Every year, New Year’s resolutions revolve around health. Exercising more, or eating better. Here are five resolutions to make you better emotionally, which is step one, and has been ignored too often.
1. Meditate.
The ability to clear your mind. To not think about your business, spouse (lack of one), kids, parents, whatever. When you realize how often things creep into your mind when you’re trying to focus, you realize how often you truly aren’t focused. In meetings when you should be lasered in, and you’re not. It starts with meditation. My advice is start short and free. Two apps that are good are Calm and Headspace. Make sure to turn your ringer off and spend three minutes with guided mediation. Once in the morning and once in the afternoon when you lose focus again.
2. Write.
As E.M. Forster said, “How do I know what I think until I see what I say?” Writing your thoughts down when you’re dealing with a problem just plain helps! Whether it be firing someone, a client situation, reorganization, a new venture….just write. It can be pen and paper, a Word document, a PowerPoint or on your phone. Just write your thoughts.
3. Reflect.
I stole this from Harry Kraemer. Kraemer is the former CEO of Baxter and current professor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. At the end of every day, whether it be 5 or 6 pm, or 9 or 10 pm, think. Reflect on your day. What you did. Who you spoke with. What you achieved. Think about the past and reflect. It will help you gain clarity for tomorrow.
4. Listen.
It should be self-explanatory, but it’s usually not. You’ve hired people to work with you. You pay vendors and advisors. You have a board or peer group. Listen. Want to hear bad news. Don’t think about your retort and being defensive….listen to what they are saying. Ask them follow-up questions to get them to go deeper. Listen, and learn.
5. Scream.
Not at anyone! Just scream. For 30 seconds. It shakes up your head and your body. It gets your blood and adrenalin pumping. It’s been studied and shown that it actually changes your mood. It’s awkward. It’s weird. It’s uncomfortable. And it works. Do it in your car. Do it in the shower. Find a place. You will feel better!
Happy 2018!
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