Else Kramer - Visual Revolutionaries

Feeling stressed?

Here's an easy technique to drop back into your body after spending a lot of time in your head.

Close your eyes, allow yourself a big sigh or two, and then move your attention to the back of your body.

Become aware of your back, all the muscles in there, and how they feel.

Then slowly travel outwards, becoming aware of everything that's in the space behind you, like the back of your chair, maybe a friendly plant, bookcases, etc. until you've reached the wall.

Notice how good it feels when you become more embodied - and hang out here for as long as you like.

We fast-brained humans tend to live mostly in our heads, with our focus on a tiny space in front of us (hello screens!). Doing this quick exercise is like colouring in the rest of your body - and world - again.

Give yourself two minutes today to give it a try, and let me know what it's like.

Image: Ôkawa Hashizô I as Tenjiku Kanja, Utagawa, Osaka, 1848 from the Rijksmuseum Colection

I deleted 15.000 unread emails today.

They lived in a news folder that I was cleverly ignoring.

I had managed to kid myself into thinking "I'll get to that someday".

But Spring is obviously in the air and getting to me - not only did I clear out my newsletter folder today, I also removed a years' worth of paint build-up from my brayers.

Which was almost as satisfying as deleting 15.000 unread emails.

The most interesting thing about those mails?

They were addressed to my past self.

Past me - who thought that she needed to sign up for everything, had massive FOMO, looked outside rather than inside for guidance.

As I looked through these mails I realised that they had become completely irrelevant.

I pretty much know what to do - and when I don't, I have some very smart and kind-hearted people I go to for guidance and solicited advice.

I'm incredibly selective with my time and attention - I want my inbox to reflect that.

Quality.
Value.
Connection, delight, inspiration.

If it doesn't meet any of those criteria - it's a hard (and easy) 'NO'.

What are you still saying yes to that doesn’t work with who you have become?

Figure it out, and hit ‘DELETE’.

And if you’d like some help with that I currently have a Spring Cleaning offer to help you get clear on your next steps. Send a DM or reply 'dust bunny' in the comments below and I'll get you all the details.

In this week's episode of the Managing the Smart Mind Podcast I talk about the Dark Side of Self-Improvement.

Is the idea that you should improve yourself serving you? Or is it actually getting you stuck on a hamster-wheel of negative self-talk and self-depreciation?

To find out, listen to this week's podcast on your favourite podcast app, or via this link, (and yes, those people are holding broccoli! - friggin' broccoli!!!!)

https://managingthesmartmind.buzzsprout.com/1960175/11067816-episode-24-the-dark-side-of-self-improvement

Photo by BrocnBells.com Team on Unsplash