When Did You Decide to Put Yourself Last?

You feel exhausted, washed out and empty.  You've got nothing more to give.  You're waiting, hoping and praying for someone to whisk you away on a holiday, a very long holiday.

You are about to discover the ultimate rejuvenation formula to change your energy levels and
well being forever.

Imagine how amazing you are going to feel within as little as one week. There will be no more wishing, hoping and waiting, and no more putting yourself last.

Priority You Time Shouldn’t Happen By Accident : Promise yourself from this day forward not to let “priority you” time happen only by accident. Make a wise rejuvenation choice from this day forward to create daily, weekly and monthly “priority you” time. Take a stand. You deserve some time out, you deserve some fun, you deserve some space, your deserve some pampering and you deserve regular moments to rest, repair and rejuvenate yourself.

Stop putting yourself last. It’s time to start receiving more energy in than you are giving out.

The Priority “You Time” Formula:Go grab your diary now and allocate the following priority you times into your calendar.

• 1/2 an hour a day plus
• 1/2 day a week plus
• 1 day a month

Priority You Time Is All About Receiving:Priority you time is all about receiving and NOT giving energy. Put yourself first and:

• make your heart sing
• refuel your energy levels
• untangle your stress and tension held in your body

Even if you have absolutely no idea at this point what to fill your priority you time with …… it doesn’t matter. Pretend, guess or make it up. Soon life will reveal or remind you what makes your heart sing.

Simple Ways to Live a Less Stressful Life

Stress is a major problem for many people. It can run you down, cause you to lose sleep, and even bring on illness. Relieving stress is one of the best feelings as it lifts your spirits and your heart. If your life is full of stress, here are some simple things you can do to get your life to a more manageable level.

Try doing only one thing at a time
This is the simplest and best way to start reducing your stress, and you can start today.  Right now actually.  Focus as much as you can on doing one thing at a time.  This is referred to as being mindful  It is a very satisfying way to live.  You will find that you are getting more enjoyment out of life when you focus on what you are doing at the moment.

Develop one healthy habit this month
Pick one aspect of your life that you would like to see a positive change in. Try some of these on for size.  Eat fruits ad vegetables for snack.  Floss every day.  Quit smoking.  Cook something healthy for dinner.  Drink water instead of soda.  Just pick something that is personal for you and develop one new habit at a time.

Get out there and have a blast!
Have fun each and every single day, even if it's just for a few minutes.  Play - it takes your mind off of everythink.  Remember the fun play was when you were a child.  It consumed you.  Let go of adult inhibitions and enjoy the moment.  Whatever you choose to do, be sure to laugh.

Tap into your creative self
Throwing yourself into a creative activity is another great way to de-stress and to prevent stress.  Try artwork - even watercolors and crayons, write a poem or a short story, cook something new that just comes to mind using the food in your pantry.  Challenge yourself to create something new and different that reflects who you really are!
　
　
　
　. . .

What is Your Style of Meditation?

A large part of the reason people don't meditate is the misconception of what it is. Many people believe that you must set aside long periods of time in order for it to be beneficial. Many have visions  of a person sitting in a sparse monk like room, in the lotus position with empty minds. 

Effective meditation is, and will be different for each person.
And since everyone is different, whatever works for you, is what works for you! Don't compare yourself to others in regards to meditation. Some people need quiet to meditate; some people need the room to be dark. Others like the sun, still others need music

If prayer is talking to God, then meditation is listening to God.

Some people have trouble visualizing, others have trouble with the intruding thoughts. If your not visual, that is okay, hearing someone else's voice in a guided meditation

Keep in mind that walking and other activities that are rhythmic and healthful can create a meditative place within you. Swimming, dancing, running. Yoga is also meditative for people.

So you see, it simply is a matter of finding what works for you. Throw away the false assumptions.
Explore your style of meditation and start listening.

