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Self-Care Matters — Especially in Business

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Does your “To Do” list include self-care?

Sure, we all have To Do lists.

That list of things is endless.

There’s always more that can be done.

Here’s the thing — no matter how long your list of things to get done is — it’s essential that you put caring for yourself on that list every day.

Self-care really does matter. In fact, it’s essential. Especially in business.

The list of tasks will never end. You in-box will always have more. The notifications will rarely end. Yet — the more that you make yourself a priority the better capable you will be at completing the tasks that are in front of you each day. The more focus you will have. The easier it will be to reach your goals.

As urgent as everything is — there truly is nothing more urgent than your own self-care. Remember that. It is an essential business practice.

Simple Self-care Strategies

Here are some simple strategies that you can immediately put into action in order to begin caring for yourself right now.

Drink more water. 

Sure it sounds simple. Yet — for most of us, we don’t drink enough water in the day. Water is really, really good for you. And it’s especially good for helping your brain to stay focused and on task. Hydrate. Instead of reaching for a coffee — refill your water bottle — and drink, drink, drink!!

 

Go outside and look at the sky.

Sometimes we spend too much time inside. And sometimes when we are outside we are focused on where we are going, what’s happening around us or what the weather is doing. Try going outside and simply looking up. Look at the sky. Notice the colours you see. Are there clouds? Is the sun shining? Do you see stars? Breathe. And breathe again. Plus — breathe some more. All while looking up and at the sky. Reconnect your feet to the ground while doing nothing but taking in the wonder of what the sky has to show you. Liz has written about the importance of the sky on more than a few times.  See her posts – Beach Notes: A Few Minutes for Yourself and the Sky and Imagine a Blue Sky, Blissful Weekend.

Go for a walk.

Feeling frustrated? Tired? Disconnected? Put your shoes on and go for a walk outside. It doesn’t need to be a big walk. Perhaps it’s just to your mailbox. Or maybe around the corner to the park or local store. Put one foot in front of the other and simply move. Step by step by step. And while you are at it — try looking up at the sky too and also take a big drink of water from that water bottle that you filled up! Rosemary touched on the importance of moving your body in this post – How to Get More Done by Managing Your Energy.

Get quiet and breathe.

Stop talking. Just be quiet. Tune out the noises around you. Breathe. In and out. And in and out. Over and over. Listen to your breath. Trust that it knows what to do. Follow your breath. Be still and in the moment. You don’t need to think about anything other than your breathing. Do this for 5-10 minutes twice a day to regroup your mind with your body. Simply be quiet. And breathe.

 

Self-care is really so very important. And it’s actually quite simple. So make sure it’s on the top of your To Do list” and keep it there.

Jane Boyd is a Partner in GeniusShared. She is also the CEO of 45 Conversations Media & Education Ltd, a Canadian education and training company based just outside of Vancouver Canada. She works with educators, business, community and government in the areas of early learning, work-life, community development and employee engagement.

Playing on the Swings is Good for Business

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Looking for a new productivity hack?

Here’s a novel idea. Try the swings.

Really!

How often do you truly play?

You know — get out there and have some good old fashioned fun!

Think about it.

When is the last time you played on the swings at your local park?

 

Or — even better — under a night sky.

Stop.

Think.

Close your eyes.

Imagine.

Let your mind play for a while.

 

 

 

Can you feel it?

 

The back and fourth.

The up and down.

The breeze against your face.

The sky touching your toes.

The excitement of getting a little bit higher with every additional swing.

 

 

This moment you are thinking about — this is the stuff of wonder. 

 

And joy.

This is what makes the little kid in us re-emerge.

It’s what keeps us curious and engaged. All of it.

This is play at it’s best.

And guess what?

Letting your adult self play is good for you.

And it’s good for business too. Especially when it comes to helping you stay focused and creative.

So — go find a swing.

And swing.

Take it all in.
Appreciate it.
Experience it.
Embrace it.
Enjoy it.
Learn from it.

Trust me. You will be glad you did.

And you might just discover it’s one of the keys to helping you be more productive too.

Jane Boyd is a Partner in GeniusShared. She is also the CEO of 45 Conversations Media & Education Ltd, a Canadian education and training company based just outside of Vancouver Canada. She works with educators, business, community and government in the areas of early learning, work-life, community development and employee engagement.

Sunshine, Silence and Contemplation

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Oh that moment.

You know the one I mean.

That moment when the sun is shining through the windows of your home (or office) in the earliest hours of the morning.

That moment when you are drinking your first hot cup of coffee or tea or perhaps even a smoothie.

And there’s only you, sunshine and silence.

Plus contemplation. Lots and lots of contemplation.

Yes — that’s the moment.

That’s the exact moment I’m talking about.

Now, truth be told — we’ve pretty much all experienced a moment such as this at some point in our lives.

Yet, for more than a few of us, the reality is that we can’t quite recall the last time we were in the middle of a moment of sunshine, silence and contemplation.

