Sunshine on SAD days
I was chatting with a lovely lady in my network the other day, Sue Atkins, The Parent Coach, and we were noting the change of season and musing about the virtues of light boxes, particularly those ones that simulate the sunrise. Autumn is one of my favourite seasons and I don’t know about you but if I wake up to glorious sunrise streaming through the curtains it usually entices me out of bed a great deal quicker than murky grey mist!
The changing seasons I’m sure affects all of us, from the little old lady down the hall who’s rheumatism flares up in the damp, to the young lad who will soon be walking home from school in the dark. Seasonal Affective Disorder S.A.D is something that’s been on my radar for some time.
According to the SAD Association it affects an estimated half a million people every winter (Source http://www.sada.org.uk/).
Some of the symptoms they list also crop up fairly regularly in my clients and colleagues, and I’ve noticed them in myself too. There is some debate as to whether SAD exists but leaving that aside for the moment I think it is fair to say that the symptoms are experienced by many. So what can we do to actively prepare ourselves for the retreat into winter?
How can we continue the vitality and vibrancy of energy that we need to maintain thriving businesses and happy lives?’
Well a light box may well be a viable solution and there are a wealth on the market. I haven’t road tested them all so can’t make a personal recommendation, but I’ve listed a few sources in case it’s helpful. If you have and you can, do get in touch.
http://www.outsidein.co.uk/
http://www.britebox.co.uk/
http://www.sadbox.co.uk/
Equally there are some very simple lifestyle changes that we can make that will raise our general vitality.
Make the most of the little sunshine we have.
If you go to work in the dark and travel home in the dark, take time out during the daylight hours to get out in the fresh air. There’s no real excise not to take ½ an hour out for lunch is there?
Build in walks in green spaces at the weekend, rain or shine it will do wonders for your natural vitality. After all there’s no such thing as bad weather…only the wrong clothing.
Get the right Vit’s.
Common sense for most of us I know but when comfort food beckons it can be really easy to loose sight of a healthy balanced diet. Try to stick to Vegetables in season.
If you’re lucky enough to have a weekly farmers market on your doorstep like us then great, but for those who have a little less time and may not be sure what’s in season or not perhaps consider getting it delivered.
Abel & Cole or Farmers choice are just two companies that have been recommended to me and reach most UK areas.
http://www.abel-cole.co.uk/
www.farmerschoice.net/organic
Have a good stretch.
Those of us that enjoy yoga, tai chi or similar can rave about the numerous benefits. If you aren’t that way inclined, don’t have time to get to a class then a good top to toe stretch when you get out of bed in the morning, gives your meridians, muscles, energetic flows and aura a good surge of energy to get you going. It doesn’t have to be those fancy lycra coated stretches you might see in a London park. Reaching to touch the ceiling and bending to touch your toes in your fluffy pjs works just as well.
For those more interested in learning more about energy work and getting the subtle energetic flows working even more effectively you might like to try a simple 5 minute daily energy routine.
I thoroughly recommend Donna Eden’s Energy Medicine work and of course my own Amovita Vitality Workshops.
Talk, write, scream, paint.
Symptoms of depression can be cripple ling to the most creative, extrovert and lively individuals and families. When low mood hits it can have a tendency to “domino” and effect our whole lives. As soon as you notice a change in mood, do something about it before it spirals. For some people a chat with a friend, coach or counsellor may help. For others a good scream in the privacy of your own car parked in a remote field can be liberating, The tried and tested “write and rip” technique for when your mind is cluttered with negative thoughts or worries works wonders. Write it all down in a stream of consciousness, don’t re-read it just rip it up, burn it or bury it. Painting for some can be creative and cathartic especially on a huge canvas so it become a whole body experience. Dancing, singing, walking, crying ….the list goes on as far as your imagination will let it.
Be around happy people!
We all know joyful vibrant people in our lives, I’m so blessed that so many of my friends and family are a joy to be with. Spend time with those people, release those natural endorphins and have a good laugh!
