You’ve been pushing yourself since just after New Years and now your schedule is demanding that you kick it up another level. Here is what you need to avoid ending up exhausted, sick or even worse…
With the constant demands placed on you and your own internal drive for success, you could be creating a toxic combination. Being hyper connected has rewired our brain to look for our next dopamine fix on Facebook, Instagram or in our inbox… This ‘synthetic’ dopamine fix rewires our brain and enables a distraction mindset. It you pull the social media lever too much; you could shift from barely surviving to completely burning out.
Depression, mental health issues and suicide rates are at all-time highs and our inner thoughts can easily be triggered to become negative and judgmental. We tend to put ourselves last and delete or defer the activities and relationships that matter most, so what’s the difference between people who are surviving and those who are THRIVING?
It’s about being Resilient and I’ve distilled it down to three areas…
Mindset Matters – You don’t have to be an eternal optimist, but you do have to BELIEVE that today will be better than yesterday. If you dread waking up, going to work and all the requirements of your job, then you are playing an unwinnable game. No matter how many hours you put in, it will never be enough and without putting yourself first, you won’t be able to refill the tank. Your mind is like a powerful computer and the most crucial programming times are the first and the last 30 minutes of each day. Just like when you get dressed in the morning, you must consciously ‘put on’ your attitude each morning. If you allow the weather and the frantic client email to default your attitude, you could be setting yourself up for a long and dreadful day.
Relationships Matter – You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with, so choose wisely! If your coworkers are focused on the dread and drama, guess what, they will pull you down more than you can pull them up. What’s the stress level of your closest 5?
Hint: Create a Hero Team by finding a group of people you want to become more like and invest more time with them. Get an accountability partner to make sure you get to the gym, take your walk at lunch or politely push back on that over-the-top request from your boss or client. When was the last time you read a book? I mean a real book, not a digital version? In a recent study by the University of Minnesota reading for just 6 minutes can reduce stress by 68%. Maybe it’s time to make an agreement with your spouse, partner or yourself to put down the remote, tablet and phone 30 minutes before bed and take a digital detox.
Reflection Matters – We are creatures of habit and the faster we go, the less we think. If we don’t reflect on our decisions, those actions unconsciously become our habits and ultimately define our character. The best of the best leaders make time to step back, reflect on their decisions, and look for the learning. You know the definition of insanity!
BONUS: Recognition Matters too. You can only accomplish so much by yourself, eventually you’ll have to elicit the help of others. If you recognize others for their strengths and are open to give positive encouragement, people will run through walls for you.
Putting yourself first isn’t a survival technique, to the most successful and happy people,
it’s a THRIVAL technique to Unleash Your Inner HERO!!!
Michael Hahn is a leadership speaker, mindset coach and culture transformation expert who consults with leaders who wan to unleash their inner hero! He is the author of Hero Habits: The Guide to Thriving in Corporate America and in Life.
Want to BE the HERO?
Need a leadership speaker? Check out Michael’s interactive presentations at MichaelHahnSpeaker.com
