ADDICTED TO "BUSY"

A DAY IN THE LIFE:  husband. two kids. dog. business. friends. social life. errands. soccer. lacrosse. swim practice. birthday presents. after school activities. meetings. workouts. love. sex. marketing.  comedy. positive psychology classwork. social media. spiritual time. reading. fun. cooking. cleaning. traffic. workshops. parents. family. love. joy. self care. bath. grocery store. research. writing. eat. sleep. smile. coaching. planning. recharge time.

The above list identifies my day.  They are not in the order of importance or we all know fun would be first.  Our culture is so busy.  We are frazzled, don't turn off our cell phones, and we are running every which way.  WE ARE DEPLETED.  

Hi, my name is Cyndy and I'm addicted to "being busy."  I volunteer for this group and that effort.  I over-commit.   It's something I constantly work on and have been better until a recent over scheduled Winter season.  I've become a drill sergeant for my kids telling them to get their water bottle, hurry up, we have 5 minutes to get to the afternoon's activity.  ENOUGH!   I'm going down, I'm going TIMBER.  

We would do well to remember that we choose how our day rolls out.  A few years ago I "minimized" for a summer, only doing what I had to do.  I found that I was able to be much more present with my friends and family.  I wasn't scattered.  Using the advice from a woman and coach I adore, Barbara Stanny, she suggested I keep a "receiving journal."  http://barbarastanny.com  I wrote down feelings that I received from my day and it guided me on how I wanted to plan my future.  It was transformative.  And I learned that it is of utmost importance to make time for myself. 

So I challenge you to take a SPRING BREAK FOR THE SOUL and recharge your batteries.  Schedule daily time to take care of yourself. They say teachers teach what they need to learn.  Here I go.  Join me in this effort.

VIDEO:  ASK CYNDY - HOW TO GIVE "OVERWHELM" THE WHOOP POW!

And if you would like more in-person ideas, join me at an upcoming workshop: 

GET UNSTUCK USING POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY WITH A SPLASH OF WHOOP POW Saturday, 3/29/14 in Bethesda, MD, 1-4p.  If you ever feel like life is so busy, you wanna pull your hair out, this gathering is for you.  If you feel frazzled and sometimes stuck on how to move forward, get your bootie in this class.  Join me in this three hour play-shop for some creative ways to problem solve using positive psychology tools with a splash of whoop POW.  Fun is involved.  Hair pulling is not.  For more information and registration:  http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e90qxl4p2091c367&llr=u87xkypab

3 Tips to Beat the Holi-daze

An appreciation for elf culture is important during this season. "I just like to smile, smiling's my favorite."  Love the movie Elf!  Buddy beams joy.  The holidays are supposed to be a happy time but all too often they can leave you frazzled and exhausted.  When your schedule starts to stress you out, whoop it up with these three tips.

• Feeling Overwhelmed?  Take a short break to wrap presents.  Performing monotonous task can actually boost creativity and problem solving skills, according to study from UC Santa Barbara.  Could explain why I clean the house when I am mad.  

• On a tight budget?  Make the holidays about GIVING with a visit to a soup kitchen or nursing home.  Volunteering releases a trigger of feel good hormones.  Match your volunteer skills with a worthy cause at volunteermatch.org.

•   Grumpy, Scrooge-like?  You are not the only one who falls in a funk at the "most wonderful time of the year."  It’s the expectations.  Write a letter of gratitude or count blessing to rewire the brain's pleasure circuits. (Family Circle Dec 2013)  

BONUS MOST IMPORTANT TIP OF ALL:  MAKE FUN! Think "how can I CREATE some FUN" at a time when you are in the full throws of Stressmas?  Be your own best funmaker.   Here's a site that delivers a quick fun-fix in tune with the holidays.  Create an elfie!  Go to elfie.me, upload a photo, put on some antlers, and viola!

Coming next week:
Pop Up Comedy Video - Quest For Christmas Cheer where I visit the dump, talk with my exterminator, and sit on Santa's lap.