3 Ways to Cultivate Wellness in your Life and Business
Cultivate wellness in your life with these three easy tips!
How to Cultivate Wellness in your Life and Business
By Laleh A. Hancock
The pace of our lives is becoming faster all the time. It is so easy to forget about making our wellness a priority; often, until there is a health or wellness issue at hand.
Did you know, however, that what you put first is what grows? So, if you put work, work, work, got to get it done, got to meet the deadline, etc., first all the time, guess what? You get more to work, work, work to get done, done, done with more deadlines! It becomes never-ending. And where does your wellness end up?
I know the drill. I have been there and done that. I have delayed going to the bathroom because I just had to get this one thing finished first – which ended up dragging on and on (remember – what you put first grows!)
How did I turn it around? I made the demand of myself to change, became committed to making those changes, and consistently practiced making different choices.
What I found, is that it really boils down to being mindful and listening to your body, and choosing to take action in line with what your body requires and desires consistently throughout the day, rather than strict rules about what you can and can’t do or should and shouldn’t do for enhanced wellness. And, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to cut down on your workload, or only work certain hours, etc. Everyone is an individual and has unique needs. Some people actually thrive on having a lot to do. That’s why you need to be mindful and listen to your body; to come to realize what does and doesn’t work for you.
At first, I needed reminders. I used my smartphone to ping me at set intervals throughout the day, and even if I was super busy, I made my wellness a priority. It’s demand that you make of yourself, to ensure that it actually occurs.
Read the following list of simple things you can include in your day to cultivate wellness; which ones resonate with you. Add them to the reminders on your phone. Find out what you enjoy. Maybe something you thought would work for you actually doesn’t. If so, choose something else; whatever it is, start making your wellness a priority.
3 simple things you can include in your busy day to cultivate wellness
Regularly ask, “Do I require anything at the moment?” Seems basic, but this is my number one reminder I set on my smartphone to keep me mindful and present; particularly when I am super busy. It is when we are super busy, and especially if you are not used to being mindful, that it is so easy to shut down your awareness of even our basic needs like food, drink, fresh air, movement, etc. The point here is to become aware of every part of your body and to simply ask if it requires anything. You just might be surprised at all the things you have been ignoring and just pushing through. What else could you do to regularly stop, take notice of what is, and then act accordingly?
Move More. Our bodies like to move. And it doesn’t have to be formal exercise. Part of being mindful is listening to your body and what it requires and desires. What is it trying to tell you? Are you listening to it? When you’re really busy, remind yourself to move often throughout the day. Get up from the desk. Stretch. Walk somewhere – to the water cooler, to the window, to the printer, to the toilet, anywhere. Again, it sounds simple, but when we are really busy, that’s when we don’t do these things. Break up the stagnant sitting and solid working! Maybe, until you are more familiar with becoming mindful of your needs, you could come up with active habits like standing up every time you’re on the phone. What works for you? What will remind you to move?
Utilize quickie relaxation tricks. Relaxation doesn’t have to mean set periods of time meditating, going to yoga class, or an hour at the spa – although, if you can do any of those, yay! It becomes a lot simpler to regularly include relaxation within your every day if you keep in mind the underlying premise of relaxation – that is, the change of pace, the sense of enjoyment and the nurturing of you. One of the quickest ways to achieve this is to the breath; and it can be done anywhere, anytime, with your eyes open, while you are still doing whatever it is that you are doing, and no one else even needs to know! There are many different short breathing exercises that you can google (and I mention a few on my website!). I personally like to use the following exercise, whenever I notice that I am getting ‘frazzled.’ I just take three deep breaths from the ground, through my feet up to my head and back down into the ground again is enough for me to become mindful again, and to perceive and receive everything that is going on around me again, which is essential for my best work.
Within all of these suggestions for cultivating wellness at work and in business, is the underlying premise of that you know, and that you are important enough to be present with yourself and to follow through on your requirements. If you make your wellness a priority, no matter what is involved, you are acknowledging your importance. And, as I said earlier, whatever you make a priority and put first, is that which expands and grows. To put it in a nutshell, that means, if you put getting your work done first all the time, your workload grows. Put your wellness first, and your wellness will grow.
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About the Author
Laleh A. Hancock is a management consultant, a Joy of Business certified facilitator and the CEO of Belapemo and GlobalWellness For All. With nearly 30 years of experience in operational excellence, change management, and organizational wellness, Laleh has inspired and empowered hundreds of thousands of individuals, including Fortune 500 executives, to seek greater success. For even more on wellness, visit www.globalwellnessforall.com
