How do you de-stress and re-energize?

Hi Lynn, Fabulous question. Thanks for so openly sharing your experience (which I can relate to!) and starting this conversation. Here are some ideas for consideration:

1) I try to work in 45-minute blocks. During the 10-15 minute break, I get up and go do something completely different: put in a load of laundry, pet the cats, go for a quick walk around the block, have a snack (not in front of the computer!), play some energizing music and dance, etc... anything to shift my focus.

2) I light a candle, have flowers and plants, and other nurturing objects around my workspace.

3) I make a list of only what needs to happen today; I get overwhelmed if my list is too long/too future.

4) I turned off the e-mail notification thingee on my computer, so I don't see the envelope pop up. It helps keep me focused on whatever non-e-mail task I'm doing.

5) I have some Ben & Jerry's - the more stuff in it, the better. Then I go to the Y and work it off!

6) I take a Power Chick Power Nap :-)

7) Remind myself that everything is happening perfectly, it will all get done, I have a choice about how I approach my tasks (calmly or frantically)

8) Remember to breathe; I forget sometimes!

9) Call a friend and say "Tell me something good about me" :-) and get some positive reinforcement/energy from someone else!

Can't wait to read what others have experienced!

Peace, Beth

1. I turn on music and dance. I let the music take over and I dance my little heart out. It makes me happy, it makes me feel beautiful, and it makes life feel good again.

2. If it is a sunny day, I walk- no music, paying attentions to the sights and sounds around me. Yes, the world is going on just fine if I delay that "to do" list a bit longer ; ).

3. Call a friend, my sister, or talk to my husband (who really knows how to put things in pespective).

4. If I have let it go too long, I allow myself to cry, get mad at an imperfect world and me, and then I count my blessings (one being a fabulous husband)- and then I go back to #1 : )

Hi!

What a great question--as a coach, it seems that much of what I do is help people find ways to take care of themselves while the chaos swirls around them. Here's a few of the ones that work for me:

1) Put on some really loud, headbanger music and jump around/sing/play air guitar. Ideally, do this until I am sweaty and giggling.

2) take about ten super long, deep, slow breaths with my eyes closed.

3) get outside and pay attention to nature. Collect colored leaves, watch squirrels, smell the rain, listen to birds, feel the wind on my face.

4) pick up my cat and hold my ear against her belly while she purrs. Talk about stress relief! They should bottle that experience.

5) a good glass of red wine, preferably shared with a loved one. Okay, maybe two glasses.

Thanks for starting the conversation, Lynn!

Warmly, Kristy

I can relate! Many years ago, my coach, afer I dealt with a few days of frustration, exhaustion, etc. asked me to write 5 things that I could do the next time I got into that position.

Then over time, this topic came up with working with my clients. So I expanded the list and put it in an article. "How to Find Serenity When It's the Last Thing On Your Mind". Enjoy http://www.coachmaria.com/articles/serenitycards.html

Thank you, Lynn! We can all relate! I'm glad you've made me think about this because I'm realizing that I've been maxing out a bit, too. I'll have to read Maria's article. My ways of coping are:

1. Take a nap because sleep has probably been lacking!
2. Talk to friends.
3. Write a short essay or poem about the funny things in life.
4. Sit down and just pay attention to my dogs who are always there to listen. (my Old English Sheepdog and the Yorkie-Poo. They both think that they are lap dogs!
5. If it's really bad, I'll clean house to get rid of the tension.
   

Thank you for this post. Just this morning I had my meltdown. And unlike the movies I am NOT pretty when I cry.

My husband and I started a business in January that is booming (a great thing, but non-stop stressful) and last night his father who is 95 took a fall. We are now in crisis mode.

This post reminded me to BREATHE! I think I will go take a walk. It is too early for wine:(

Thanks again for all the great ideas!

