by Caroline Leach | Jan 8, 2016 | Change, Work/Life
How’s your life going a week into the new year?
Are you firing on all cylinders? Energized by your dreams of creating change in your life? Or does it feel like ages ago that you embraced a bright, shiny new year, with all its possibilities?
Perhaps we’re expecting too much from a single day. Perhaps we’re trying to do too much. Or perhaps we didn’t plan for life’s unexpected twists and turns.
But perhaps New Year’s Day is as much as state of mind as it is a date on the calendar. How could you bring a New Year’s sensibility to all of your days? Here are a few ideas.
Set yourself up for success the night before. Wrap up your tasks for the day. Note your priority actions for tomorrow. Straighten up your surroundings. Pack a delicious lunch. Set out the stuff you’ll need for tomorrow. Get a good night’s sleep.
Have a plan. Don’t put everything on your list for the day. When I do that, my eyes glaze over and I don’t know where to begin. Start with 3 to 5 priority tasks. Pick one to tackle first thing. Your most difficult one. Preferably in a 60- to 90-minute uninterrupted block of time.
Expect the unexpected. When you over schedule, there’s no slack in the day to roll with the punches. This week, for example, we (finally) had rain in Southern California. That meant traffic was heavier and more time was needed to get to the office. Plan some unplanned time to make up the difference.
Enjoy the adventure. Take in the sights and sounds of your surroundings. Look up from your smartphone. Look people in the eye, smile and say hello. Be present and make note of what’s happening from moment to moment.
Stop the doom loop. If you hear yourself spiraling into a sea of negativity, tell yourself to stop. Replace those thoughts with more positive, optimistic ones. If you feel embarrassed about a mistake you’ve made, remember that most people are thinking about themselves and won’t even notice.
Cut yourself some slack. Focus on the good in your day. Remind yourself of what you did accomplish (hopefully your top 3 – 5 priorities), rather than what you didn’t. Speaking of “priorities,” did you know when the word first entered the English language in the 14th century, it was singular? That’s right. You could only have one priority. Not multiple ones, as we have today.
Be kind to yourself — and others. Often we can get so wrapped up in our own challenges, that we fail to notice others are struggling with the same things. Or even more difficult problems than our own. It’s safe to assume that everyone we come in contact with is carrying a heavy load. Be nice to them. Smile. Offer a kind word. That goes for you, too.
Act the way you want to feel. This is my favorite of the “Secrets of Adulthood” from Gretchen Rubin and The Happiness Project. If you want to feel happy, start acting that way. If you want to feel grateful, think about your blessings. If you want to feel more positive and optimistic, start acting that way. It takes a deliberate choice and less than a minute of your time. That’s a pretty good return.
Remember that today is your new year’s day. And tomorrow. And the day after that. Make it count. Make a difference. Make it fun. Because all of our new year’s days add up to our lives. What kind of a life are you living? You don’t have to meet every last goal for yourself before you start enjoying it. Decide to make each moment special, for yourself and everyone around you.
by Caroline Leach | Jan 1, 2016 | Corporate Communications, Work/Life
Early in my career I had to visit a supplier in France. The company was in Paris, so evenings became perfect for sightseeing.
The Eiffel Tower was high on my list. I asked one of my French colleagues if he had any suggestions for my visit. Surprisingly, he hadn’t visited the landmark, despite living in the area of many years.
The same dynamic applies to me at times in Los Angeles. Some things are so close, I could go any time. As a result, “any time” often doesn’t happen.
On New Year’s Day in 2015 as I watched the Rose Parade on TV, I decided it would be fun to go this year. Pasadena isn’t far from home. And I had happy memories of attending the parade once as a teen.
What fun this morning was. There was the parade of street vendors and bicyclists before the event. Supporters of one of the presidential candidates had their own parade after the last official parade participants disappeared down Colorado Boulevard.
And I don’t recall ever seeing in the televised version the pooper scoopers who follow each group of horses. Yet these were some of the most animated and crowd-friendly people in the parade. They waved, danced and took selfies with spectators.
When skywriters filled the sky with political messages, even the marching band at our spot on the parade route turned to look. Some pulled out their phones to snap pictures.
The element of the unexpected was what made the day. It made me think about the practice of PR. What a fascinating way to attract attention and dominate social media.
It’s funny how leisure time can help you think in new ways about your profession and about your work.
That was one of the key points that caught my eye in Laura Vanderdam‘s book, What the Most Successful People Do on the Weekend.
She also suggests having 3 to 5 “anchor events” each weekend – a dinner with friends and family, a movie, a bike ride, a trip to a local landmark and so on.
To fuel those events, she advocates making a List of 100 Dreams. The ones within an hour or two of your house can serve as inspiration for weekend planning.
Her idea that you need to plan your weekends as much as you plan your work weeks leads to a lot more fun and enjoyment. And that perspective makes everything in life better, whether it’s personal or professional.
Find Your Adventure was the theme of today’s Rose Parade. What will your adventure be this year?
by Caroline Leach | Dec 31, 2015 | Change, Work/Life
“The transitions are just as important as the destinations,” our yoga instructor said this week.
His words reminded us not to rush to the next pose, but to enjoy the entire process. In essence, to enjoy the journey.
The yoga class was part of this week’s respite my husband and I enjoyed in Ojai, California. Known as the “unofficial zen capital of Southern California,” Ojai is an ideal place to refresh and renew.
While we enjoyed lunch outdoors by a much-needed heat lamp in the cool California sun, a few drops of water fell on our table. Looking up, we saw a rainbow.
Yes, that’s it in the picture above. I didn’t even have to move from my seat to take the photo. It was right there. Right where we already were.
As I thought about the proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, I realized I didn’t need to go looking for it.
Because as our yoga instructor wisely said, the transitions are as important as the destination. The view was beautiful right where we were.
That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have goals and aspirations we strive for. Far from it.
But for someone like me who’s focused on the future almost to the point of overlooking the pricelessness of the present, this was a valuable reminder.
Over the rainbow is right here and right now. There’s a sweetness to the here and now. There’s a specialness in each moment of life, even as we plan for a better future.
Leaping into a new year, it’s important to enjoy the rainbows that are present every day. All it takes is looking for them.
Want to take a zen moment of your own? Let yourself be transported by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole‘s beautiful version of Over the Rainbow & What a Wonderful World.
Your rainbow is waiting, in the precious moments of everyday life.
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