There’s a long 10-week stretch between now and our next long weekend. Waiting to restore and recharge your batteries until then is not an option is you want to be sane for Christmas.
I’ve got a one minute life hack for you that could keep you going until it’s time to plant the tomatoes, clean the windows and slip, slop, slap the sunblock. All you have to do is S.T.O.P.
S.T.O.P. stands for:
- Stop what you are doing. Press pause button on your thoughts and actions.
- Take a Breath to center yourself and bring yourself fully into the present moment.
- Observe what’s going with your body, emotions and mind.
- Proceed with whatever you were doing, making a conscious, intentional choice.
Use this technique to help you take a moment to choose your response rather than react when you’re being triggered by a comment from a colleague during a meeting that’s going nowhere, an eye roll from a teenager or a butt head driver who’s just cut you off.
This mental check list is an effective strategy that will help you regain focus, feel more relaxed and return you to your emotional best. In less than a minute you can determine the very best action to take in the moment just because you chose to S.T.O.P.
Photo by Will Porada on Unsplash