Saturday, July 25, 2009

 
It has been a long hot week here in southern CA. We do not have air conditioning in our home so it is like sitting in a sauna & unfortunately our computer room seems to get hotter than most other places in the house. YES, I have a fan, multiple fans in fact & they are so close to me that I am surprised I have not got a "hair cut" out of it! So, today, I am just going to post an article to continue with my

post from yesterday. I just think we all live crazy & busy lives these days & any tips we can read are helpful. Don't many of you often feel like this picture.. like you are on the edge & how to keep yourself from falling?

Even if just a couple of these tips work for you, hey, better than nothing! Check out the article below & I hope one or more of the tips are doable for you. Me, I like all of them but I am going for #5 when I visit the grandkids & I really like #8 since life is so fast paced in southern CA. I would love to do # 10 & wear pink stilettos BUT my flat, wide & bunioned feet don't allow me to do that! Hey, I am not commenting on #4... that is between me & the hubby!

Top Ten Tips to Find More Balance in Your Busy Days

1.    Steal Five Minutes – wherever you are!
The next time you have five free minutes, grab it and do nothing. Get to a meeting early and sit quietly; try to forget that extra load of laundry; take a short walk; breathe deeply; pause.
Being still allows you to reconnect with your instincts

2. Delegate… and Appreciate
Let your kids make their own beds, and be OK with how they do it! If your husband makes dinner, don’t complain about the burnt hot dogs, but show gratitude.
Give yourself a break by letting others help you

3. Your Health Matters
Like clockwork, you take your kids for their annual checkups, to the dentist and to specialists, but over 50% of moms we talked to said they miss mammograms, doctor’s appointments and dental checkups for themselves! Make a master list on the computer of all your checkups, specialists’ names and numbers and dates for visits and then no slacking off allowed…
Your mental and physical health is a priority

4. Sex is IN; Headaches are OUT!
Commit to saying yes to your partner more often: Increasing frequency of sex from once a month to once a week improves happiness as much as getting a raise of $50,000 a year, according to a 2004 study in the National Bureau of Economics Research Working Papers.
Intimacy with a loved one makes us come alive!

5. Curiosity—It’s KEY
Pick up that magazine or newspaper in the corner and actually read an article! Get down to your kid’s eye level and listen to their stories. If you loved old movies as a kid, skip dinner out with your husband and head over to the local community theatre instead.
Plug into the world around you to stay energized

6. Just Say No!
Decide on your priorities and stick to them; you are in charge of your own calendar. Be prepared with a reason: “Sorry, I’ve already committed to something for my child/ my boss/ my family, maybe next time,” and then, be firm!
Be proactive, not reactive

7. Strip Down to the Basics
Try a spending embargo: Don’t re-stock your fridge for two weeks to clear out your pantry; re-use or inherit instead of buying something new; discard old clothing when you buy new.
Clutter feels bad: simplicity feels better

8. Walk Don’t Run
Slow down so you enjoy the scenery. If you usually take a shower, try taking a bath. If you’re always late, cut something out of your day so you’re early instead. Have a conversation instead of e-mail.
Taking life more slowly is a conscious choice

9.    A Blast from the Past
What did you love doing as a kid? Eating ice cream? Running in the rain? Drawing? Figure out what you used to love, and invite it back into your life.
Connect with what makes you tick

10. Shake Things Up!
Wear three inch high pink stilettos. Go on a motorbike. Ride on a rollercoaster. Play a prank on a friend.
Laughter always feels great