Do something for someone you love
A colleague of mine once said to me there’s no such thing as altruism, which is an interesting thought (for another blog I think). I think it is fair to say that doing something for someone else can make you feel good. Even the little things, a smile, a kind word or a hug given with unconditional love has a butterfly effect that we can only try and imagine.
If this blog has opened your eyes to something new then great and if it has simply been a reminder of truths you already knew, fantastic, if it has provoked curiosity, argument or a thought about your own lifestyle then my work here is done.
Wishing you a sunny day
Elizabeth
It goes without saying that if you feel you are suffering from serious S.A.D symptoms then a trip to your GP or alternative health practitioner is also recommended.
Monday, 29 October 2007
Monday Morning Motivation
Mike, my husband, and I spent a lovely evening with two great friends of ours over the weekend. Both very creative passionate people who’s company we thoroughly enjoy. We got to talking, as we usually do, about our work.
By the end of the conversation we were geared up for a great week ahead, reaffirmed in our commitment to the work that we do and overflowing with enthusiasm, helped a little by the mulled wine.
On reflection this morning I started to unpick the process that we went through, in a fairly fundamental way, to gain a deeper understanding of how that seamless and elegant process worked. I thought I’d share my initial thoughts in the hope that it may provide some Monday morning Motivation for you.
If you were a donkey, which I’m not suggesting you are of course, would you be more motivated by the carrot or the stick? If you were an athlete, would you be a sprinter, or a long distance runner? The Tortoise or the Hare? Sheep or Shepherd?
It’s fair to say, I think, that we are all slightly different in our motivation.
In Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) the patterns that I’m fascinated by in relation to motivation, amongst other things, are known as Meta Programmes. In straight forward terms, these are patterns in our way of thinking that we use to form our view of the world, preferences if you like that determine the filters we apply to the information we receive. It’s important to note that each Meta Programme or pattern is highly variable according to the situation.
As an example the carrot / stick analogy might be used to describe the Meta Programme of Towards – Away From. Does a person move towards pleasure, or away from pain in that particular situation? In my work, I’m very much pulled by the carrot, the stick just irritates me. When I’m moved to do the ironing, it’s because I can’t get in the room before climbing Shirt Everest! (Away From).
In the context of motivating my friend towards her work, the Towards also applies. The prospect of bringing to fulfilment creative, artistic, profound projects inspires her more than the need to pay the bills. I’ve also noticed this trait in a number of my friends and fellow networkers who have entrepreneurial tendencies.
So if we know the carrot motivates us, how can we use that?
I noticed, during our conversation, that we were loosely following a process that I often engage with when coaching, that may be useful if you’ve not considered this before.
Lets imagine being a donkey again, if there was a carrot round the next corner, but you couldn’t see it, it might edge you forwards for a while, but you would likely soon get bored and give up. It might not be as motivating for you as if it was hanging on a string, just out of reach of your nose. In order to be motivated by it, the carrot needs to be visible.
My friend is an artist, a really god one and she likes to work big. As we were talking I could see her imagining herself engaged in her work on these giant canvasses, painting and screen printing to her hearts desire. She could see the process and the end result including the delighted look on her clients faces when they hang their piece with pride. The more she saw, the more excited she became. When we added dialogue to the images in her mind and rehearsed those successful conversations she would have with her clients, it became even more real.
The process is a simple one that you can apply today. Create a simple vision for your work, ask yourself
“What’s the big picture here? Why am I doing this? What will it achieve for me? What’s the value of what I do for my clients?” All these things, start to make you feel good about what it is that you’re doing.
Then see yourself doing it with great success. Make the images big, colourful and real for you. To make it even more compelling use as many senses as you can. Add a soundtrack that reinforces it for you. Add the smells, make them really specific, for aromatherapists out there imagine that perfect top, middle, base note blend that works wonders on the mind body and soul, if you’re a chef, add the sizzle, the aroma, the taste! Make your vision as real as possible. Then dangle it in front of your nose….! Keep it in front of you when you need a lift or a spurt of motivation, remind yourself of why you’re slogging through your to do list, writing your blog, using market place, updating your status, making that call you might not want to make. Spend a minute of your precious time to paint a picture in your mind and re-motivate yourself.
