The past few weeks have been stressful. When stress is in the air, I seem to inhale it. Finding my balance and making sure I have time to rest has been key.
Folks say it's hard to keep up with all the things that I do. But guess what.. it's okay. I do what I love. And I focus on what truly matters in this moment.
3 months into my role, and we had a good product advisory council meeting with customers and partners. I'm grateful for the team support in making this happen and love the magic when folks collaborate together towards a shared goal - product, marketing, and design in harmony and symphony.
Swim 15 minutes a day - completed 17/26. I enjoy floating on my back and watching the clouds drift by or the birds or the planes for that matter. The joy in listening to your own heartbeat when I float is priceless. That's my new mindfulness practice.
Practice Duolingo 6 languages - 1 lesson each day. I enjoyed the friend quests and some days I'm not able to finish the three daily quests and that's okay. I'm getting comfortable with not pushing myself too much. As much as I'm a checklist person and thrive in completed tasks, getting 90% is better than none.
Self-published my book on food and recipes: One meal at a time: Flavors to Savor. I enjoyed the creation and not so much the promotion or the expectation that comes with it. It makes me weary.
Have you ever listened to a song and felt like it was for you?
That was most of 2020 to 2023 with Alan Walker and his EDM music.
And my friend shared this beautiful song by Jon Batiste - Butterfly and there couldn't be any other song that is me.
🦋 Butterfly flying home 🦋Butterfly all alone
But can you fly on your own?
Take your place in the world today
Butterfly flying homeButterfly in the air
Where you can fly anywhere
A sight beyond compare
A sacred song …
It's a butterfly flying home
And this morning on headspace, the 2 minute mindful practice was on impermanence, change and the transformation of a monarch butterfly.
That was breathtaking.
Time and Space
Yesterday was a day back to back with meetings and it made me feel tired an exhausted by the end of the day. I do make sure to get my 1 hour of walk everyday for my mental well-being.
This is a good reminder to take breaks during work time to find the balance.
I'm learning to manage my stress and anxiety better and create a space to rest and focus. I go to sleep by 8pm and wake up by 5am. And some days it's a two-faced sleep where I wake up at 2am and try to get back to sleep. Some days I do and some days I don't.
On my walk to work, I came across a labyrinth in Redwood shores.
Simple idea going back to England, UK.
SPARK OF CREATIVITY COMES IN UNEXPECTED PLACES AT UNEXPECTED TIMES. THERE ARE NO RULES FOR USING IT LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE, THE WALLS ARE IN YOUR MIND.
Sometimes I start my early morning waking hours with headspace to help my mind be in peace and harmony.
I do my best work when I can be open and foster the space for creativity and ideation. That's why my walks are so important as it gives my mind the break it needs. My walk to remember is now sacred and a ritual.
It's been over a month and I still get the hives. I am thinking it is because of winter or the cold and the dust mites based on the allergy profile tests. I need my sunshine and I'm convinced that is my solution. Sunlight and fresh air is all I need.
I take an antihistamine, once every 3 days as it starts getting bad. And stress can be a factor that aggravates the hives. Keeping a close watch and one of my mentee suggested homeopathy. Another path to explore.
Drift
I came across this signage on a boat near the marina and it resonated - no longer drifting… I paused and it made me think. Maybe it is a sign.. a metaphor of life phases.
That is just how I feel today. No longer drifting away. But finding my space to belong in the ecosystem in my own way.
I have been waking up at 2 or 3am again. And I know that's not good - so I'm going to do whatever I can to find my peace and harmony. It's important to create a space that gives the ability to thrive.
I know how important rest is for my well-being. And I make sure I have the space on time for taking care of myself.
For me, rest is recharging my battery and making sure I can be fully present with my mentees, students, team members. So, I take the time I need for reading or learning something new.
Taking a break to rest
According to the Inc post, it has been suggested that we should take a 10-minute break after every 80 to 120 minutes to calm our brain activity.
It seems easier said than done but it would be great to take breaks every hour or two. But we don't have that mindset when it comes to our calendars at work. It’s meeting after meeting - no time to pause. This will be a practice to test and experiment.
Shawn Achor, happiness researcher, shares an important daily activity to shift toward optimism: Every morning, write a positive email or send a message thanking a colleague, or compliment a coworker, or customer.
I completely agree with this daily activity as I've seen its own benefits when every month I am privileged to recognize some of my team members who have helped me in the month through awardco points. And to say thank you. Appreciation goes a long way and I'm lucky to be supported by amazing folks.
And we are near towards the end of the month of January and I am amazed by the connections and synergy that has unfolded. To be fearless one day at a time.
I am moving from anxiety to action today and every day.
I am learning more about me from my conversations and learning to be authentic.
I'm grateful for all the people in my life who are my rock.. my Dunbar 50 and 150.
Div - this seriously made my day. Thank you for your openness and positivity