Are You Heading For Burn Out Part 2

A couple of years ago I wrote a post, Are You Heading For Burn Out.


It was about taking breaks to recharge your batteries and nourish your mind and body, and it was prompted by a snowboarding trip that I took, but almost didn't take, because I was worried about the work I was leaving behind.


I've just come back from another snowboarding trip and was reminded of the post.  I re-read it and was amazed at how different my state of mind was leading up to this trip.  


The trip itself was every bit as fantastic as the previous one but I had none of the anxiety about taking a few days out from my regular routine.  And that's because my regular routine is much better than it used to be.  


The last trip made me think about how I run my schedule, what I can delegate and how I prioritise.  I acted on these thoughts when I returned and now I can go away for trips like this without worry.  


It was really great to have the opportunity to review how things have changed for the better because, in a busy routine, it's all too easy to get caught up in what you're doing and not realise that life is continually getting better.  


So, here's the next installment of snowboard wisdom:


1) As I said in the previous post, never skip vacation time


2) When you've made time for your mind to be creative, act quickly on the new thoughts you generate


3) Highlight regular events in your life and use them to review your progress.  Vacations are ideal for this but you can do it weekly, monthly, quarterly or annually, or preferably all of the above.  However you do it, keep track of how life is shaping up and take action to ensure you're moving forwards as quickly as you want to be with everything that matters to you.

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Photo by Gatto Ashutto (Flickr)

How to Feel Calm in 12 Minutes

This weekend, I was giving a presentation to a group of 35 professionals who were all from widely different backgrounds, all busy and all successful in their chosen field.

Unanimously, they agreed that although they love what they do, they often feel that they could be even more effective and all expressed a desire to feel sharper, more focused and experience optimum energy even more of the time than they do presently.

Makes sense, who would argue with feeling great every single minute of the day?


I needed to know what steps they were taking to put themselves at the best possible advantage, mentally and physically. When I asked them who had a fitness routine in place, the response came from around half of them. When I asked who engaged with their food routine and thought about their eating habits, around a third of them responded positively.

When I asked who had a stress management or relaxation strategy in place, only one person put their hand up.

This came as no surprise to me.

For many of us, the emphasis of modern life is on getting more done, squeezing more out of each day, thinking, moving and living faster, faster, faster…

Even those who do try to make some space to calm themselves and nourish their body and spirit often miss the point. Was there ever such an oxymoron as taking a quick ‘power nap?’ Surely if you choose to take some time out to recharge, the most crucial factor is the quality of the experience rather than how quickly you can get it over with. You just can’t aim to relax at the same pace at which you live the rest of your life!

I’ve spoken to one of my Yogi friends, Ameet, about this situation and he recommends using an audio guide to really help you focus on your relaxation. He’s suggested a 12 minute podcast which he often uses from the website of the London Satyananda Yoga Centre. It's free to use so give it a go and see what you think. I’ve tried it a few times and each time it gets easier to clear your head and feel really refreshed in less than 15 minutes.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by everything you have to do, it’s the perfect way to refocus your mind and get the rest of your day back on track.