Slow Down!… and Do It ALL!

…At a time like this, I am happier than ever to be involved in my morning meditation practice.  With the upcoming Rejuvenation Collaboration series and many other projects… I am busy, busy, busy.  I have a ton going on, have a lot of media inputs coming at me from every direction, have a lot of people asking questions, and just have a lot.. a lot.. a lot…

…Each day I have a large list of things to do.  Each day I get questions, need to work on new projects, need to speak with my speakers and project coordinator, and need to be doing many things all at one time.  I need to spread the word about the Collaboration, answer questions, work on content, and wear many “hats” all at once!  Sounds kind of like being a nurse, doesn’t it?…

…Oh yes… and to top that all off- I am still a clinical nurse research fellow part-time; I still do have a house, husband, and dogs to care for; I am selling my house; I am graduating from IIN… what else can we add to my plate?  Oh of course- my own self-care!  And let me tell you- my own sleep, healthy eating, and exercise gets put ahead of all of that on the list mentioned above!!!  I could not do all of the things that I do if I did not tend to those things first…

…So how does one successfully juggle all of those things?  “How does she do it?’ you might be asking.  In fact, I actually have gotten that question quite often- I was approached in the gym the other day by a member who I know from the program that I work on at the gym (another role!) who said “I get your emails and your updates and everything… and my oh my!  How do you have all of that energy?!”  My very easy response: self-care!  Put me first!!  But really, what else can I suggest to the busy nurse (or other person) who wants to do it all?…

• As I eluded to at the start of this post: meditation.  I am so grateful I decided to journey on this daily practice of meditation.  And stick with it!  I am 26 days in!! And I am so glad because I am able to focus, concentrate, and stay with my present awareness (ok, so as best I can… but at least it is better than when I started on this journey).  I may still have a ways to go, but am so thankful I started doing regular practice when I did so that I am not feeling as scattered or disjointed as I might have been.
• Another piece that is part of the puzzle I also mention above: self-care.  As your number one priority.  Not after you help your family.  Not after you stay late at work.  Not after you care for your neighbor.  But first and foremost.  First.  Care for you first.  Make your exercise, food prep/plan/prepare, sleep, meditation, rest, water, relaxation, etc… make that your first and only priority!  Doing so helps all of the rest fall into place.  I swear- look at my life!  How would I be able to do so much?  With so much energy… and no coffee??  (I do not like nor have I ever liked the taste of coffee).
• A third thing that must happen in order for you to be busy and successful all at the same time is your ability and strength to: say no.  If you cannot take anything else on: say no.  If you do not feel like it: say no.  Guess what- not feeling like it is your body’s way of cue-ing you in that this is not for you.  If you feel it is one more thing that you just cannot add to your plate: say no.  If it does not resonate with you, your life plan, your goals, your own wellness, whatever… say no.  If you need help- email, call, get in touch with me!  I can help you say no and say yes to you!!
• There are so many more things that go into balancing it all… but just one more for you here in this blog post: time-management.  I have to share with you, I am a highly organized (some laugh and joke about how “highly”) person.  I love, love, love to be organized, to have a plan, to manage time!  I do.  It is fun for me.  Maybe it goes along with the lines that I enjoy jig-saw puzzles so much… I love seeing all of the pieces fit together!  Instead of wasting time on “distractions” like Facebook, Twitter, TV, email, etc… look at your day.  Plan it out.  Chunk your time.  Organize your hours.  (And a new idea, thanks Nat!) Use a stop watch or timer!  Commit at the start of your day how much time you will spend on each task and schedule it in.  And then follow it!  So if you schedule in “exercise” for 1 hour from 3-4 pm… do not let that become your check your emails, post on Facebook, “I will work out tomorrow” time!!  That time slot is the time you posted for exercise.  Now go do it!! 

…There really are so, so, so many more things I do to maintain balance, self-care and a healthy lifestyle while being a busy coach, nurse, wife, friend, sibling, daughter, woman, student, etc.  There just is just no way I was letting the word count of this blog post reach 1000 words!!  So if you want to know more feel free to email me or contact me to see how I can help you.  Or if you already have some ideas feel free to share them here with us now!…

How do you balance your health?  How do you do it all?  How do you stay busy, productive, and healthy all at the same time?  What have been some strategies that you use?