7 ways to refresh and recharge yourself, reduce stress and boost your energy

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7 ways to refresh and recharge yourself, reduce stress and boost your energy

Ioanna • ene 22, 2021

Discover simple and effective ways to upgrade life daily

Oftentimes we get carried away from our objectives and decisions only to find ourselves pushing hard, instead of flowing.

We might even blame ourselves for not getting the results or the efficiency we would like. It might feel hard to do certain things, situations feel heavy, relationships struggle, stress builds up because we don't see the way out of this vicious cycle. I know. I get it. I've been there and my clients too. BUT...

The great news is that when we become aware of this internal conflict we are already on our way out of it.

Because identifying the problem, even at a superficial level, and accepting to deal with it is the very first step for change. Nothing can be changed if we are not aware of it, right? Building this awareness is a process that is at the heart of coaching and it is exactly what gives us the clarity and the possibility to shift.

I have been there and I still get caught up in this autopilot mode sometimes, but I am aware of it instantly and can stop it on its tracks. I reset and I recharge with the exact same steps I am sharing with you today. And it works every time. I have a more extended version of it right now but here I share the absolute basics for you to hopefully consider trying for yourself.

We are all potentially conditioned by our environment. That is the norm for most people. But I gotta tell you, owning your day from the start is owning yourself and setting the pace for not only your next 24 hours but the pace for your chosen lifestyle and mindset.

We are born in a society that moulds us from the beginning of our existence. But we can stop, assess, choose and act in the way that serves us better, much better. The results of small, consistent changes will surprise you, as it happened to me and my clients too. Give them a go. You have nothing to lose and so much to gain! And if you want to go faster, if you are at the end of your rope and want to act fact, if you're tired form trying, check out what you could do here.

Everything I am sharing here are discoveries I made in the process of continuous personal and professional growth. I deeply treasure them and apply them all (and more) and both my clients and myself have seen radical difference.

In this article you will find my tested and proven tips for resetting and recharging. They are simple, effective, handy and free. What more could we ask for, right?

Let's dive in!

Set your intention straight

Stop the autopilot, set your intention for a better living

STOP going on autopilot.

The more we go on and on about all the things that have to be done, the less we are choosing and the furthest away we move from meaning and purpose.

Meaning and purpose are totally personal and I will not expand on this here. For now remember that meaning and purpose give us extreme power, commitment and inspiration. It is critical to spend the time to get to know them. When we keep them present in our life, we feel lighter and life becomes easier. It is absolutely worth it to connect with our inner source of inspiration and creation.

Choose your intention for the day. For example, "Today I choose to be kind and loving to myself" or "Today I will appreciate five things in my life I am grateful for" or "Today I commit to setting boundaries in this new project" or "Today I will take 5 minutes to myself and read my new book" etc. You get the picture, right? Your intention is yours. No need to ask for permission to have it.

“We are our choices.”
― Jean-Paul Sartre

Appreciate and Smile

You are above ground! That should be enough but most of us forget the basic stuff. It seems as if we take it for granted, we are not paying attention to what it means to actually be here right now. Isn't this the biggest gift? The biggest gift is that we get to experience life in all its glory, the good and the ugly. How about celebrating life and starting the day with a smile and appreciation for all that we get to do, have and, also, for all that we get to worry about? Instead of the daily to-do list or checking facebook or our emails, let's breathe and consider that this new day is a blessing in itself.

In a safe and comfortable place without interruptions, take three to five minutes to connect with what you have experienced so far in life. Start off by consciously taking a couple of deep breaths and close your eyes. Allow in your mind's eye the stacking of moments of joy, pride, laughter, peace, love, passion, fulfillment. Bring all of them in front of you, your favourite people, significant events, experiences from your life and show your gratitude for all of them. You are who you are today because of all of that!

“Gratitude is the sign of noble souls.”

– Aesop

Invigorate yourself

Self care and daily invigoration for a healthier you

How do you start your day? What's your first thought? What is your morning routine? Are you energised in the morning? Are you getting the rest you need? Set yourself up to win by starting your day in a way that sets you up for success. By invigorating yourself daily in advance, you set yourself up for a much better day ahead and a much better life in general. "Run your day otherwise your day runs you" - Jim Rohn.

