“Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It’s not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it’s a day you’ve had everything to do and you’ve done it.” ― Margaret Thatcher
Be warned this post includes salsa dancing, mud pies, travel and a call to action!
Do you get into bed and your mind is racing with all the things you are working on at the moment?
Some days you may be OK– other days you have so much on your brain that you can’t shut it off. I used to frequently have days like this. This was when I was the boss of others and I was not always the one to create the issues, but I was the one charged with fixing them.
To be supremely self-satisfied at the end of each day should be the goal we strive for, each and every one of us. To know you have achieved what you set out to do as well as deflected all the crap that was thrown your way.
I was looking to find a way to improve my wellbeing, being sleep deprived makes me almost useless. Without a good sleep you are not able to be your superstar shining self and give the 110% that is expected of you.
You hear all the time – exercise will help you sleep. But I am not an exercise junkie – can you relate? Passive exercise is my thing. A nice walk or a swim with the kids doesn’t necessarily clear my mind of all the stressors. Don’t get me wrong – you must do some exercise daily but it must make you happy not add further stress to your life.
I looked to different ways that fit with my persona to achieve this peace.
So work along with me on this and at the end you will have at least one new useful idea to ensure supreme satisfaction at the end of each day.
Strategy 1 – Get it out of your head.
I forget things so easily if I don’t write them down, I am sure loads of good ideas have fallen off my radar because I just couldn’t fit any more in my brain.
I am a schemer – if there is a problem I always look for strategies to solve them. Unfortunately my best work is usually done in the middle of the night when all is quiet. I have been known to get up and design a whole new business process by torchlight and then hop back into bed where I can finally get some decent but shorter sleep.
My new strategy is to grab a notebook or a piece of paper, get away from my family somewhere quiet and brain dump everything thought that comes into my head in regard to actions. I write a lot of things down that don’t necessarily sit in my calendar for tomorrow or next week but have to-do’s that need to be taken. Set yourself reasonable expectations on what you can actually achieve for each single day.
Manage your self expectatation
I now also have a notebook on the go at all times when I am working to make sure I capture my thoughts all day. I have found this exceptionally useful now that I am blogging for a living. My other go-to for thought extraction is notes on my iPad or iPhone, this way I can go back and review them at my leisure or delete them when I have implemented them. No matter where I am out and about, I have something electronic where I can dump my musings. Sometimes I get ideas or answers when I least expect them, I suppose this method is like Pinterest for my brain.
Strategy 2 – Life must be filled with so much more than work
When you were little did you love finger-painting, play dough, mud pies, dancing???
I did. Especially the mud pies, you could generally find me under the back of the house with a bucket of water playing in the dirt.
Kids learn through play – funnily enough adults learn through play too. Do you secretly harbour desires to paint, make jewellery or take photographs?
I have a new friend who films and posts a ‘dance break’ in a Facebook Group that I am part of. She is an amazing salsa dancer for a business geek.
What can you change in your life to be creative for self-satisfaction? What do you love to do but don’t make the time for? What are your first thoughts? By the way – nothing is too silly to write down.
If you don’t want to do things by yourself
Human interaction requires mental attention and flexibility of thought. Quality social activity always makes you feel good. Friends are friends because you really like them and generally they make you happy to be with them. If they don’t then “what are you thinking?” Unfriend their asses.
You can’t unfriend your family, but maybe you should be spending more time with them. A quick catch up with your family or dinner with friends is always good for unwinding, nice food and a couple of drinks are always good for relaxing. I am always satisfied when I have organised something and everyone has had a good time. Fill your brain up with happy to negate the stressful.
What can you change in your life to add recreation and sharing time for self-satisfaction? Schedule something in your calendar now.
Strategy 3 – go somewhere you have never been before.
I always feel different, somehow successful when I have purposefully changed my day to incorporate this strategy.
My favourite thing to ensure I have had an eventful day is to go somewhere new. Maybe you take the scenic route on a drive and stop off for a coffee somewhere different.
If you are working and don’t think you have time for swanning around the countryside you can incorporate it into your day. Maybe go visit a jobsite, or schedule a meeting in a different location. A change of scenery will always do you good.
Are you thinking, but I have a desk job where I am expected to be sitting all day everyday?
If you can take this one step further – add a weekend away somewhere to your schedule. Do something a little out of the ordinary. You will thank yourself for it.
Even better still – take a vacation to somewhere magical – you will have the memories and the reduced stress being away from the pressures of daily life.
You are the master of your mental destiny.
What can you change about your time management to add experiencing new places for self-satisfaction?
I would have thought leaving my secure job and setting up a business on my own would have been more stressful. Funny – I am sleeping better now than ever because I am using my creativity and writing everyday.
The challenge part for you is now…what are you going to implement to ensure self-satisfaction every day?
If you loved the 3 Strategies for self satisfaction challenge then leave me a comment about which strategies you are going to add into your life to make this happen and sign up for my eMentor Weekly newsletter.
And then take a dance break – you know you want to!
Be inspired to share, share to be inspired.
Fiona
