- MOVE – When we’re tired and stressed, exercise can feel like the last thing we want to do. So many of us drive to work and then, because of the demands of life find it difficult to find time for exercise, or find it a challenge to even our desks during the day. You don’t need to be in the gym sweating for hours every week to see improvements in your health. Just 20 minutes of moderate movement every day (a walk at lunchtime, cycle to work, or jog with friends) can help you to reduce stress, release tension, improve sleep and improve your health and resilience to life’s challenges.
- SWITCH OFF – If you’ve ever been on holiday where you have no phone coverage or WiFi then to might recognise the initial mild panic before your shoulders start to drop and you relax into this new reality where you sit and stare into space when you have to wait for something, you disconnect from what is going on in the distant world and talk those around you more. Technology is great but it can distract us from what is really important and doesn’t help our minds to rest and recharge. Make some time in the day (particularly the hour before bed) and longer times during the week to switch off.
- REFLECT – I am a big advocate of journaling. When I’m working with clients who are incredibly good at putting on their ‘game face’ for the world (staying positive for everyone around them but feeling miserable inside), journaling can be a helpful method of processing and accepting their emotions and connecting with what is important to them.
- LIVE YOUR VALUES – take some time to think about what is really important to you in your life, what is it that you want your life to have been full of? What would you like the people important to you to say about you? Then do something about it. If ‘connection’ is a strong value then make time for your relationships, if ‘challenge’ is a value for you then ensure you are keeping yourself stretched, if it’s ‘creativity’ then save some energy for creative pursuits. When I’m coaching clients to build resilience, living their values is key to building and maintaining a resilient life.
- FIND A GREAT COACH – making changes can be challenging, particularly if you already feel overwhelmed. Engaging a coach can help accelerate your progress and keep you on track. My clients tell me that it’s the best investment that’s been made in them and has helped them make changes that have delivered long-term sustainable improvements to their life.
Hazel combines her experience of challenging leadership roles with a deep understanding of human psychology to support clients to overcome challenges, build resilience and deliver sustainable high performance.
