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5 Ways To Unwind This Summer

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5 ways to unwind this summerWhile each season is unique, perhaps none is more so than summer. Full of activities and time off work, summer seems to take your well-crafted schedule and turn it on its head. The busyness of summer is unique and fun, but can often be overwhelming, too. If this is the case, here are five ways to unwind this summer.

Grab a good book

It’s time to tackle that mounting pile of books you just didn’t have time for during the rest of the year. Now, there’s no reason that summer books need to be light or frothy. In fact, lighter books are best for the times when you’re busy and need an easy read at night. You don’t have to tackle War and Peace this summer but try your best to challenge yourself. Head to the library for inspiration or ask around. Take a chance with a new author. It never hurts to try a new book, and if you don’t like it, no one is forcing you to finish it.

Take a moment for yourself

Summer can be busy. There are people to see, activities to join, and it can be easy to be swept up in the bustle of everything. Each day, find time just for yourself. A few moments to reconnect with yourself can leave you more energized than a cup of coffee. Remember that it’s ok to turn down an invite. If your body is saying you need to rest, be sure to listen.

Enjoy the sunrise

Summer mornings are amazing. There’s a real magic about them. The day holds endless possibilities just waiting to happen. When you can, wake up with the birds and enjoy the quiet morning time. Head to your deck or go for a morning stroll. There’s real peace in knowing you’re awake before so many others.

Find gratitude in the sunset

At the end of the day, reflect on what has happened. Summer days are unique. They can either be filled with endless moments or a whirl of activity. Especially on those busy days, be sure to reflect on what has happened and search for the gratitude amongst the events. The more you savor each day, the less likely you’ll wonder where summer went to at the end.

Do something for others

One final way to unwind this summer is to help others out. While a bit of soul searching is always encouraged, often the answers we are looking for can be found with other people. Take some time this summer to volunteer or reach out to a friend in need. To be honest, it might seem like a lot of effort at the beginning. But once you get started, you’ll realize this was the final piece to creating harmony in yourself.

3 Ways To Meditate For A Calmer You

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3 ways to meditate for a calmer youWhen you think of meditation, to you immediately picture a person in a yoga pose, calmly breathing in and out? While this is one form of meditation, there are actually many other ways to perform the calming practice. If you find yourself caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, you may want to try mediation. To help you get started, here are four different ways to meditate.

Body Scan

Starting the journey to meditation can be difficult if you’re not exactly sure what to do. The goal is to free your mind of thoughts, but that can be really hard. One form of meditation is called a body scan, and is a great exercise if you just can’t get rid of your thoughts. Start by sitting in a quiet, comfortable location. Close your eyes and then go through your body. Start with your toes. With each breath in and out, locate a new body part. Become aware if there are any issues or stresses within that body part. Slowly work your way towards the top of your body.

Performing a body scan is the perfect way to get to know your body better. It is also a chance for you to practice controlling your thoughts during meditation. As an added bonus, this is also a noteworthy way to help you fall asleep at night.

Be Mindful

While it can be hard to clear your mind of thoughts during meditation, there is a form that embraces those thoughts. However, instead of entertaining any thoughts, you need to think only of the present. Being mindful during when you meditate does not mean that you worry about the past or plan for the future. Instead, you are only aware of what is around you. What do you smell in the room? How comfortable is the floor you are sitting on? What can you hear? Let these thoughts enter your mind and form a picture of the here and now.

Walking Meditation

If sitting isn’t for your, or you want to expand your traditional meditation practice, you can incorporate a walking portion to your routine. Start by walking slowly and in a relaxed fashion. You’re not walking to get somewhere; rather, you are walking to help clear your thoughts. Slowly begin to listen to your senses. Much like mindful meditation, the goal is to not linger over past or future ideas. Rather, you need to be aware only of the present situation. Can you smell the flowers that you walk by? How are the birds different, based on their songs? What texture does the ground feel like?

Walking meditation is best if you use a short path. At the end of each length, pause and take stock of your surroundings. And as you take each step, always be aware of your breathing. You can perform a walking meditation for as long as you like, and as you become more familiar with it, start to use it as you go about daily life.

