True Balance Life Coaching

Many of the clients I coach reach out to me because they are overwhelmed with runaway train schedules, insane mental chatter and too many commitments. We share our time uncovering what a new more peaceful reality can look like. You can tame your pregnant mind and reduce anxiety by using the following check list.

• Prioritize.  Line up realistic actionable tasks for your dream project within a specific time frame.  Monitor you performance by creating a critical path time-line. Incremental progress toward your dream IS PROGRESS. Celebrate each victory, no matter how insignificant they feel at the time.

• Get real. Perfectionism is an unhealthy expectation. Trying to be perfect all the time will paralyze you and halt your performance. Instead of setting your site on perfection, focus on excellence and get moving.

• Be gentle with yourself. You must not berate yourself with negative self-talk and mental rubbish. Your best weapon to clobber the schoolyard bully in your head is positive self-talk.  What happens when you catch your evil twin being mean and nasty? What if you stopped those thoughts immediately upon their arrival?

• Ask for help.  Seeking an ear or advice from others will help you move along your chosen path with much less stress and anxiety. Chances are there are droves of people who have been where you are and would be willing to help you.  How can I support you?

• Play.  Make time for family and friends and do the activities you enjoy. You deserve to enjoy yourself. Create some regular play time and have a blast!  What kind of activities do you enjoy? When was the last time you enjoyed goofing around?

• Check in with how you feel mentally and physically. Pay attention to when you feel your well is dry and find a way to fill up again.  A change of scenery or a few deep cleansing breaths may be all you need to keep your energy flowing.  I like to take mini breaks by stepping outside and soaking up the beauty of a natural setting.

• Clobber your fear.  Most people on the planet are dealing with fear in all shapes and sizes. From the annoying little monsters under your bed, to the giant panther ready to pounce on you in the middle of the jungle, fear is something we create in our minds.  I have learned that when I take action on something daunting the fear falls away.  How do you address your fears?

I trust you will find some of these simple stress reducing ideas useful.  I would love to hear about how you tame your pregnant mind.  If you have an interest in getting some additional support for stress and anxiety, you are welcome to visit Anxiety Slayer .

The holidays can prove to be a highly demanding and stressful time for all of us. Here are 7 tips to help you reduce stress and regain balance in your life this holiday season.

Plan and Create Lists: Prioritize and schedule specific days for shopping, baking, partying and other activities. Creating an actionable plan will make you feel more in control of  your responsibilities.

Acknowledge Your Feelings: You can’t force yourself to be happy just because it’s the holiday season. If you are feeling blue reach out to a good friend or family member for some laughs.  If you feel lonely or isolated,  seek out community events or volunteer your time.

Delegate: You do not have to do everything on your own. Ask the people who love you for help. It’s amazing how much friends and family are willing to step up and chip in.  People like to feel useful and needed.

Get Real: The holidays don’t have to be perfect or just like last year. As families change and grow, traditions and rituals often change as well. Choose a few to hold on to, and be open to creating new ones. For example, if your adult children can’t come to your house, find new ways to celebrate together, such as sharing pictures, emails or videotapes.

Say NO Thanks: Saying yes when you really want to say no can leave you feeling resentful and totally overwhelmed. Friends and colleagues will understand if you can’t participate in every holiday event or activity.

Continue Healthy Habits: Overindulgence contributes to additional stress and guilt. Plan to enjoy a healthy snack before holiday parties so that you don’t gobble up too many decadent treats. Do your best to to get plenty of sleep,  physical activity and down time.

Breathe: Make some time for yourself. Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh you enough to handle everything you need to do. Reduce stress by clearing your mind, nurturing your body and finding inner calm. Make some time for yourself. Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh you enough to handle everything you need to do. Reduce stress by clearing your mind, nurturing your body and finding inner calm.

The holidays can be a lot of fun. All you need to do is create a plan, ask for help and honor yourself. You deserve to enjoy this time of year.

If you want more information about overcoming stress and anxiety,   you are welcome to visit www.anxietyslayer.com for additional posts, podcasts and ideas created to help you wipe out anxiety and get on wth your life.

Ananga Sivyer is a new friend, prolific blogger and sister anxiety slayer. Check out what she has to say about adding some extra peace to your day.

We’re all too busy to fit everything we want to into our day. Over-committed and over-stressed, we rush from one task to the next with little thought for our own well being. And yet, we all want to be calm, peaceful and happy. Here are five ways to show yourself a little love and squeeze some peace into your busy day.

1. Put yourself on Pause

Sit, breathe and reflect. Take a step back from rushing and emotional intensity and allow yourself a few minutes introspection. You could watch your thoughts, or your breath, or set a timer and free-write for ten minutes. Literally sit and pour your brain onto a page, write out your thoughts, your ideas, your worries, whatever is on your mind let it flow onto the paper. Then sit back and savour the relief and clarity that comes from externalising your thoughts.

2. Indulge in Peaceful Pleasures

Yoga, meditation and walking in nature can leave you feeling calm and content in the knowledge that you’re doing something to take care of yourself, even 10 minutes can make a big difference to your day. Get up ten minute early and start your day with a breath focused meditation. For improved sleep and boosting your immunity try an oil massage, or wind down with a guided stress relief exercise before you drift off to sleep.

3. Grace and Gratitude

Take time out before bed each night to affirm “I am grateful for…” even if you only do it for a minute this simple routine will help you end your day with a grateful heart and peaceful mind. Going to sleep with a grudge or a gripe will spoil the quality of your sleep so be sure to make a habit of settling down with some thanks even if it’s for the most basic liberties like company, food and shelter.

4. Soothing Soundtracks

If you have an iPod or mp3 player, make yourself a peaceful playlist. You could use classical music, music for relaxation, self-hypnosis, or supportive podcasts. Anything you feel puts you in a good state of mind.

My iTunes library has several “mood” playlists set up with different themes: relaxing, meditation, music for writing, devotional music, lectures and pep-talk podcasts. I’m listening to my “writing support” playlist as I write this – that’s the one that keeps me going when I’ve got an article to finish and my mind’s thinking of lunch.

5. Hang out with Happy People

While it’s good to be supportive and lend an ear to a friend in need, it’s also important to look after yourself by keeping balanced company. Spending too much time with people who are stressed or depressed will eventually affect you negatively too. Make sure you spend time every day with someone uplifting. If you can’t be with them in person, call them and share a sweet exchange. Positive company can also come from people you don’t even know. Look out for authors, inspiration speakers, or even a personal development coach whose  energy, mood, and values are in tune with your own goals and aspirations. You can listen while driving, washing dishes, or preparing meals, and turn chore time into a time of learning and positive reflection.

Like what you just read?  Head on over to Ananga Siyver’s Blog – Living By Design