Take Some Mini Breaks, So You Won’t Break
Published November 25th, 2007 in Gratitude, Meditation, self developmentTags: Brainwave technology, Gratitude, Meditation, self development.
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The holiday seasons like Christmas, New Years are coming soon. And Thanksgiving holiday is about over. Sometimes having to go through all these seasons can be stressful too, due to the demands of your families, friends, colleagues and even from ourselves. Shopping lists, spring cleaning our house, buying gifts for our love ones and friends, decorating our house and so forth, all these adds up and it can be overwhelming if you are not careful to handle them.
I came across this Mini Energy Breaks Idea List by Hueina Su of Beyond Horizon Coaching. I think this will give you (my readers) help to maintain your energy level and not freaking out during these seasons.
So here is something for you to Take some Mini Energy Breaks, so you won’t break
My Sincere Best To You
Gamy Rachel
Be InSpired
Mini Energy Breaks Idea List
by Hueina Su
Beyond Horizon Coaching
In a modern society where we are moving at the speed of light, and everyone is so over-booked and overwhelmed, it’s very easy to feel stressed and drained. There are so many “energy drains” (both physical and emotional drains) in our life. It is very important to build in mini energy breaks throughout the day and the week, so you can reduce stress and replenish your energy.
Below is an idea list of mini energy breaks you can apply to your daily life. You can come up with your own ideas. Keep the list nearby, so you can schedule them into your planner, or refer to it when you have unexpected spare time. With consistent practice, you can learn to defuse and prevent stress and burnout in the long run.
Less than 2 Minutes Breaks
• Deep breathing: take a deep breath in slowly, hold 3 counts, and breathe out slowly
• One-frame Mental Picture (visualization): use one mental picture that gives you instant peace and joy.
E.g. your child’s smiling face, pet, favorite vacation spot
• Jumping Jacks, jump rope, or jog in place – gets your blood pumping
• Wash your face or run cold water on the back of your hands – will energize and wake you up
• Stand up and stretch
• Read the comics or a few jokes or funny videos your friends email to you
• Get a drink of water – proper hydration is important in keeping your energy
• Send a quick email to say hi to friends or family
• Rub your palms together until your hands are warm, then cover your eyes with your palm for a minute
2 to 5 Minutes Breaks
• Read your favorite column in the paper or an article in a magazine
• Listen to a favorite song and sing along (or get up and dance along!)
• Close your eyes and visualize yourself skiing down the slope (or doing one of your favorite activities)
• Check the movie schedule in the paper and plan an outing with your friends
• Call a friend/mate to chat and/or plan a lunch date
• Browse through a catalog or art book
• Keep a book of affirmations or positive quotes near your desk so you can read a few pages when you need a
spiritual pick-me-up
• Look at travel brochure or travel magazines, and plan your next vacation
• Brew a good cup of tea or coffee & enjoy it
• Have a quick, healthy snack
• Walk around the block or office
• Play with a toy you keep at the office, e.g. yo-yo, paddle ball, dart board
• Work on a crossword or other types of puzzle
• Share a joke with someone
• Give yourself a head massage or foot massage
5 to 30 Minutes Breaks
• Listen to some inspiring or career development seminar on CD or computer
• Plan some extra walking into your day – park a little farther from your building, or talk a walk with a friend
or your dog
• Learn a foreign language from CD
• Curl up on the sofa with a good book and/or a cup of tea
• Play with your kids or your pets
• Stop by a book store and browse
• Stop by your favorite café on your way to work or your way home
• Shop for a present for your friend/family from a mail order catalog or online
• Take a brown bag lunch and go to a nearby park
• Carpool with someone you enjoy, and try to focus your conversation on positive, energy-building topics
• If you drive by yourself, listen to your favorite CDs (soothing music, songs to sing along, or comedy) or audio
books – things that lift your spirit
• Have a collection of activities and hobbies that you can easily pick up and put down, such as knitting,
weaving, puzzles, single-hand card games
• Have a collection of cards & post cards at your desk, so you can write a quick note to your friends or family
– reaching out & feeling connected to someone you care, gives you energy & lift your spirit
• Plan a surprise for someone you love or appreciate
• Plan something special to look forward to this evening, or this weekend
• Give yourself a manicure or pedicure
• Take a different route home from work, stop by a park or sit by a pond, or simply drive through the country
side & enjoy the fresh air
30 minutes to 2 hours (great for week nights or any free time you have during the day)
• Take an exercise or yoga class
• Take a walk, roller skate or bike in your neighborhood or in the park
(enroll a friend or family members to go with you)
• Go swimming and enjoy the hot tub afterwards
• Check out a new store or bakery nearby
• Go to a lecture on a topic that you enjoy
Take an arts & crafts class or workshop – learning something new energizes you
• Go to a movie
• Have a lunch date with your friends or your mate
• Have a tea party with your friends or your kids
• Take a bubble bath or foot bath
• Light a scented candle and meditate
• Enjoy your favorite dessert and savor every bite of it
• Get a facial, manicure or massage – bodywork is great for relieving tension
• Enjoy playing music or singing – don’t worry if you can’t play/sing well, it would
actually be more fun to goof around with your friends/family, or by yourself!
• Play board games or card games
• Join the family in a game of backyard badminton, football, baseball, ping pong or
hide-and-seek before dinner
• Attend to your garden
• Keep a journal
• Write a card or letter to friends or family
• Take a nap
• Track down old friends that you’ve lost touch with, and call or write to them
• Review old family pictures or albums, and tell family jokes or stories to each other
• Enjoy old musical albums or CDs and dance in your own living room
• Watch an old favorite movie or sitcom
• Plan your next vacation – collect maps, books, articles of your favorite destinations, talk with your
friends/family about the activities you would like to do while you are there, and how your will feel
• If you had a bad day, role play with your friends or family about the situation and come up with the most
outrageous, silly comeback you would’ve liked to say to that person – laughter is a great stress-reliever
Jot down your own ideas here:
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About the author: Hueina Su, M.S., CEC, is a Professional Life Coach and the founder of Beyond Horizon Coaching, a nationwide coaching/training company specializing in coaching women who nurture others, and helping them practice Intensive Self-Care, overcome Nurturing Burnout and achieve work/life balance. Download your free Intensive Self-Care Kit at www.beyondHorizonCoaching.com
Visit Hueina Su’s Blog here http://blog.beyondhorizoncoaching.com
7 Responses to “Take Some Mini Breaks, So You Won’t Break”
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Hi Gamy:
Thank you for posting my “Mini Energy Breaks Idea List”. I hope more people will benefit from these ideas, and take proactive steps to de-stress during the holidays.
I notice that you have a diploma in aromatherapy. How wonderful! I’ve been using pure, therapeutic-grade essential oils for myself (health issues, stress relief and managing negative emotions) with great results. Now I also recommend these oils for my coaching clients. You can find more info on my essential oils website: http://www.TrueHealingOils.com.
Blessings,
Hueina
Hello Hueina
My pleasure Hueina. Your Energy Break List is excellent. Yes, I love essential oils and aromatherapy and massages too. They are great stress reliefs.
Thank you for dropping by my blog and the info on the essential oil website.
I will certainly check it out.
Warmly
Gamy