Got 5 Minutes? Take a Mini Vacation

Tell me if this sounds familiar.

 
I go from one meeting to the next meeting with barely a break in between at work. Each one gives me more action items or things to consider. Meanwhile I am multi-tasking answering emails and instant messages with urgent requests. I must read each one to determine if it is a higher priority than my current call. Each of these elements elevates my stress level.
 
Stress increases the levels of cortisol in my body which actually can cause my brain to stop functioning at its best, just when I need it to be the most brilliant!
 
If this does sound familiar, let me share a three little 5 minute cure for this:
 
1. Meditate.
 
There are lots of ways to meditate and even 5 minutes is enough to get you refocused.
This is one of my favorites:
http://www.doyogawithme.com/content/slow-walk-through-nature

 

Another quick method of meditating is to breathe in deeply and hum out just 3 or 4 times. This immediately relaxes you.

If you feel frustrated when you meditate because your mind is jumping from one worry to the next, relax. That is normal. One way to focus your mind is to think one word over and over. You will get better with time.

2. Exercise.
If you go in the bathroom and do 5 minutes of jumping jacks or walk up and down the stairs for 5 minutes you will flush all the cortisol out of your body and replace it with freshly cleaned blood. You'll feel refreshed and ready to focus again.
To get some ideas watch my new set of exercise videos on youtube:

3. Laugh.
Laughing is a great way to fill your body with energy quickly. It brings oxigen into your body, gets your blood pumping and makes you happy.
Feel silly laughing for nothing? My friend Sparky Lovejoy, Laugher Yoga teacher, says to pick up your phone and just start laughing. People will think you are having a funny conversation with someone. Even if you are faking it at first, you will still get the benefits.

Try Laughter Yoga!
They have a call in number and programs almost every hour where you can call in and laugh together.
 

 

Enjoy your mini vacation!