Have you ever made it somewhere on time, but your head and heart took a wrong turn to someplace else? Time management only gets you there–energy management dictates how you show up once you’re there. If we use 1% of our day, just 15 minutes for the following four elements, we can make lasting change on our vitality and the impact we have on others.
Purposeful Movement–4 minutes
Movement leads to weight management, mood improvement and physical endurance, among other benefits. Strive for a daily walk, standing during portions of virtual meetings and flexing your joints as the day progresses.
Slow Breathing Before Meals–1 minute
Eating lunch at our desks, having meals in our cars or being otherwise engaged while eating keeps our body in fight-or-flight mode. Thirty seconds of deep breathing before lunch and dinner resets our nervous system and improves digestion.
Mid-Day Check-In–5 minutes
Whether it's sitting in carpool lines, heading to sports or leaving work, we close one chapter to begin a new one every midday. Ask yourself the following questions as you turn the page:
- What went well earlier today?
- How can I best transition to this next chapter?
- What would make the rest of the night great?
Intentional Focus–5 minutes
To whom can you show unwavering attention? Having an in-person conversation with the phone put away, writing a note of thanks or playing with your child all show the other person that they are cared for and matter.
These micro-moments, stacked daily, grow exponentially. You will see and feel a difference, and so will those around you. No routines to overhaul, no hours to set aside—just 1% of your day, making a remarkable difference on the other 99%.
Clay Brizendine, a health and wellness coach and personal trainer, roots his work with individuals and organizations in his "Simplify to Amplify" approach: giving extraordinary time and attention to the few truly important things in your life leads to greater fulfillment. He and his family call Madeira home. ClayBrizendine.com |@trainwithcoachclay