might take you.  Whatever you decide, I wish you joy and prosperity and a whole lot of fun!

Asking is Free

Most of us are proud and prefer to be totally independent.  In fact, we raise our children to be independent and to be able to stand on their own feet.  Most of us believe that asking for assistance is a sign of weakness.  We fear people will think that we are inept, stupid or not in control of our lives.  We would rather struggle with something than seem incapable or ignorant.  However, our pride can be counter-productive and even sabotage ourselves in the process.

The truth is that it is not the weak who ask for help, but those individuals who are confident, realistic and secure in the knowledge of their own abilities.  They realize that it is not a reflection on themselves that they do not know everything or cannot do everything, but they understand that we need other people, and we in turn can again assist somebody else.

Yes, you MAY ask for help or for a favour.  It is okay not to know everything.  By asking for assistance we also give other people the chance to be of help, and to live out our God given calling to love/assist our neighbour.

Dare to Go Bare

This last week of May has been so hectic that I had no time to connect with my blog, so I am a few days behind.  However, this morning I made sure to clear my schedule to catch up.

A runner's feet are usually not very pretty.  They are often going through various stages- new blisters and bruised toes, black and mangled toenails or regrowth of aforesaid toenails.  Not pretty!  That is why I seldom dare to walk barefoot.  Funny enough, there are many women who feel the same about their feet and constantly keep them covered.  What a shame! 

 A few years ago I have changed my believe that only those with exceptionally beautiful feet should have them on display.  I am now a firm advocate of celebrating ones feet.  After all, they work hard and transport us wherever we wish to go.  They are always at our service.  Thus they deserve our loving care and gratitude.  So, today I want to tell you that you MAY walk barefoot.  Enjoy the feel of the cool tiles beneath your feet, the way the sand wiggles in between your toes and the grass tickles your feet.

Furthermore, there are some very real benefits to walking barefoot.  When we walk barefoot different muscles in our feet are activated, and it helps to strengthen the tendons and muscles of our feet.  Even our ankles, calves and Achilles tendons are being stretched and strengthened by walking barefoot.  Walking barefoot can also trigger the acupuncture points in our feet and improve blood circulation and have a positive effect on our nervous system.

When we walk barefoot we usually enjoy doing it outside.  It forces us to be in the moment as our eyes have to be aware of where we are stepping in order to avoid injury, it makes us aware of our surroundings.  When we are out in nature, when we breathe in the fresh air and feel the sun on our skins we begin to relax and our stress levels decrease.

Come on, I dare you, kick off those constraining shoes and set those little piggies free.  Dare to go bare!!!!

Treat Yourself, You May

Most of us understand the importance of a budget.  Each month we carefully allocate our funds according to priorities.  It comes as no surprise that we as parents are usually right at the bottom of the list.  We most often look after everything and everyone else.  Even when we have some spare money we are most likely to spend it on our children and spouse first.  Sometimes we even allow other constraint prohibit us from treating ourselves.  Excuses such as I do not have time, I do not deserve it, I am on a diet or I have to first do this or that are of the favourite ones we use not to spoil ourselves a little bit.

Well, today I am telling you that you MAY treat yourself.  You are worthy of it.  Spoil yourself with a spa treatment or a visit to the hair salon.  Buy that pair of shoes you have secretly been saving money for.  Eat that cake, one slice mind you, and enjoy it.  Take a selfie and for the next three weeks of diet remember how good it tasted and look forward to your next treat.

Treating yourself once in a while can be a great mood booster and can help to alleviate stress.  It means a happier you and that in return will have a positive effect on those people close to you.

So go ahead and indulge yourself a little.