After a Bad Night's Sleep

After a bad night’s sleep, how do you get through the day? With the help of coffee? Or do you give in to the tiredness and get grumpy and short tempered?

Here are 5 tips on how to make it through the day:
1) Eat the right foods for all-day energy and stay hydrated
2) Grab some fresh air and give yourself a boost
3) Postpone difficult conversations or tasks to another day
4) Affirm that you'll have a good day despite little sleep
5) Go to bed earlier than usual and catch up on your sleep

What do you do after a bad night's sleep?

Give and Forgive

To forgive means to give.

So, when someone wrongs you or hurts you, instead of getting caught-up in the wrong or the hurt, give. Give a little positivity from your mind and your heart. It’s amazingly powerful and liberating, and good for your emotions and well being.

Forgive first and then you can resolve things and move on, or simply focus on other, more positive things in your life.

Filter or Not to Filter?

Most of us tend to view the world through a filter.

Like Instagram photo filters that make everything look beautiful, should we edit our view of the world and add the optimism of Instagram filters? Or should we embrace the messiness and imperfections of the world? Is everything more beautiful when we view the world unfiltered?

To filter or not to filter, how will you view the world?

Are You Really Listening?

We all have ears, but do we use them? Especially when we're in a conversation, are we really listening to the person talking? Or are we thinking about what we're going to say next, or something else that's on our mind?

We may think we're not listening discreetly, but the other person will most likely feel it. They'll know that you're not really paying attention. We don't really want to do this, do we?

Well, you have ears, so use them. Pay attention and really listen.

August 20

Crying, Trying

Many of us respond to certain events by crying. It's natural to let out all those emotions. But crying at the wrong place at the wrong time can make things awkward, make others feel uncomfortable & make us look unprofessional.

If you need to cry, cry. But for times when it’s not appropriate, try to stop crying. Do some deep breathing or excuse yourself & rein your emotions in. Then try to sort out what’s bubbling beneath the surface. Stop crying & start trying.

August 21

Do Affirmations Work?

Do affirmations work for you? Affirmations may not make things happen but they might enhance how you feel. Experiment and see if it works for you.

Create positive affirmations about yourself or your situation. I am.... I can.... I have the capacity to be.... Make it believable. Phrase it in the present tense as if it’s already true. Repeat it frequently to yourself, as you wash dishes, walk….

Believe in your affirmations and affirm with feeling. Who knows, you may just make affirmations work.

A Little Bit of Silence

The buzzing, the beeping, the chatter, the clatter.... Noise, we can’t really avoid it. But we all need a little bit of silence. Silence is golden, it calms the mind and soothes the soul, yet we rarely experience it.

To experience silence, make space for it. Here are a couple of suggestions:
- For the first five minutes on your commute, try to have no music, no radio, no headphones, no listening, no reading. Be a little more present.
- Once a month, have a day of silence. Go about your normal routine, but try to talk less, and maybe venture into nature. Be a little more quiet.

Freedom In Your Mind

Sometimes we feel we have no choices, no options, we feel like a caged bird.

Freedom is in your mind. So let go of whatever you're clinging onto that makes you feel trapped; attitudes, beliefs, perceptions..... Set your mind free, spread your wings and fly out of the cage. You'll probably find that the door was always open; you were always free.

Stay in the cage or find freedom in your mind, it's your choice!

Saying Thank You

How often do you say thanks to someone, for what they've done? Or are you just too busy to say thank you?

Even though it’s easy to simply forget to say thank you, remembering to acknowledge, and say a simple but thoughtful thank you, can make people feel appreciated and valued.

Will you make the extra effort to say thank you?

Park Your Thoughts

Next time you find your thoughts speeding around creating chaos, try this: Try and steer your thoughts to where you are and park them. Just make sure you’re not parked anywhere near worries, anxieties, guilt, regrets… otherwise, there will be fines to pay.

Park your thoughts near a quiet, calm space. Relax and regain your energy and focus. Then, when you’re ready, steer your thoughts in the direction you want.

Misstep, Mistake, Misunderstanding

A misstep may turn out to be a stepping stone for success, a step in the right direction. A mistake may lead you to have better ‘takes’ next time. A misunderstanding may give you the opportunity to gain better understanding.

You never know where things can take you. So, next time there’s a misstep, mistake or misunderstanding, do what you have to do to fix the situation and then don’t miss out on finding something positive in your experience. Find a) what you now know that you didn’t before and b) how to do things better.

August 27

Rate Your Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is a positive energy. Enthusiasm gets things done. Enthusiasm is contagious.

Enthusiasm is often underrated, so how would you rate your enthusiasm? Are you always brimming with enthusiasm, or do you curb it? Does it flow naturally or do you need to spark and nurture your enthusiasm?

August 28

Your Mood Affects Others

Your mood affects others. It’s as contagious as a cough, cold or flu!

When you’re in a bad mood, become aware of how your mood impacts those around you. And then take a moment to change your mood and begin to notice how your good mood affects others and creates a positive vibe all around.

Something for Yourself

When was the last time you did something for you? Bought yourself flowers? Cooked your favorite meal for yourself? Treated yourself to a day out?

If you haven't done something nice for yourself recently, be good to yourself and do something today!

Unflappable

When challenging situations come, think: whatever happened was good, whatever is happening is better and whatever is to happen will be the best. Genuinely feel that there’s “no problem!” Tap into your inner stability, stay strong and be unflappable. Then you’ll be able to handle the situation gracefully.