Refresh: Refresh and Renew Yourself Regularly
March 19, 2018 | Posted in Leading Hartfully, Living Hartfully | By Gaia Hart
It seems that stressful times are the times when our self-care is lacking. It is precisely at these times when we need to be vigilant about eating right, getting enough rest, exercising, laughing, connecting, and making good choices to help us through the stress unscathed. When our resistance is low, we are no longer in the driver’s seat and we lack the energy to take charge. If we let ourselves run down by not guarding our personal energy, then we won’t have the energy to take care of others, our work, or ourselves. And so starts a downward spiral of negative energy that is ever harder to break.
Even when our minds won’t recognize that we need a break, our bodies will take over and put us flat on our backs for as long as it needs to heal itself and recharge. The lesson is to take care of yourself first, or else you won’t be able to take care of anybody or anything else.
We need to plan time for creative renewal on a regular basis and particularly during times of intense focus or stress. Good old rest and relaxation are still vitally important to the mental and physical well being of fighting soldiers. Being emotionally drained affects our performance as much as being physically exhausted. We can be very physically fit and get enough rest and still be emotionally exhausted. Taking time out to decompress is vitally important for our vitality.
Sleep and restful downtime increases your concentration and gives you the stamina you need to fight off sickness or other enemies. Adjust your bedtime rituals to allow for restful, uninterrupted sleep. Avoid exercising, caffeine, or lots of liquids just before bedtime and set a regular time schedule and habits to signal your body that it is time to slow down. Just ask any rotating shift worker how productive or alert they feel in-between rounds.
It’s not easy to conjure up enthusiasm for sex when you’re stressed out, but not having sex can actually lead to a higher anxiety level and it can become a stressor if it is unavailable or unsatisfactory. Building a healthy, intimate relationship with your partner can lead to other types of stress releases and emotional support as well as the physical release. Take the time to refresh and renew yourself regularly to avoid the perils and pitfalls of being overcome by stress.
Ways to Praise: Easy Answers to Recognize Employees
May 4, 2015 | Posted in Leading Hartfully | By Gaia Hart
Research in the area of employee recognition has shown that organizations who implement an acknowledgement/recognition program generate 30-40% more income than organizations who don’t employ such programs. What are you doing to acknowledge the hard work of your team in a meaningful and individualized manner?
- Ways to praise. These sentence stems will get you started with a variety of ways to praise:
- You really made a difference by…
- Our clients were impressed by…
- You got our attention with…
- You can be proud of your efforts to…
- You’re right on the money with…
- What an effective way you have come up with to…
- You’ve made my day because…
- You should be proud of yourself for…
- You’re a terrific team member because…
- You’re awesome because…
- One thing our customers love about you is…
- We can always count on you for…
- Thank you…
- Using employee concierge services have shown to boost morale and help workers with securing sporting or arts tickets, pick up dry cleaning, run personal errands, booking a restaurant, arranging events for children and household repairs. www.BestUponRequest.com is one concierge service that companies use to outsource such services. Why not try them or a local firm who can make the days and lives of your team run smoother. Once the clutter of obligations is lifted, their mind can go to work.