Christine

Hi Lynn ~ I can really emphathize with you on this one, I too have been going, going, gone lately and it is making me feel broken down and weak. Which of course makes me cry! Now I am sick with a cold/flu and have to keep the committments I have made and work through it, ugh! My #1 stress reliever is working out. My #2 is reading, which I don't do nearly enough My #3 is Sunday night when my kids come home for dinner, NOTHING EVER takes precedent over that My #4 is cooking a swell meal, which means having a glass of red wine while doing it, Huh!

YOU are very valuable, know your worth, take time for you and enjoy a selfish moment everyday.

Just returned from a conference at Red Mountain Spa in Utah. It's a beautiful setting. While looking out at the mountains, I realized all I needed to do was breathe!

I put down my journal and just took deep breaths. I started to feel the tension in my shoulders lessen, even before my massage.

While at home, the number one thing I do to de-stress is "Put a do-not-enter sign on the bedroom door, play soft music, light some candles and take a bubble bath".

Hazel

Wow! These are all great ideas. I'm going to second the idea that exercise is the number way way that I reduce my stress level. You would think as a certified personal trainer I would never be lacking in this area, but sometimes I let all the other demands of my job cut into my workout time. I notice I get the most stressed out, cranky, and tired when I haven't found time to workout in the previous days.

People hire me to keep them accountable to working out, and but I need accountability too. :) To keep me on track I find a workout partner so I have it scheduled into my day, and someone else who is counting on me to be there. Whether that's meeting someone to walk around Greenlake, working out with a client, or asking a friend to run hills with me, I know I'll do it if there's someone else at my side. I've gotta do something because working out is proven to help reduce stress and re-energize.

People who start and stay committed to an exercise program have shown increased energy levels and decreased stress. Check out this article from the Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/exercise-and-stress/SR00036/NSECTIONGROUP=2

Remember that YOU are worth it! You can only give your best to others or your business if you're taking care of yourself. Whatever it is that helps you avoid meltdowns, do it daily!

-Kate Conwell- www.purebodyfitness.com

Lynn-the multi-taskers can all relate for sure. Thanks for being honest. I am working on these steps and they help me:

1) Work out regularly. Make it an appt. then it happens. This relieves stress. Someone a the gym once told me this and it has stuck with me. When you're young you sacrifice your health for wealth (too busy to work out). When you're old, you sacrifice your wealth for health (your $ goes to medical bills). Nobody wants that, right?

2)Play music on Pandora.com or my stereo while I work. I get lost in the music and relax and the ideas flow. (til the phone rings)

3) Screens calls while working so I only take urgent calls or my hubby.

4)Just say NO to doing "everything", play dates that mean driving around after I just got home or all the activities at school with my kids and taking on more and more in addition to my work.

5) Try to shut down by 9pm and go to bed to spend quality time with my hubby. I can work into the night. Work never ends, but you have to make yourself stop. I also need my sleep for productive work the next day.

6) Keep water nearby to stay hydrated while you work. Stop and do a stretch from your computer every so often.

7) Stay healthy and rested, because once you're sick, everything stops and you can't afford the time to do that usually.

8) Prioritize and remind yourself of what's really important in your life.

Now...back to work.

Thank you Lynn for giving us all a spot to vent. With 4 children and 2 businesses and now I'm searching for a p/t job with f/t benefits since we lost all of ours. I am becoming the queen of overworked. So this is my top 5 when my wheels are spinning and I have no traction.

1. Turn on Pandora's box and dance and sing like nobody is watching.
2. I get out a box off colored pencils and draw something beautiful 3.Listen to my Holosync CD, to meditate like a monk.
3. Go and do a ZOOMBA class!!!!! Way to much fun to be a work out:))))
4. Call my husband home for some Afternoon Delight!

Which reminds me "Where is my phone!"

Thank you all for sharing.

What I have noticed when I am in a such an overdoing/constant doing and anything else-doing mode, is that I get disconnected from my center, or the source, if you would prefer that word. This then keeps the endless doing mode and I end up completely overwhelmed, and not focused on what is essential.

