S.E.E. Your Way to a Healthier, Stress-Free State!

16 05 2012

When was the last time you found yourself being short with someone for little reason? Or feeling overly agitated by the events of the day? Or too worn out to get the things done you know you needed to do?

If these things are happening to you more often than you would like, I have a 3-Point Plan for turning things around so you can S.E.E. your way to a healthier stress-free state. It’s a plan for paying closer attention to your Sleeping, Eating, and Exercising!

Sleep the right amount for you. The recommended amount may be 8 hours per night, but you could need more or less depending on what’s happening in your life. I used to survive on 5, but as of late I need 8! The only way to know is to monitor how you feel after getting various amounts of Sleep. Find the amount that prepares you to meet the next day’s challenges with clarity and energy. And remember, when things get hectic, you’ll likely need a little extra to carry you through.

Eat foods that support your body’s ability to get things done. This applies to what you drink as well. My Mom says, “Everything in moderation.” Well, it turns out my Mom is right again! I’m wild about Mt. Dew, pizza, and Double Stuff Oreos, but too much of them and my hands get shaky, my eyes get droopy, and cheeks get puffy! Your treats may be different, but keeping them as treats and not letting them become the routine is the key. And while I’m at it, Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, and drink more water. This trio has the ability to keep you fueled up and sharp throughout the day! By the way, have you ever noticed how those weight loss and exercise infomercials have the fine print at the bottom of the page or the dude that speaks really super fast indicating that their approach should be combined with a proper diet and exercise? What a hoot! And speaking of Exercise

Although Exercise is crucial to maintaining peak performance, it is creating a routine that is Varied & Balanced that will keep you going back for more. I recommend making sure you touch on 4 areas:

• Your Flexibility – Yoga does the trick for me!
• Your Strength – My in-home weight machine does the job here!
• Your Core – I use Paul Katami’s system to get this done!
• Your Endurance – A good run is just the ticket for my heart!

Our body and mind are linked, so it makes sense that the better I feel the better I am able to work and interact with others. I know from experience that if I am operating on a sleep deficit, taking in too much caffeine or riding a sugar induced rollercoaster, or skipping stress-relieving trips to the gym, I lose my edge…and sometimes my cool. As active as life is today, and as dependent as we are on one another, let’s do each other a favor and S.E.E. our way to a healthier, stress-free state by managing our Sleeping, Eating, & Exercising!





Failure to Speak Up can leave you feeling Stressed Out!

9 05 2012

“Speak your mind even if your voice shakes.” – Maggie Kuhn -

I love this quote! I have it on a bumper sticker on my desk so I see it often and am reminded to speak my mind. Some of you may find it hard to believe I need a reminder to do that, but I do, and so might you :-)

What might keep you from speaking your mind?

• Is it habit? “I’ve always held back, kept quiet.”

• Is it “structure”? “It’s not my place/position to speak.”

• Is it skill based? “I just can’t seem to say it right.”

No matter the reason, don’t keep it bottled up or one day it could just blow up! I bet we’ve all been guilty of keeping something bottled up until we blow up, and – BAM – we let it fly! Regrettably, at times like these, our mouth usually gets ahead of our brain, and we end up making the situation worse. But what might be worse is the “BAM” experience often has us revert back to the “I’ll just keep my mouth shut” posture.

As a speaker and facilitator, I’ve met too many people over the years that hold themselves back and remain silent when the situation would benefit from what they have to say. If you’re ready to boost your performance and reduce your stress, then it’s time to address the source of your silence:

Break the Habit: Look for opportunities to make a contribution to the conversation and begin sharing in small doses until your comfort level rises.

Reframe the Structure: The progressive Leaders I’ve worked with want more employee engagement, more collaboration, so give them the benefit of your insight.

Build the Skill: Effective communication is like a muscle: It needs proper training to gain strength so it is useful. Learning to organize and share your thoughts will change your life and the lives of those you work with and care about 

One final thought for Leaders at every level: I’ve heard it said that one should allow eighteen seconds for people to respond to a question before proceeding. Of course, not everyone feels they need eighteen seconds to respond, but I’ve found time and time again that when I wait, I am rewarded. I hear from people who would not have spoken up sooner because they were carefully considering the question and formulating a thoughtful response – a response they felt comfortable with, one they were able to deliver confidently. Leaders are well advised to remember the 18 Second Rule. (Wow, it really looks official when it’s written that way!)

So have fun speaking your mind and be sure to let me know how I can be of service to you and your Team along the way!





Changing to serve you better!

30 04 2012

To stay in better touch with those I serve, this weekend I began making a shift from my old marketing platform to this new one. I’m pleased with the transition thus far, wish I had completed a bit more, but then patience has always been in short supply for me :-)

I would love for you to zip about the current pages, send a note letting me know what you’d like to see more or less of, and return soon to see the changes that are being made. Of course, if you subscribe using the widget on the right, you’ll be kept up to date and soon be receiving content so you can Smile More & Stress Less – I’m committed to helping you manage stress and move toward higher states of performance, so let’s stay in touch!