leaders’ edge

Make time for yourself
By the AIM leaders’ edge team

In this Baby Boomer era, with its stresses of corporate ladder-climbing, continuing education to stay ahead in the job force, high mortgages, rising gas and consumer prices, and all the activities involved in raising a family, a common question is, “Where is the time for me, when I am so busy taking care of everything else?” The fact is, too many of us live at an accelerated pace. It is important to stop, take a deep breath, and relax. For most people, relaxing and taking time for themselves is not something they practice on a regular basis.

So how do we begin to make time for ourselves? As with past articles, we look to AIM’s Healthy Cell Concept® for guidance. One of its principles is that a Healthy Mental Attitude will help you as you strive to improve the work/life balance of your life. Here are some strategies for getting started:

Prioritize your time. Make a place for those things that bring you peace, feed your soul, and make you feel energized instead of drained. Schedule time for leisure, rest, and make good use of your time.

Unplug. Turn off the news, radio, cell phone, personal computer, and learn the beauty of silence. For example, try cupping both of your palms and place them lightly over your eyes after working on the computer for a length of time; it helps them to relax.

Make your home a place of peace and rest. Make it a place of encouragement – of building up, not tearing down. Tell your children that the outside world is sometimes difficult and discouraging, but our home should be a place free of negativity. Your home should be a place that helps everyone feel good.

Practice peace and quiet. This will be hard to do, but it is worth the effort.

Stop thinking. Thinking can create body tension. Take a few minutes to sit in a chair, close your eyes, and clear your mind of thoughts. You will feel re-energized.

Practice the lost art of focused listening. Practice this especially with those who matter the most to you. Give them your focused attention. Speak good things into their lives. Learn to forgive and seek forgiveness. Learn to also forgive yourself and let go of guilt. It is not only what you do that brings value to the life you live, but who you are. Live a life that matters and makes a difference.

Stop, look, listen. Listen to music that soothes you. Really look at the beauty of a sunset or of flowers blooming. Look up at the sky at night. Dance with the one who you love.

Lighten up and laugh. Laugh with others and learn to laugh at yourself.

Look for the goodness. Ron Heagy, AIM speaker for the past two years at our AIM conventions, says life is all about attitude. Each day you choose your attitude. There is a book called Happiness Is a Choice. It is your choice to be happy or unhappy. We each choose whether or not to think good thoughts, look for the good in others, make the most of a bad situation, and to be happy. Learn to live well and start enjoying your life. If you can’t think of a whole lot to be happy about in your life, think of one thing that made or makes you happy. Every time you begin dwelling on something negative, focus your thoughts on the one thing that will open the door to let other happy thoughts follow.

Do one positive, enjoyable thing for yourself every day. Start each day with AIM products, meet a friend or mentor for lunch, take a walk, go to the gym, do a fun outdoor activity, take a bath or soak your feet in AIM Cell Wellness Restorer™ to help relieve stress, practice aromatherapy, or volunteer for a worthy cause that you are passionate about. The list is endless.

Take a break. Go on vacations or short getaways. Get away from the ordinary routine of your life. A change of scenery reconnects you with your beliefs, your dreams, and the people who are a positive influence in your life. Take time to enjoy your life. Prioritize your time around what is most important to you. We often tell others to relax and take time for themselves, then fail to follow our own advice. Include some time in your day
for you.

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