So, when I catch myself going down that way, I take a 30 minute power nap, stop doing and instead just sit for a while with a cup of coffee or tea, looking outside the garden, go for a walk, read something inspirational.

In truth the ritual of self care fills you to overflowing to the benefits of others. As the owner of a Day Spa I find it imperative to cultivate generous self care, as a way of honoring yourself and to experience being on the receiving end.

I rise early enough for an hour of meditation, a leisurely breakfast and a calming hot bath, everyday. I found a fabulous Yoga instructor that customizes each class to meet the needs of those participating. I practice self reflection and take note of 'imposed narratives' that are not in keeping with my nature and valiantly have learned to say 'no thank you'. I enjoy a weekly massage I follow my inspiration which makes life exhilarating. And of course I eat chocolate!

www.mariposadayspa.net

Healthy food and always make time for myself. It's non-negotiable if I can going to as productive and powerful as I need to be. The 30-60 minutes a day I exercise is my time. Somedays I think of nothing, just listen to my body and connect with it. Other days (usually cardio days) I work through problems or scenarios in my head, often coming away with a new perspective or idea. You must take care of you first!

Lynn, I get so many messages in my regular inbox and my biznik inbox that I don't even have the time to read them all. This one caught my attention and I not only read your whole post but everyone's comments. This topic is so timely. I had my break-down similar to yours near the beginning of the year when I cried on a friends shoulder and vented about how burned out I was.
Being a professional organizer, this is hard to admit. We should be able to be so organized we don't get overwhelmed right? Well, as we all know being a sole-business owner is exhausting as we have to wear so many hats and have so many demands on our time.

So...here is how I have turned my life around:

1. I say 'No, thank you' more than I did before. Saying 'no' is so powerful in maintaining balance.
   

2. I have a work-out partner. It took a while to find someone that I not only enjoy working out with but who's ideal work-out time matched mine perfectly.
   

3. Sunday is always family day. I don't schedule clients or do work on Sundays. It is my day to catch up the laundry, grocery shop for the week, get the house all put back in order and spend time with the family. This allows me to go into each busy week refreshed and 'organized'.
   

4. I started scheduling more time with my friends and less with business associates. I had gotten so wrapped up in my business that this had gotten out of balance. It is easy to 'network' yourself to death if you aren't careful. We need our great girlfriends love and support to recharge our batteries.
   

5. I also allow myself to let e-mails sit in my inbox longer than I used to. I used to think I had to respond to everything every day. Thus, I spent many late nights responding to e-mails that could wait. Now, I generally stay up late one night a week and 'catch up' on things that were non-urgent but I do want to respond to.
   

6. Lastly, I got very very clear about my vision for my business and very focused on the MOST IMPORTANT things to spend my time/energy on. I let anything else go that doesn't not fully support my business, my lilfe, or my family.
   

7. these things did not happen in this particular order but this is the order they 'came' to me today.
   

Thank you for putting this out there and hopefully everyone has gotten some really great ideas from each other!

Maulitta Brown www.clearintentionsnw.com

You ladies are so wonderful and have such great advise and ideas, it's amasing! I just wanted to add one more thing: at times of stress, meltdown and such - try to think about how wonderful your life really is and how blessed you are in your own way! How many people are there in the world who are less fortunate than you are and would be thrilled to trade spaces with you without any hesitation... All I am trying to say as be thankful and if you make an effort to really think about more often -it will bring balance and harmony to your life.

Thank you all for great words of wisdom, Marika

Lynn I can relate, we have lost our print business of 15 years, all of our retirement, savings and going through a bankruptcy, I have lost it so many times in the last year, at times having to stop and pull over to the side of the road, I could not breathe. It hits you when you least expect it; THANK YOU for opening up to all of us, you are a courageous, giving women and I am grateful to have met you. Thanks to all of you who have shared your stresses and your ways of coping. We are in this together and we can support each other through these difficult times. I am going to re-read all of your wonderful suggestions and come up with at least 4 to commit to and make the time to do them… Take care ladies and see you at the next function.