Switch The Lights Off On Your Way Out

This is probably one of the hardest things for you to do – the ability to “switch off”. It’s like we’re switched on all the time. We have so many roles to fulfill it feels like we have to be ‘ON’ all the time, even when we’re asleep. The trouble is when you never switch off, you never get to recharge. For example, you might be having a massage but if your mind is still racing with what you have to do and ideas to implement, the massage’s benefits start to dwindle. When you don’t switch off, you’re using your mental energy all the time and there’s no time for it to just be. The benefits of letting your mind wander (not at a frenetic pace but a nice meandering rhythm) means you get to dream a little and think about what you would like to create in your business and life. Recently, I shared with a client that the best time for me to do this is when I am putting my son to bed. He likes the company so I stay with him for a few minutes as he nods off but funnily enough, being forced to lie quietly in a dark room for about 10-15 minutes has had a wonderful side-effect for me – I just lie there, look at the illuminated stars on his ceiling and think of nothing. Sometimes I allow myself to day-dream and think about my big picture, but not in a way that makes me anxious and think I have to do “X, Y and Z” but in a lovely anticipatory way. Another way I switch off is in my kitchen. I love cooking and baking and for me; the kneading, the mixing of spices and throwing ingredients into a pan is a great way to be mindful about cooking the meal and focus on that only. Mindfulness is a phenomenon that has recently become more mainstream and I think it’s a great practice especially for all the women out there who love to multi-task! I don’t think multi-tasking is effective when you are doing an important task. Now, making tea and ironing – yes, you can do both at once but when you’re working on a client proposal or getting ready to meet your investors… you need singular focus to be as effective as you can be. So, here’s your challenge for this week…next time you find it hard to switch off or you feel the need to multi-task, I would urge you to look at what you’re doing at the time and focus on that only. So, if you’re having a bath, focus on the sensation of being in a lovely hot bubbly bath. If you’re watching something funny, lose yourself in that and have a big belly laugh. Switching off is something you practice not something that just happens, unlike the light switch!