by Right, you have TWO days between now and the end of the New Year Sales which are yours and yours alone. Those two days are Christmas Day and New Years. So you’d better make the most of them, because you’ll be busy making money the rest of the time!
Whether you celebrate Christmas is irrelevant, as the majority of the world does – and that means that YOU get a break, which is enough cause for celebration if you ask me.
The problem is, that you probably don’t know how to actually take that break – do you?
The life of a start-up founder or entrepreneur moves at such as fast pace that when it comes to actually slowing down, it feels ‘wrong’ somehow. You feel guilty for not being available; for taking some time to yourself; for not constantly being ‘switched on’ to your business, just in case it somehow disappears within seconds. Newsflash – it won’t.
Practicing a few relaxation techniques actually has some pretty enticing bonuses, such as slowing down your heart rate; reducing fatigue; boosting confidence and capability; reducing chronic pain and muscle tension; lowering activity of stress hormones and improving concentration and mood – to name a few. Worth a go, eh? So now that we’ve established that it’s okay to chill out, I’m going to help you out with that.
Exercise
You’ve been sitting hunched over your laptop all day, your necks hurts but you’re not sure why (you’re not sure why? really?), you’re tired and the last thing you want to do is to go for a jog. But you should. Exercise will loosen up those muscles and also release tons of endorphin’s; endorphin’s make you happy and if you’re happy you’re not stressed. MAGIC FORMULA – sussed. You might lose some weight too, how’s that for a perk on the job.
Meditation/Visualization
This is a ‘love it or hate it’ kind of thing. Some people are into it, and some people think it’s a prescription of the witch doctor variety. I say, keep an open mind – try it first and then see what you think. The idea of visualization is to form mental images in your mind to take you to a more peaceful and idyllic setting or situation. Seems pretty harmless, right? There are a number of instructional aides you can use to help you out with the whole meditation process (YouTube is your friend with this one), but it’s just as easy to sit down in a quiet room, close your eyes and try it. You won’t wake up in The Matrix, I promise.
Journal
Diaries aren’t just for love-struck teenagers. Writing things down can make them seem much less intimating, especially when it’s one small thing that has simply magnified itself by ten every time it’s crossed your mind. Journalism is an excellent way of ‘de-stressing’ and clearing your mind.
Dance
Stick on the stereo, put on your dancing shoes and just let it all go! Whether the Robot or the Funky Chicken is your thing, dancing is a sure fire way to lift your spirits (just make sure the curtains are closed…).
Laugh!
YouTube has some awesomely, stupidly funny videos which are JUST what you need to de-stress. An entrepreneurial friend of mine actually spends a half hour watching these videos each night, just to unwind after his day. And I have to admit, I find myself doing it too!
And on that note, I’ll leave you with this…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rxwt2ToeFTQ