Beating Winter Doldrums

Let’s say you have diligently written down your priorities and examined the motivation behind them. You have imagined accomplishing your priorities and have created bite-size action steps.

But, in spite of your best efforts, you find yourself:

• Feeling low-level depression
• Unable to get out of bed
• Getting out of bed, but taking two-hour naps in the middle of the afternoon
• Feeling no or low energy

(Note: If any of the above scenarios continue for more than two weeks, please consider talking with a mental health professional. Clinical depression is a real and potentially serious illness.)

However, if this is a temporary situation, here are some antidotes:

• Move! Bundle up and walk outside or get to a gym
• Call a friend for coffee or lunch
• Go somewhere with a lot of light or turn on all your lights
• Know this is temporary and curl up with a good book

This week, do some writing about your own best ways to deal with winter doldrums.

Share your thoughts below.

Take good care!

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A Goal is a Dream with a Deadline

This month we have discussed determining what’s important, understanding why it’s important, imagining having achieved what’s important, and breaking necessary tasks into small steps. What’s missing here?

The missing piece is giving each small step a due date. If that isn’t done, nothing will happen. If you have been following this month’s blog, perhaps you now have a list of what you want to accomplish this year, as well as a list of steps to get there.

The task this week is to, in as much as possible, assign due dates to each step. Put these dates on your calendar or planner. Notice how this makes you feel. Share your feelings and thoughts below.

Take good care!

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Take Tiny Steps

So far this month we have discussed ideas to set priorities for the New Year, the reason behind these priorities, and how it would feel if you accomplished these priorities. It can be easy to feel overwhelmed when you look at all of these ideas. Try this. Pick one area and break it down into the tiniest possible steps. For example:

I need to get more exercise. How do I break this down? 

• Today I will walk for 10 minutes. 

My office is a mess. I don’t know where to start! 

• Today I will spend 15 minutes clearing off my desk. 

I have gotten seriously out of touch with several friends. I don’t know what to do.

• Today I will call one person and suggest we meet for coffee. 

This week, find ways to break down your priorities into initial tiny steps. Notice what happens when you do this and share your experience below.

Take good care!

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Imagine How You Will Feel!

If you have been following this blog the last couple of weeks, you will notice we began the month with setting priorities for the New Year. Next, we looked at the reason behind those priorities, the “why” that made them important. This week, consider how accomplishing your top priorities will make you feel. Consider:

• If I take care of my health, I’ll feel happier and more energetic.
  
  
• If I complete my home office organization project, I’ll feel more relaxed and productive.
  
  
• If I connect with friends I’ve lost touch with, I’ll feel more positive and energized. 

Imagining how your actions today will make you feel in the future can go a long way in planning your day. 

Do some writing about your imagined future and share your thoughts below.

Take good care!

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Finding the "Why?"

Last week I suggested you review the short film, "Fill Your Bucket Well," (www.fillyourbucketwell.com), as a New Year reminder of the importance of setting priorities. 

This week, I suggest you look at these priorities again, but this time, add why these priorities are important. Here are a couple of examples: 

• What are your priorities for this year? (My health is a top priority because without that, I can’t do anything else).

• What tasks are the most meaningful? (The most important tasks are my diet, exercise, and self-care because these support my health).

Knowing the "why" of your priorities will add energy and focus to everything you do.

Do some writing about your own "whys" and share what you learned below. 

Take good care!

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Do-Re-Mi

“Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start…”

So begins the song “Do-Re-Mi.” The lyrics are simple, yet wise.

As a reader of this blog, perhaps you remember where you started.

If not, have a look: www.fillyourbucketwell.com

• What are your priorities for this year?
  
  
• What is most important to you?
  
  
• What people are most important to you?
  
  
• What tasks are the most meaningful?
  
  
• What do you want this year to be about for you?

After the movie, do a few minutes of writing in answer to the above questions.

Share what you learned below.

Take good care!

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Savoring the Future

So far this month we have explored savoring in the present and savoring in the past. This week I want to introduce an additional way of savoring––savoring the future. What does that mean? Savoring the future is along the lines of daydreaming, imagining, and anticipating. For example:

• You have tickets for a new play or concert that has received excellent reviews. You allow yourself a few minutes to just think about being at this upcoming event.
  
  
• You have plans to get together with a close friend you haven’t seen in some time. Take a moment to imagine what it will feel like when you are with your friend.
  
  
• You have a big exam coming up later in the week. But when you are done you have a wonderful getaway weekend planned.

Savoring is pleasurable in the moment, as a memory, and in anticipation. 

This week, spend some time savoring the future. Notice how you feel and share your feelings below.

Take good care!

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