Below I share my own morning routine which is miraculous. You could try this for one day and see how it enhances your experience instantly adn how you feel during the day. Give it a try!

I like to wake up before my kids and take at least 30 minutes in silence for myself. Without checking anything on my phone I drink some water, I do the few yoga moves I know for 20 minutes and then I meditate, visualise my goals and appreciate all the goodness in my life. When I have more time I also journal and read a mind provoking or inspiring book. Right now I am reading Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. I always finish my morning shower with cold water which is great for the immune system and also for uplifting my mood instantly.

"The greatest wealth is health."

-Virgil

Choose your thoughts

Did you know that 95% of our thoughts occur in the subconscious?

Positive thoughts bring positive emotions and viceversa. It's the positive loop that we can choose to operate from in life. The effects are tangible. Try it for yourself.

Emotions are real chemical reactions caused by our thoughts. In the exact same way that a negative thought brings us down, depresses us or stresses us (by releasing adrenaline and cortisol), a positive thought uplifts us and can even bring us tears of joy (by producing dopamine). What do you want to choose for your life? It's not a coincidence that stress is a common denominator for most illnesses.

By paying attention to our feelings we get the wisest feedback from ourselves. Feelings are there for a reason. Don't underestimate them. There is no other such direct way to discover your subconscious thinking pattern. Whatever feeling you get, stems from a thought. Observe the thought just by bringing your attention to it. I like to do this while meditating or walking but also in the midst of a busy street or while waiting for the metro. If there is resistance, just play along. You can change your thoughts on demand. Whatever energy we put out there each day, comes from our thoughts and, like a magnet, brings us back more of the same. Time for "thinking upgrade"? It's easier and more fun than you think.

"You are today where your thoughts brought you;

you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you"

-James Allen

Groom or do your make-up

Self care and self pampering for better health and less stress

Even when I am not going to go out or have a client meeting via zoom, taking care of my self in the morning and doing my make up, boosts my day in a whole different way. It's so effective that it is part of my "Kick ass morning routine". I'm not doing it to look good for anyone else but myself! It feels good! My husband has done this since I met him. He matches his clothes smartly and fixes up his hair for no apparent reason, one would say. He always knew better! Especially with remote work nowadays, this is a big one! Try it!

Try this for yourself and notice how you feel instantly. Get ready for success in the way that is most meaningful for you. Maybe it's wearing something special, fixing your hair in a different way, slipping into those high heels instead of slippers, I don't know! Do something that you love just for the fun of it and for your own sake. I know you'll be surprised just like I was when I just felt like wearing lipstick for no reason. Feel free and have fun! Feeling good is good for your health!

“Live quietly in the moment and see the beauty of all before you.

The future will take care of itself.”

– Paramahansa Yogananda

Connect

Some days things can go sideways. I get that! When that happens, although you have checked all your boxes for a great morning start, it's time to get out of your own way and connect with your friends, family, colleagues, people that you care about. This is obviously great to do anyhow but here is the twist. When we focus too much on ourselves and our problems we tend to make the hole deeper and our questions much much worse to get a decent answer to. Connecting with others and putting ourselves in their service helps give us perspective and the opportunity to contribute.

Reach out to your loved ones and people you care about and ask to be of their service. "How are you feeling today?" "I would love to help you out today. What can I do for you?" With the clear intention to avoid talking about yourself, simply connect and help this person in whatever way you can in that moment. Opening up our perspective is a great teacher in itself.

“We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.”

– Winston Churchill

Simplify and Celebrate

More often than not, I used to be really really good at complicating things. Smart eh? I was great at multiitasking and organising, controlling and knowing where everything was, how the project was going, if my kids had this or that activity, etc. These traits are great only when they can be managed on demand and not when they become a mode of being perpetually. I am now more confident, better organised and much more focused and productive than ever. What did I do? I chose to simplify my tasks, chunking them down to the smallest pieces.

I bet you have a busy life with its own challenges, like most everyone does. Challenges will not go away and that is a good thing. Let's embrace them because without them we would not grow and become aware of all our strengths and resilience. When facing your day, your work, your goals, or any other challenge, break it down. Answer the question: How can I make progress today? What small action that contributes to my goal, can I commit to today? Keep it small and carry it out without dabbling. Check it off and celebrate!