Stop for a Break Before its Too Late! And Forget

Are you working hard? Too hard perhaps? Do you ever feel overwhelmed, or that you are 'spinning your wheels' and that time is slipping you by? Perhaps its time to Stop, take a Break. Don't wait until its too late and you burn out.

We really do need to 'Stop and Smell the Roses' and we have been doing this a bit here of late, plus the free goodies! (and Yasmine, if you are reading this, there is a short message for you below...).

So this posting is another simple reminder, to help put things into perspective and to help you stop for awhile - if you have the time. It is a rather long posting, as it guides you through a simple breathing exercise, and points you to some 'widgets' to have some online fun. Relax and forget any troubles for a short while :-)

Even if you feel like you don't have the time, yet you are feeling stressed or 'blurry-eyed', perhaps try and make some time - you always need to stop to recharge your batteries. Don't wait until its too late and you burn out, please, even if you don't stay here and use the goodies below. And for those people who need time out - you know who I am talking too ;-)

Life is complex and is becoming increasingly stressful. As we weary, it can taint our views. The more worn out and tired we become, the less tolerant and more frustrated we can become. It becomes harder to be happy and positive. We can lose sight of our goals, or our belief that we CAN achieve our goals. Our passions can diminish, as we start to burn out. This is such an important point. Because it is our mindset and our attitudes, thoughts and feelings which are predominantly influential on our plans and dreams.

Life can be a tough road as many of you know - the ups, the downs. The days where we (and I too) see hope. The days where tragedy, sadness, illness, hospital or surgery get in the way and frustration or depression sets in.

Sometimes we just need to put things into perspective ... to let go, and just enjoy the moment, the now. Accept what 'is' and don't feel guilty if you feel like you 'should' be doing something. We all suffer from this at some stages, that is, procrastination, whether it be from fear, tiredness, or other reason.

Take a little time out. Forget the past. Forget the future - it doesn't exist - despite our 'inner chatterboxes', which fill our minds with the- 'what-if's' of life that we constantly worry about. But what does worry accomplish?

Will 'worry' resolve a problem? Yes, it may spur us on to action (the same as fear can). But will the actual 'worrying' fix it. Note also that up to 90% of the things we worry about actually don't happen!. Thus, wasted energy ... Perhaps ask yourself - if something may be worrying you - 'how important is it really'? next month? next year? in the next 10 years? on your death-bed? The jobs need to get done. But put them in perspective. And enjoy the 'process' of life!

Perhaps even forget 'success', achievements', wealth, goals .... just for a moment. Even positive goals can be stressful, as we overwhelm and place pressure on ourselves to constantly achieve (not to mention pressure from outside sources - remember, we need to be kind to ourselves).

We are not our 'achievements'. We are already unique, special, wonderful beings - all of us, right now. Not later. Now. Many of us have forgotten what this is like, the way we were as children before responsibilities started to bear us down. If we take some time to return to the 'now', and play like children, it can be a breath of fresh air. Children laugh because they know how to have fun. They have not yet been fully tainted by responsibility and life events. They laugh for the sake of laughing, of playing.

When was the last time you played like that? You may have laughed. But what kind of laughing? (if you want to know more about this, read the newly added ebook in the 'free goodies basket' embedded into the bottom of the front/home page of this blog).

Try not to be attached to 'outcomes' and end-results (success or failures).

• There doesn't always need to be a 'reason' to have fun or laugh, or to be happy.
• We can be happy, just to be happy. Happiness is not always 'conditional' (ie. I will be happy 'when', or 'if'' ...)
• Why 'wait' until we have 'achieved'.
• In fact, what are we waiting for?!
• Let go for awhile
• We are not a big 'To Do' list!

I do know that life circumstances can make it more difficult for some people, such as full-blown depression, critical illnesses, poverty, natural hazards and third-world conditions.

But if you are on the computer now, living a relatively 'normal' life (whatever 'normal' means!), we can try to be happy right now (even by just forcing a smile onto our faces, physical 'happy' chemicals are released into our bodies!) :-D

So, if you would like to have some gentle fun, take some time out, read on below where you will find:

- a breathing exercise
- some 'widgets to paint an online picture and play with our cat!
- and/or you can try some stretching, all while you listen to some podcasts

Its your choice of course. If you do, see if you feel a little better or different? Excercise, no matter how small, can do wonders, and release those toxins building up in our systems.

A Simple Breathing Exercise

Often we don't realise that we 'forget' to breathe when we work at our desks. Our breath becomes shallow and our body lacks oxygen, yet this oxygen is vital for full and effective mental functioning and focus. Because we breathe by instinct, it is easy to forget to breathe properly. In fact, breathing alone can have marvelous effects on our state of being.

There are many breathing techniques, but one I like, is to just breathe normally, but in a 'cyclic' pattern. Make sure you are sitting in a comfortable position. Monitor your breathing - is it shallow, slow, fast? Now, try to change it, if it is shallow in particular. This form of breathing is quite natural, unlike many other breathing techniques. Its only difference is that it is deeper, focused and 'cyclic', where there are no gaps between breaths (some techniques require you to breathe and then 'hold').