5 Ways to Start the Day Smiling

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5 ways to start the day smiling Mornings don’t have to be hard. They don’t have to be full of grumpiness and dread. Here are five easy ways to start the day smiling so that you can be a better, happier self.

Get enough sleep

The oft-repeated advice to get enough sleep should not be ignored. While it seems like there is never enough time to accomplish everything in a day, sleep should not be sacrificed. While it’s recommended that adults get at least 8 hours of sleep a night, everyone is different. But, if you are constantly foggy throughout the day, think about changing your sleep habits. Even an extra 20 or 30 minutes a night can make a big difference.

Plan the night before

It’s tempting to think that your day should start with a plan, but it’s actually better to plan the night before. Before going to bed, make a list of things you want to accomplish the next day. Are there any projects that need to be finished? What errands need to be done? Even something as mundane as picking out your outfit the night before can help you to start the day smiling.

Too often we wake up and worry about all of these decisions. If you can make the decisions the night before, then you won’t have to worry about them. Instead, you can simply wake up and start your day off right.

Think about your purpose

Instead of getting trapped in a cycle of focusing on small tasks that need to be accomplished, think about a big picture for your day. Start with feelings. Do you want to focus on being happy today? Do you want to make a difference with others? Or want to feel creative? If you can begin your day with a purposeful focus, it gives your brain an overall feeling to achieve. This purpose will help you start the day smiling by giving you some clarity.

Meditate/ Reflect

Once the alarm goes off in the morning, it can be a mad rush to get dressed, eat breakfast, and be on your way to work. But time to meditate and reflect needs to be added to your morning routine. It doesn’t have to be much. Even 10 minutes in the morning will help you clear your mind and give you a sense of inner peace.

It can be hard to find an extra 10 minutes in your morning, but time isn’t there to be found. It’s there to be made. Make the time. Got to bed 10 minutes earlier so that you can wake up 10 minutes earlier. Have a shower in the evening.

Leave the Emails for Worktime

Now that email is almost automatically paired with a smartphone, work email has steadily intruded into personal time. It’s tempting to immediately start checking your email after waking up, but this usually just creates stress. Do your best to wait for work to do work. It will allow you personal time and result in you able to start the day smiling.

Why It’s Important To Make Time For Yourself

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why it's important to make time for yourselfWe’ve all heard the cliché that just as it’s important to put your own oxygen mask on first in an airplane so is it important to take care of yourself first in life. This cliché exists because it is true, yet it is easier said than done.

Think of yourself as the foundation of a building

It may not be glamorous, but the foundation of a building needs to be strong; otherwise, everything will crumble. Often a personal foundation may start by being strong, but over time can weaken. As a result, cracks can appear in the building itself. The reaction may be to try to spend time repairing the building, but what really needs to be done is strengthen the foundation.

Invest your time wisely

It can be hard to think of time as something to invest in. Money is logical, but time is finite and hard to find more of. You can think that you aren’t able to make time for yourself because you are too busy with everything else. But if you invest in yourself first, then the busyness of life can become more manageable, and maybe even more efficient.

Make time for yourself with both small and large blocks of time. Daily, find 5 to 10 minutes that are just for you. Sip a cup of coffee without looking at your smart phone. Instead, savor the smell and taste of each sip. Relax in a bubble bath at the end of the day instead of an efficient shower. Go for a neighborhood walk after dinner instead of immediately turning on the TV.

For longer blocks of time, plan them in advance so that your commitment is set in stone. Book a day at the spa for a massage. Join a book club that meets every month. Go to the art gallery and get lost in the beauty. Take the time to breathe and enjoy life in all its glory.

Be vocal

It can be hard to make time for yourself if you have a family. Children and spouse’s needs can seem immediate and they are often the first tended to. But if you need more time for yourself, don’t be afraid to speak up. Let everyone know what you need. It can seem selfish at first, especially with children, but ultimately it will set a good example for them. This shows that everyone needs some alone time and that different interests should be encouraged. It also will make you a better, more relaxed parent. It will refocus yourself to know that you are more than just a label. Rather, you are a person, and you are capable.