Health Benefits of Relaxation and Techniques to Try

Everyone has a different way to relax that works best for them. There are many forms of relaxation. There is no right or wrong way to do it. The most important part of relaxation is that you practice it each and every day.
By regularly practicing relaxation, you can reduce stress symptoms such as:

• Slowing your heart rate
• Lowering blood pressure
• Slowing your breathing rate
• Increasing blood flow to major muscles
• Reducing muscle tension and chronic pain
• Improving concentration
• Reducing anger and frustration
• Boosting confidence to handle problems
　　

Here are some relaxation techniques that you might want to try:

1. Progressive Relaxation. Alternating tensing and then relaxing muscle groups - one muscle group after another. Begin with the feet and progress upward through the body.
2. Exercise. Activities such as stretching, yoga, tai chi, pilates and other physical techniques.
3. Visualization. Visualizing something for relaxation or making positive changes, such as picturing in your mind a relaxing scene.
4. Guided Imagery or Meditation. This is the process of being guided through calming scenes and environments, the healing process, or a scenario with a positive outcome.
5. Autogenics. This is done by imagining that your limbs are warm and heavy, your heart rate is slow and steady, and your forehead is cool.
6. Meditation. Focusing the mind on a word, phrase, or idea and letting go of other thoughts with an attitude of passive acceptance for relaxation or making positive changes.
7. Sensory. Being able to experience or imagine the sensations of sight, sound, smell, taste, and/or touch.
8. Deep breathing. Done slowly and regularly and taking sufficiently deep breaths.
9. Other Methods. Almost anything repetitive can be relaxing. Activities such as exercise, massage, hypnosis, self-hypnosis, crafts, hobbies, dance, music, conscious mental rest, artwork, and walking are good examples.

The best way to find out which relaxation methods work best for you is to try them. You may not feel any different at first, but by doing a relaxation technique you experience all the health benefits of relaxation!

Relaxation is a skill. This means that relaxation is something that can be learned, practiced and eventually mastered. Everyone has the ability to learn how to relax, but not everyone will relax the same manner.

Finding Time for Yourself

Quiet moments during the day soothes the soul, settles the inner being, brings out your integrity. Having a time for solitude can be an amazing thing. Here are some ways to find your quiet time and see how getting away from it all can allow your true self to emerge.

Alter your sleeping habits. Try getting up a few minutes earlier than normal to watch the sun rise. If your day is too busy to find time to be alone to have stillness and silence, getting up a bit earlier can be a good solution. If you’re not an early riser, then nighttime can be just as peaceful when everyone else has gone to sleep. Stay up a bit later at night and enjoy the mysteries of the dark.

Get back to nature. Our work stations can be filled with noise, conflict and chaos. To get away from this, get out into nature as much as possible. Perhaps a walk in the park or on the beach, a nature trail hike, or sitting on the banks of a river is just what you need. Pay close attention to everything around you - the sights, the sounds the feeling of the breeze and sun.

Begin to practice mindful meditation. An easy way to start is to close your eyes and pay attention to your breathing. Notice your breath as it enters your body, and again as it goes out. Focus on the sounds around you. Listen carefully to whatever is going on - the ticking of a clock the sound of traffic or the humming of the refrigerator. Do this for at least one minute and increase over time.

Take time to read. Choose your favorite novel, poetry, inspirational quotes or whatever inspires you for the day. Fill your mind with beautiful and encouraging words to carry with you to keep you focused on greatness and thankfulness for all the world has given you.

Finding time for yourself is not a luxury, it is a necessity. Begin with 10 to 15 minutes daily and try to work up to a couple of hours each week. You will be pleasantly surprised to find your true self emerging and the amazing thoughts, feelings and actions you posses and can share with the world around you.

Reiki in the Work Place

Reiki, a Japanese healing art, may be a company’s answer to many health related concerns. Reiki can have a direct impact on the overall health and well-being of employees. Reiki can be given to employees in offices and other work settings. It is a valuable tool in the management of resources. And, it does not require much time or a special space. Several companies across America are finding Reiki useful in improving the quality of work at their worksite. It has been useful as a stress management technique as well as a sick leave reduction strategy.

