HAPPY FRIDAYS!

Did you wake up this morning and say, "Thank God it's Friday!"? 

Does that phrase translate to: "It's finally the end of the week! I can relax, have some time to myself and do me!"  Now if that's what you really do...wonderful!  But if your weekends are filled with laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning, running errands, etc when does your "Me" time kick in?   An hour and a half at the nail salon on Saturday and a two hour nap on Sunday afternoon is not what I had in mind!

For those of you whose schedules and/or family responsibilities limit your ability to have an entire weekend for yourself to kick back and relax, I suggest carving a little "Friday" out of each day for yourself. Your body has amazing built in restorative capabilities but without proper nurturing, your body's "restore" switch will go on the fritz and you become a walking bunch of nerves and some poor soul will inevitably step on the wrong one! So, before that last nerve gets abused, sit down and create a list of at least 10 "Mini Spa Moments"  that you can fit into your daily routine to refresh yourself.  You can't give your best to anyone if you feel frazzled most of the time. Symptoms of stress include feeling overwhelmed, not sleeping well even though you're bone tired, irritable and snappy, brain fog, low energy, and a chronic desire to stop the world and get off! Can anybody relate?!

To help you jump start your spa list, here are few of mine.

• Aromatherapy. I am absolutely in love with Bath and Body Works orange and ginger lotion! Several times a day I will slather it on my hands while taking a series of deep restorative breaths. Even when I'm teaching, I can slip away into my office and do this. Time: 1 minute or less
• Sunshine Breaks. I work in an environment with no windows so getting out once or twice a day for a quick 5 minute stroll is very rejuvenating not to mention the added bonus of burning a few calories. Time: 10 minutes or less (I built in some minutes in case you work on the 20th floor!)
• Snack time.  Remember that from your elementary school days?  Prepare "Power Snacks" at home and bring them to work with you in snack bags. Peanut butter on half a bagel, raisins and nuts, dry high fiber cereal mixed with tangy craisins,  (dried cranberries - they are delicious!)  fruit & vegetables,  orange slices, strawberries, celery, carrot sticks  - you get the idea. No junk food allowed. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and a couple of snacks a day will keep your energy levels up and help you lose weight. Time: 10 minutes. Savor your snack. Chew slowly. No inhaling allowed!
• Water and bathroom break.  Are you guilty of "holding" yourself before taking the time to go to the restroom.  For goodness sake, you are not too busy to use the bathroom!  When you let some water out, put some water in.  Carry four 16 oz bottles of water with you daily and consume them throughout the day. Bring home empty bottles! I'm not particular when it comes to water, I fill mine from the tap but if you have a water preference, buy it and keep it on hand. Time: 5 minutes several times a day  Hint: you should get up from your desk at least once every 2 hours to stretch and get some water.

Now for any of you who are thinking, "This spa stuff is going to eat into my day."  Let me tell you, taking these little moments for yourself will actually make your working time more productive. I dare you to simply try it and then see how much more you're able to accomplish in a day. By the time Friday rolls around, you're not dragging the floor ready to pass out until Monday! 

Today's Challenge:

Allow yourself 2 spa moments today. Use mine or come up with your own, but give yourself a real break and celebrate Friday... everyday!