Tired? Stressed? Try these 3 techniques this weekend and feel renewed!

“So, how was your weekend?”

When asked, many people I know complain about the weekend going by so fast, being so busy with extracurricular or social activities, being exhausted from chores and responsibilities that are often relegated from earlier in the week (or the month) and how they wish that the weekend was 3 days instead of 2.

In fact, most people I know (me included at times) start the work week wishing it was Friday at 5:00 p.m. and even holiday weekends, go by so fast that we go back to work wondering where the time went. The truth is that many of us don’t allow our bodies and minds to take a break. We run from place to place, until exhaustion; we overbook and over commit our time leaving very little to nourish ourselves often times ignoring that we have some pain or that mentally, we are running on ‘empty.’

Although one of the most basic functions or expectations from our body, we do not treat ourselves well. I recommend clients that once a week they deliberately set time aside for recharging their batteries. Three basic concepts:

Reenergize. What can you do this weekend that will reenergize you and give you fuel to keep going? for some, might be just to cuddle up and sleep in a little; others would find connection with nature.

Renew. Think of ways you can use to renew your spirit. Listen to your favorite inspirational music, read a motivational book, or practice meditation, yoga, etc.

Recharge. Establish routines that will give your body, mind and soul enough time to replenish. Think back to your favorite past time or start a hobby. Whatever you do, find ways to regain balance. When you are in balance, you can take on challenges much easier.

One very good idea is just to sign off. By that I mean to take a extended break; some people may refer to as sabbatical; hiatus; or just simply going on a retreat. The goal is to remove yourself from distractions and allow yourself to refocus and center back on what really matters. Many people believe that when they take these periods of time away from all, they recapture control of their thoughts and reach levels of clarity that otherwise, they wouldn’t. I would suggest that depending on what’s going on in your life, you start taking retreats at least once a year; those that are under great levels of stress may benefit from more frequent periods of solitude, yet the key aspect is to recognize that our bodies and minds can benefit from taking time out.

By the way, going on a retreat doesn’t necessarily means spending a lot of money. Surely, that would be nice but the primary idea is to eliminate/considerably reduce the number of distractions and sources of stress. For instance, a friend of mine takes one day every month to regroup. She does not answer the phone, check her email or even opens the mail. She takes the kids to school, goes back home and focuses on taking time to herself…taking a bath, catching up on a book, writing in her journal and when budget allows, going for a massage/manicure. Ultimately, she finds herself better able to go back to work the next morning feeling rejuvenated and full of optimism for what’s to come. She tells me that it works like a charm!

At the end of the day, we all know what is best of us and is up to us to take ownership and responsibility for yourselves. I propose that we don’t wait until something happens, or until we explode (or like a colleague of mine would say ’self-combust’) after ignoring signs that our body needed a break. Friend, I encourage you to give yourself the gift of time to recover from the everyday stress by renewing, recharging and reenergizing. You will be more effective at work and those around you will appreciate it. And if you are stuck and are having difficulties finding the balance between home and work; if life is being thrown in a blender constantly working with a Life Coach may be of benefit to you. Call me today to schedule a complimentary session and get back on your game.

© 2010 Maria Martinez