How effective is Reiki in the work place? Benefits include feeling refreshed, energized, and productive. Additionally, Reiki can:

• Reduce stresses, help reduce tension, headaches, insomnia and panic which affect health due to stress
• Bring on a feeling of relaxation and revitalization to perform tasks better
• Give a feeling of general well-being among staff
• Physically and emotionally relieve unreleased stress, thus restoring energy balance
• Increase productivity
• Reduce the number of sick days taken by employees
• Have a direct positive impact on staff morale
• Assist in attaining personal and work goals

Reiki can be very useful in improving the quality of life for employees of a business that brings Reiki to the work place. And when implemented, can not only bring down stress levels but also promote a feeling of camaraderie amongst employees. Reiki has been found to be a very cost effective tool when added to employee wellness programs.

Creating a Calming Home

Your home should be your sanctuary. It should be a place where troubles are left at the door and your mind and soul are nurtured and well cared for. To create a calming environment, make the following changes in your home:

• Bring in the outdoors. Live green plants, fresh-cut cut flowers, or blooming bulbs are a great way to bring life and nature in.  Add some decorative pieces of wood, large or small rocks, and other organic earth elements that create a feeling of being surrounded by nature.
• Paint your rooms to create certain moods. Cool colors such as blue and green promote a relaxed feeling and may be good choices for bedrooms. Warm colors such as maroon, coral, or burgundy suggest a cozy environment and encourage an inviting and welcome feeling.  These colors are good in family rooms and dining rooms.
• Surround yourself with items for all five senses. Have a variety of artwork adorning your walls and rooms - sculptures, paintings, or dried arrangements.  Add texture to rugs, curtains, wall hangings - smooth, rough, and soft.  Burn candles or essential oils to add aromas to your home. Peaceful sounds such as running water, soft music, or chimes induce a calming sensation in which you can relax. Add food features like dried cranberries or mixed nuts in shells in wooden bowls set in your dining room or kitchen.  Place slices of lemons, oranges or limes in the bottom of a glass vase filled with fresh cut flowers.
• Set aside a room or area in your house away from noise and distraction for peace and calm. A place used only for spiritual reflection and meditation. Keep the area dimly lit. Adorn with candles and burning essentials oils.  Try playing a little soft instrumental music. This area would be a good place for colors such as soft earth tones. Try a muted cream to encourage concentration,  and light tan and deep reds for grounding.
• Clear out all of your clutter. A low-maintenance home with fewer items is refreshing after a busy and hectic day filled with meetings, errands and chores. Fewer items can mean less frustration. If you don't use it, donate it, sell it, or recycle it.  Reduce for peace and happiness.
• Create an atmosphere of love. Display handmade or meaningful gifts from loved ones, such as the quilt that grandma had made draped over the back of a chair or sofa.  Frame and hang the artwork your children have created.  Photos of family and friends should be placed around your living spaces. Make places for all of your treasured items.

When implementing changes, go slowly, thoroughly, and thoughtfully through each room of your home.  Add your personal touch, be sure the items you choose to decorate with appeal to you.  Remember, your home is your sanctuary.  Bring in the peace and calm.

Welcome to Balancing Your Mind, Body and Spirit Blog

Let me take a moment to thank you for visiting my blog.  Here you will learn about all aspects of health - physical, emotional and spiritual.  You will recieve practical advice on how to transform your life into one that is fullfilled with an overall sense of well-being.  You will be given ideas to explore on how you can achieve the life you know you were meant to live.  You can learn to set goals and manifest good things into your life.



Take time to visit this blog often as it is updated several times each week.  Topics include nutrition, stress management, goal setting, living a life of gratitude, physical fitness, building self-confidence, and many more. Watch your dreams become realities right before your eyes.