I’ve only scratched the surface of meta programmes, mental rehearsal and the wealth of tools and techniques that are related to this fascinating field of motivation. Watch this space for future MmM’s or message me if I’ve inspired curiosity and you want to find out more.
“Motivation is like bathing, that’s why we recommend it daily.”
By the end of the conversation we were geared up for a great week ahead, reaffirmed in our commitment to the work that we do and overflowing with enthusiasm, helped a little by the mulled wine.
On reflection this morning I started to unpick the process that we went through, in a fairly fundamental way, to gain a deeper understanding of how that seamless and elegant process worked. I thought I’d share my initial thoughts in the hope that it may provide some Monday morning Motivation for you.
If you were a donkey, which I’m not suggesting you are of course, would you be more motivated by the carrot or the stick? If you were an athlete, would you be a sprinter, or a long distance runner? The Tortoise or the Hare? Sheep or Shepherd?
It’s fair to say, I think, that we are all slightly different in our motivation.
In Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) the patterns that I’m fascinated by in relation to motivation, amongst other things, are known as Meta Programmes. In straight forward terms, these are patterns in our way of thinking that we use to form our view of the world, preferences if you like that determine the filters we apply to the information we receive. It’s important to note that each Meta Programme or pattern is highly variable according to the situation.
As an example the carrot / stick analogy might be used to describe the Meta Programme of Towards – Away From. Does a person move towards pleasure, or away from pain in that particular situation? In my work, I’m very much pulled by the carrot, the stick just irritates me. When I’m moved to do the ironing, it’s because I can’t get in the room before climbing Shirt Everest! (Away From).
In the context of motivating my friend towards her work, the Towards also applies. The prospect of bringing to fulfilment creative, artistic, profound projects inspires her more than the need to pay the bills. I’ve also noticed this trait in a number of my friends and fellow networkers who have entrepreneurial tendencies.
So if we know the carrot motivates us, how can we use that?
I noticed, during our conversation, that we were loosely following a process that I often engage with when coaching, that may be useful if you’ve not considered this before.
Lets imagine being a donkey again, if there was a carrot round the next corner, but you couldn’t see it, it might edge you forwards for a while, but you would likely soon get bored and give up. It might not be as motivating for you as if it was hanging on a string, just out of reach of your nose. In order to be motivated by it, the carrot needs to be visible.
My friend is an artist, a really god one and she likes to work big. As we were talking I could see her imagining herself engaged in her work on these giant canvasses, painting and screen printing to her hearts desire. She could see the process and the end result including the delighted look on her clients faces when they hang their piece with pride. The more she saw, the more excited she became. When we added dialogue to the images in her mind and rehearsed those successful conversations she would have with her clients, it became even more real.
The process is a simple one that you can apply today. Create a simple vision for your work, ask yourself
“What’s the big picture here? Why am I doing this? What will it achieve for me? What’s the value of what I do for my clients?” All these things, start to make you feel good about what it is that you’re doing.
Then see yourself doing it with great success. Make the images big, colourful and real for you. To make it even more compelling use as many senses as you can. Add a soundtrack that reinforces it for you. Add the smells, make them really specific, for aromatherapists out there imagine that perfect top, middle, base note blend that works wonders on the mind body and soul, if you’re a chef, add the sizzle, the aroma, the taste! Make your vision as real as possible. Then dangle it in front of your nose….! Keep it in front of you when you need a lift or a spurt of motivation, remind yourself of why you’re slogging through your to do list, writing your blog, using market place, updating your status, making that call you might not want to make. Spend a minute of your precious time to paint a picture in your mind and re-motivate yourself.
I’ve only scratched the surface of meta programmes, mental rehearsal and the wealth of tools and techniques that are related to this fascinating field of motivation. Watch this space for future MmM’s or message me if I’ve inspired curiosity and you want to find out more.
“Motivation is like bathing, that’s why we recommend it daily.”
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