Life is like that.

Moments come and moments go.

And silence mixed with sunshine can be fleeting. Especially on cloudy, hectic days.

Yet — the reality is this — the sun shows up every single day.

Even on the cloudiest and stormiest of days, it’s still there.

Especially when we can’t see it.

The truth is that on those days and in those moments, we simply have to wait a little longer for it to show up with it’s full beauty and brilliance.

And silence?

Yes silence is always there too; even when we can’t quite hear it.

No matter how hard silence is to find, you have to believe that it can always be heard too.

Especially on the loudest of days.

So tomorrow morning, grab that hot cup of coffee or tea or your favourite smoothie and sit down by a window.

And wait.

Wait without your phone. Without notifications. And without people.

Just wait with yourself.

Wait, watch and listen.

If you are lucky, the universe might just decide to cooperate. And you too will experience the moment I’m talking about.

Yes — that moment.

No matter who you are, what road you are on or where life is taking you (or where YOU are taking your life) — there’s virtually nothing better that starting your day with the collision of sunshine, silence and contemplation. It will focus and ground you more than you realize.

Jane Boyd is a Partner in GeniusShared. She is also the CEO of 45 Conversations Media & Education Ltd, a Canadian education and training company based just outside of Vancouver Canada. She works with educators, business, community and government in the areas of early learning, work-life, community development and employee engagement.

4 Ways the Public Library Can Support Your Small Business

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A few days ago I went to the library. You know — one of my local public libraries. I went there to borrow some books that I had placed a hold on. For research. As in — business research. That’s right. I went to the local library to borrow books to support research I was doing for a client project.

As an entrepreneur, I’ve come to realize that the public library system is actually a great resource for my small business. Over the years, I’ve used library services across the Metro Vancouver area for a multitude of business reasons. Here’s 4 ways I have found that local public libraries support small business:

  • They often provide great access to affordable meeting spaces for small (or large) group gatherings.
  • There’s usually quiet (in some cases — virtually silent) and comfortable areas to read, work or conduct research.
  • Most libraries provide free access to good quality,  wireless high-speed internet. This can be especially handy when I’m traveling and don’t want to spend a ton of  time working in noisy coffee shops.
  • And, most importantly, there are all the books and resources that libraries have to offer. Over the last while, I’ve found myself ordering more and more physical books to read and review for various client projects, for business research and for general planning purposes. Of course, many libraries also offer e-book borrowing as well. All in all — libraries are a super affordable way to access a huge range of resources, reading materials and reference items.

So, as you can see there are lots of ways that the local library system plays a role in supporting the work I do through my small business here in Canada.

As an entrepreneur, I’m just one of the many different types of people that public libraries serve. In reality, today’s libraries are busy offering programs and services to an absolute multitude of people! For example, on any given day 50,000 people come through the doors of the Toronto (Canada) Public Library’s 100 branches, while 85,000 make an online visit.  And — just in case you thought Starbucks had cornered the market on access to free high-speed internet in the United States, think again. According to American Library Association there are more public libraries than Starbucks in the U.S.—a total of 17,566 including branches. Nearly 100% of public libraries provide Wi-Fi and have no-fee access to computers. Plus, many libraries have local coffee shops located very close to them. Some libraries even sell coffee right inside the library.

Isn’t that amazing? Wow.

With respect to business and careers, I came across this other bit of interesting information from the American Library Association. Did you know that libraries actually strengthen local economies? For example in the U.S. –

  • 73% of public libraries assist patrons with job applications and interviewing skills;
  • 68% help patrons use databases to find career openings;
  • 48% provide access to and assist entrepreneurs with online business information resources;
  • More than 36% offer work space for mobile workers.

And while we almost all turn to Google Search for the answers to a great many things, the reality is that many people also still relay on reference librarians in the public and academic libraries across the U.S. Did you know that collectively reference librarians answer nearly 6.6 million questions weekly in the nations libraries!

That’s another wow!

Here’s a few super helpful library websites that have been developed to support small business owners.

The Berkley Public Library offers a comprehensive listing of resources, events and research links to support small business as well as jobs and career planning.

The New York Public Library provides a great Small Business Resource Center that is packed with local, state and national links and information.

The Vancouver Public Library offers a super listing of recommended books for entrepreneurs to read as well as links to many different websites to help small business owners with planning, operations and much more.

So — the next time you are in need of some support for your small business, you need to do some research for the development of a new product or are trying to find the answer to that impossible business question — head to your local library. You might just be amazed by how much your local library has to offer! If you need help finding the public library service in your community check out this great listing of libraries around the world.

Jane Boyd is a Partner in GeniusShared. She is also the CEO of 45 Conversations Media & Education Ltd, a Canadian education and training company based just outside of Vancouver Canada. She works with educators, business, community and government in the areas of early learning, work-life, community development and employee engagement.

Having a hard time finding focus?

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Finding focus

It can be hard to find focus sometimes.

