“There are times when saying “yes” to our own needs, we must say “no” to the needs of others. In other words, when you say yes to someone else’s needs, what are you denying yourself? Time, money, resources, energy or attention? There’s a trade off in some way. Recently, Simone Biles and Naomi Osaki, both top professional athletes, said yes to taking care of their own mental health needs. In doing so, they said no to the public’s need to see them perform. They showed incredible strength to take care of themselves in full view (and some criticism) of millions of people. Some have argued they demonstrated weakness in not…
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#MicroblogMonday–25: Three Powerful Ways to Move Through Overwhelm
Overwhelmed? I have three powerful tools I use to get through it. 1. Focus on my breath. 2. Make a list. 3. Schedule it on my calendar. The first thing I do is slow down my breathing. When we are feeling overwhelmed or anxious, our natural response is rapid, shallow breathing. By consciously focusing on the breath flowing in and out, we naturally lengthen and deepen each breath, bringing more oxygen into the lungs and slowing the heart rate. Second, I write out everything that’s rattling around in my mind onto a blank sheet of paper. I put down everything that feels overwhelming, big or small. The act of getting…
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#MicroblogMonday 24–Put Yourself on Your To-Do List
“We need to do a better job of putting ourselves higher on our own “to-do” list.” –Michelle Obama. After I read this, I looked at my to-do list. I was nowhere on the list. Projects, activities, and the needs of others were nicely written and numbered. I use my lists to prioritize my life, so what does that say about where I am as a priority? Hmm…. So I made a few changes. Enjoy a cup of afternoon tea. Call a friend. Read for pleasure for one hour. Take a walk. That’s much better!
