Do you make New Year’s resolutions?
30 December 2011
Do you make New Year’s resolutions? Personally I don’t, because I tend to ‘check in’ with myself quite often to refocus on what’s really important to me so I don’t really feel the need to make resolutions once a year… I do, however, use New Year’s to think about changes I want to make in the coming year, which I guess is pretty similar to the people who like to make New Year resolutions.
Some people think resolutions are a waste of time – they’re all broken by the end of January, right? I read an interesting article by the philosopher Alain de Botton recently, written for the School of Life, which made the point that we need to challenge ourselves to be better – and it’s the challenge that’s important, as even a half-successful resolution is better than not even trying!
If you do make New Year’s resolutions, here are a couple of tips:
1. Be specific: Resolving to gossip less at work and be nicer to Aunty Mary will be more effective than just wanting to be nicer.
2. Be realistic: Resolving to lose 1 stone by the end of August is much more achievable than 1 stone in 1 month or 3 stone by the end of August. Your resolution needs to be challenging but achievable.
3. Get help: There will be times when you slip, so get a good friend to help keep you on track – give your credit card to a friend if you want to save money, for example, so you have to ask permission every time you want to use it. And of course, a life coach is the perfect motivator – that’s what we do, help people achieve their goals!
If you’re making New Year’s resolutions or if you just have something in your life you want to sort out in 2012, then life coaching can help… And even better, I’m starting 2012 off with a sale – 50% off your first three sessions. So what’s stopping you? Email me now at carole@caroleraycoaching.com
Tired all the time? Try these easy ways to get more energy
7 December 2011
Winter is our natural hibernation time – and as the nights get longer and the temperatures drop, it’s natural to want to spend more time at home, cuddled up on the sofa, resting, recovering and (often) reassessing. Modern life, however, cares nothing for hibernation. Instead of laying low as we instinctively want to, many of us find ourselves out every night, especially in the crazy Christmas period, with a constant lament: ‘I’m so tired!’
If hiding bear-like all winter isn’t an option, then it’s important to look at how we’re nourishing ourselves – which, for me, breaks down into three vital areas…
Mental energy
- Find your ‘flow’ – Our minds are constantly filled with to-do lists and emails and petty arguments – but to ‘switch off’ we often sit in front of the telly or surf the web, and end up feeling even more drained than we were before. Try and find activities that get you into Mihaly Czikszentmihalyi’s ‘flow’ (watch this great video if you’ve never heard of ‘flow’ before) Gardening, cooking, running, swimming, fixing things – it doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you lose yourself in the moment.
- Breathe! – We live with such a constant level of stress, most of us don’t even notice it – but take a moment to take 10 deep breaths, and you’ll feel immediately how effective breathing is at quietening and re-energising your mind. Breath-based activities like yoga, meditation and tai chi are well known for calming and re-energising, but even singing can help…
Physical energy
- Food is fuel – It’s worth it to take a bit of extra time to buy fresh ingredients and make yourself healthy meals. Comfort food may appeal in the cold, dark evenings, but veggies, protein and slow-release carbohydrates will keep your energy levels stable throughout the day.
- Keep moving – We naturally want to exercise less when it’s dark and cold outside, but even a brisk walk in your lunch break will help – plus exercising in natural light will help keep your serotonin levels up and the winter blues away.
Emotional energy
- Feed your soul – When we’re run down, our emotions can take over and tiny things expand into huge dramas. Instead make sure you’re keeping your emotional resilience strong by getting enough B vitamins (through brown rice and wholegrain oats), vitamin D (egg yolks, oily fish) and magnesium (dark green leafy veggies).
- Give yourself a break – We often have to spend time with people who drain us, who seem to sap our energy as opposed to raising our spirits and re-energising us. Give yourself a break: limit the time you spend with energy vampires, have an excuse ready when they invite you out or have a reason you can only stay an hour – you’ll feel happier about the limited contact, which will make spending time with them easier, and won’t leave you feeling drained and guilty. And if all else fails, breathe!
If you’d like some help in feeling more energised, including a free, no-obligation 15-minute chat to understand how coaching can help you, then email me now at carole@caroleraycoaching.com