A few months ago, I was talking with a colleague who was having a hard time finding focus in their work. They spoke of feeling pulled in multiple directions and of many obligations — both at work and with their family. As I listened, I could hear how frustrated they were feeling. It was obvious that a few things needed to shift for them. They needed to create a path that would get them moving forward in a more focused way. A path that was achievable and that would help to reduce the level of distractions they were experiencing. They needed to find a way to feel a true sense of control over their life.

Working together, we set out to make a list of ideas and strategies that, when practiced, had the potential to really assist them. Here’s a few key things we put on that list . . .

  • Reduce interruptions when focus is needed! This meant finding the least distracting spot to work, eliminating the constant notifications on their computer and smart phone and planning ahead to maximize productivity during the quietest moments of the day.
  • Stop working. Really! This was critical — often my colleague would keep working long into the night — when they were overtired and actually not productive at all. Instead of pushing themselves to keep on going we agreed that they would set a regular time to stop their work. This would support them to move on in their day and to be sure they were enjoying time with family and friends more frequently.
  • Look after self. These were simple self care ideas — but they mattered. Going to bed earlier and getting up earlier. Finding moments in the day to breathe more deeply, calming busy thoughts in their mind and being more mindful throughout the day. It also included eating more real food and less junk food – and — actually remembering to eat. Oh – and getting their body moving. Going for walks or for a swim several times a week.

Today, things have improved. My colleague tells me they feel more focused and less distracted. These improvements show in the projects they are working on and in how they are generally feeling. They seem more at ease. They are also more aware of what works and doesn’t related to maintaining ongoing focus and eliminating distractions.

Finding your way to focus can be difficult. Sometimes the more we try to achieve focus the more distracted we become. It can be good to get out of your own head and discuss your thinking with another person. You’d be amazed just how many other people also struggle with distractions and maintaining focus. Other people can offer you solid ideas and suggestions that can make a real difference.

Do the things you need to do — so you can reduce the distractions in your life and improve your overall focus. Finding focus will make everything so much easier, faster and more rewarding.

Put Your Mind to It

The next time you find yourself having difficulty with focus or you feel distracted from your work — take note. Ask yourself what is happening that is causing you to feel that way? Consider what you can change up in your life. Talk about it with a close colleague or friend and get their input.

More from Successful-Blog on Focus

The Most Important Thing You Can Focus On Today

Distraction or Opportunity?

Jane Boyd is a Partner in GeniusShared. She is also the CEO of 45 Conversations Media & Education Ltd, a Canadian education and training company based just outside of Vancouver Canada. She works with educators, business, community and government in the areas of early learning, work-life, community development and employee engagement.

Sometimes We Outgrow Our Stories

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Sometimes we outgrow our stories.
Sometimes we outgrow our stories.

The other day I was having a conversation with a friend. We were sharing stories from days gone by about each of our lives. We hopped from one story to the next — based on what each of us were sharing. It was really an incredible discussion as we were each learning from the other through the power of the stories we were telling.

Over the last few years I’ve been much more aware of the way I share my own personal stories with others. Of what it is that I’m putting out into the world. And of how the stories I tell impact others as well as myself. It’s become somewhat of an acquired skill — being truly aware of exactly what my stories are and how I share them. Of what they mean to me. I suppose you could say I have a new level of self awareness when it comes to the stories I tell myself and others.

Anyway, there my friend and I were sharing stories. Funny stories, sad stories and stories that make you think — that cause you to question your perspective on things. We reached a point in the discussion, where it seemed like the right moment for me to share a story that I often tell. One from my past that has always brought to mind a series of mixed thoughts and emotions. I told the story just as I always have. And the response was the same as it often is — one of interest and engagement. Yet, as I was telling the story I realized something. I wasn’t feeling the same way I usually did about this particular story. In fact, the further I got into the story the more I realized that I might just have outgrown the story. That perhaps it was actually no longer as relevant to my life or the person I am today. By the time I was finished the story, it was as though I knew the story wouldn’t be sitting on the same bookshelf of stories in my life any longer. It truly was a story from my past — and it no longer represented who I am today.

It’s important to remember that we decide the stories that decide our lives. And that sometimes we outgrow our stories — because we change, move on or let go of things that once held onto us. Learning to recognize when it’s time to retire a story so you can move on to write new stories in your life is essential. It’s the difference between building your future vs living in the past.

Put Your Mind to It

The next time you find yourself sharing stories about who you are, your life and you past — take a moment to reflect. Are they really the stories you want to tell about yourself? Do they align with the person you are today?

More from Successful-Blog . . .

What are the four elements of human freedom?

Five ways to attack the hard things in your business

Jane Boyd is a Partner in GeniusShared. She is also the CEO of 45 Conversations Media & Education Ltd, a Canadian education and training company based just outside of Vancouver Canada. She works with educators, business, community and government in the areas of early learning, work-life, community development and employee engagement.