Laugh More

• Research has shown that the health benefits of laughter are far-ranging. While more studies need to be done, studies so far have shown that laughter can help relieve pain, bring greater happiness, and even increase immunity.
• Laughter relaxes the whole body.
• Laughter boosts the immune system. 
• Laughter triggers the release of endorphin.
• Laughter protects the heart.
• Laughter reduces the level of stress hormones.
• While  increases the level of health-enhancing hormones.
• A good belly laugh exercises the diaphragm,  abs, shoulders and the heart.
• Laughter produces natural pain killers!
• Laughter simulates many organs and soothe tension in the brain and body.
• Laughter is contagious and can bring people closer together and happier together.

 

Laughter is an awesome distraction from negative emotions and stress. 

Laughter is an amazing  coping device in good times and in the  difficult situations. It also helps you connect with other people. Laughter can improve mood, lessen  depression and anxiety and generally make you feel happier. Laughter is best practiced with friends but can be practiced simply by watching TV, searching the internet for entertaining stories and memes.  I recommend also going out to be entertained at a comedy club or enjoying an evening with entertaining friends. Finally, take life lightly, find humor in every day living. Why so serious?

 

Self-Care Priorities

Last week, I wrote about the importance of having a “second passion” or hobby in life.  Balancing work life with creative life and family life can be challenging. Time management is so important. In order to de-stress, this blog stresses the importance of prioritizing and learning to put the most important things in life in the proper order. So here is a list to summarize on what should be near the top of your list. These are all things the most successful people do but they are also vital for self-care. if a person is not taking care of himself, then they will not ever be successful and productive. Here is a list of priorities to consider for your own personal self-care plan.

1. Make time for family and friends.
2. Exercise.
3. Pursue a passion.
4. Use your Vacation time to relax.
5.  Disconnect from technology periodically.
6. Volunteer.
7. Get enough sleep/Recharge.
8. Plan ahead.
9. Socialize.
10. Enjoy a hobby.
11. Network.
12. Reflect/ Meditate. Join a religion.
14. Laugh and smile more. Try better posture.
15. Celebrate success.
16. Stay hydrated.
17. Learn to listen better.
18. Eat healthier also enhance diet with anti-oxidants and amino-acids.
19. Learn/Try New Things.
20. Reduce clutter.

 

Self-care needs to be holistic. So think of all areas of your life: physical, emotional, spiritual, social, financial, recreational, close relationships and more. Here is a nice Self-care checklist from Lucille Zimmerman.

Enjoy a Hobby

 A Hobby Outside of Work

             It is great when we find a career that we enjoy. It is nice to get paid to do something you love doing. If you  are blessed to be in a position that you like, congratulations! Not everyone is passionate about what they are doing in the daily grind.  In any case, it is important to have a hobby away from or outside of work. This is for several reasons. First, having a “second passion ” or hobby in your life is extremely healthy and can make you more healthy, more social and more productive. Second having a fun hobby prevents burn-out and also prevents workaholic syndrome.

               Randi Zuckerberg coined the phrase “Second Passion” at Vocus Demand Success 2014, to describe the importance of having an excellent hobby away from work. Randi is not the only productive person to live by this principle. Lots of famous, creative and productive people have balanced work life with creative work (or something fun, like a hobby). See the image below from Podio:  

While Podio’s chart (above) is based on research, it is not the only research that supports the idea of getting into a hobby. If these charts interest you a lot check out Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason Currey, RJ Andrews at Info We Trust. But it truly is mind-blowing how these famous people balanced their time. We all have 24 hours in a day. The key is in how we use it.

Based on compiling and analyzing all of the research here is an ideal  24 hour schedule or outline to try to follow. Now of course not everyday is going to fit perfectly to this schedule….

Fortunately Katie Robinson created this image, seven-day chart, so we can fill in our own schedules based on each day of the week!

Some Ideas for you “second passion”

• Improve the mind
  • Brain Training
  • Informative podcasts
  • Open and Free MOOCs
  • Meditations/Relaxation techniques
• Learn Something New
  • Toastmaters
  • Read great books
  • Stay informed in the news
  • board games/cards
  • magic tricks
  • dancing
  • foreign language
  • Work on cars
  • Yoga
  • Computer codes
• Be productive and charitable
  • Rotary Club/ Lions Club/ Eagles/ etc
•  Volunteer
  • church
  • non-profits
  • schools
  • hospitals/nursing homes
  • rec. leagues/sports
• Get physical
  • Fencing
  • Kickboxing
  • Taekwondo/ other martial arts
• Enjoy the outdoors
  • fishing
  • hunting
  • camping
  • hiking
  • jogging
  • swimming
  • photography
  • geo-catching
  • play sports
  • paintball
  • raise animals/farm
  • Archery/ Firearms
  • Fireworks
• Listen to music
  • Go to concerts/shows
  • Learn to play an instrument
• Journal/draw
• Get a pet
• Be grateful/thankful
• Enjoy life

 

Enjoy a Social Life

 

Social Activity and Stress

                    A study released by the JAMA ( Journal of the American Medical Association) “followed nearly 45,000 people ages 45 and up who had heart disease or a high risk of developing the condition. Those who lived alone, the study found, were more likely to die from heart attacks, strokes, or other heart complications over a four-year period than people living with family or friends, or in some other communal arrangement.” If being lonely does not kill you, it can also make you depressed according to the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health study.

                    The science is strong that having social activity and support in life is extremely valuable to the human soul. Having positive and loving people in  life helps one bounce back after a difficult season in life. Having someone to talk to or vent about struggles can be literally life-saving.

Social Activity Ideas

                      Having positive social supports in life is vital. For some it can be easy to get lost in work, personal hobbies or even recreation time. Some people prefer to be alone and do these activities by themselves. Although, many studies are showing the importance of having positive social supports in life. There is always going to be more work that needs to get done. The workaholics need to learn to set boundaries and limits, to be able to create time that is primarily focused on being social. The introvert needs to maintain a balanced lifestyle which includes other people in their life.
Some suggestions for adding more social elements in life could include:

• • Dating your spouse
  • Using all of your vacation time
  • Finding Positive friends
  • Have friends outside of work
  • Find a mentor/accountable partner, life coach or counselor.
  • Get involved in hobbies/activities that force more social interactions.