So - now that you are comfortable,

1. breathe in through the nose until your lungs expand and feel full (this is deeper than our normal breaths, but not to the point that your lungs hurt and are stretched).

2. As soon as your lungs are full, breathe out through your mouth or nose (whichever feels most comfortable), slowly and deeply .

It will take you longer to breathe out to release all of the air and toxins that have accumulated in your body (remember, that the airways are also a cleansing and filtering mechanism, as you release the carbon dioxide and other pollutants out of your body).

3. As soon as the air has left your lungs, immediately breathe in again. There is no time gap between the breath out and the next breath in.

That's why its 'cyclic breathing'. Repeat this about 10 times, while your body is relaxed.

Do you feel any different? If so, how? Do you have any other breathing techniques you use?

Now - time for a little fun if you would like (followed by some stretching!)

Paint a Picture, Play with the Cat and Listen!

If you are feeling more relaxed, you might also want to listen to one of the online podcasts in the sidebar, if you haven't already done so (I will be rotating these). Forget your troubles by painting a picture below in the Online Painter below, while you listen (as I sometimes do, to escape for awhile). (a smaller version of this online painter is also at the bottom of the right sidebar).

Paint whatever! Make a scribble! Write a note... and then save your image. I have posted about this online painter before, and taking time out - recharge your batteries. It doesn't matter what the end-result is, and the 'undo' and 'clear all' buttons are rather handy ;-)

Listen, paint and enjoy!



If the painter is offline (as it sometimes is, and sorry I could not make it wider), perhaps take some time out to Play with the Cat and make her purr or miaoww! (she's is at the bottom of the right sidebar - she will purr! Or she might swipe at you - hee hee - just move the cursor around).

Despite advice to the contrary (ie. don't overload your visitors with 'widgets'), I do love playing with them, while I listen to the podcasts, and leave my life of 'overwhelm' behind for a little while. As you will see in the side-bar, there are probably too many, but if you have the time - feel free to play!

Stretch that Tension Away

If you are feeling a little tense in the body, which will happen at the computer, you might also like to do some stretching to get rid of those toxins building up in your muscles.

When I originally drafted this post, I wrote out a long list of stretching exercises for you in great detail. But it didn't feel right. Exercises are difficut to explain without visual diagrams, or being with you in person. They can also be dangerous in this respect, especially if you have any physical, back or other medical complications.

Thus, I have removed them. But I do suggest that if you have your own stretches you like to do, get up and - 'Bottom off that computer chair'! Stretch, stand up tall and high and move all of your muscles, even in your face, as you release the tension in your jaw. Listen to the podcasts in the right sidebar while you stretch, or perhaps turn on some of your favourite music.

Just take some time out, AWAY from the computer for a little while, and refocus your eyes :-) Shake all that tension out! Stretch the muscles that feel good to stretch out ... move, carefully and gently.

Perhaps take a short walk down the corridor, into the kitchen, another room, perhaps grab some sunshine? Just for 5 minutes ... Remember, gently does it..

OK - back to work before that 'guilt' sets in!

Did you actually take some time out and do any of the above? If you did take a break, a stretch, even just a little one - whether here, or by doing something else - are you feeling a little diffferent? More relaxed?

Even if you haven't done any of the above - that's ok too. You 'shouldn't' feel like you 'have' to do anything during your break! But did you at least monitor your breathing? Or just remember that you need this time out.

What do you usually do for a break, which might help others rest a little? Do you have any breathing/stretching exercises, or 'fun widgets' you would like to share? Any guidance or advice would be great.

Remember also - Always Be Kind With Yourself

And don't forget the 'GOODIES BASKET' below .... :-)

Meg
Adelaide, South Australia

PS - YASMINE - if you are reading this post, please know that I have thought of you almost every day, and have wanted to contact you. I have missed our friendship. I will be in touch with you soon (and to all - I met Yasmine online - you can see some links to her sites to the right) - Online friends must be treasured, for they can bring great joy and comfort, as Yasmine and others have done for me (I will write about them too!).

PPS - For the new Free 'Goodies Basket' - scroll right down to the bottom of the main page of this blog. Two new eBooks have recently been added, with more coming soon :-)

You might also be interested in these little goodies ...

'Principles of Successful Manifesting' eBook - Free until 31 May 2008

If you are interested in the Law of Attraction in designing your life (and to complement the Law of Attraction Audios in the 'Free Goodies Basket' below and forthcoming articles), Left Click Here and you can download the book - 'Principles of Successful Manifesting' - but for a limited time only, as a price will be added to this book on 31 May 2008.

There is also lots of great information on the website itself to explore if you have the time or inclination.

Be a child again!

Or would you like to be a child again and fill your world with colour, through the process of Creative Self Help Art Journaling?

Left Click Here and you will be taken to a great site - Self Help Healing Arts Journal - which has lots of information and resources for journaling in your self help journey, with a focus on the child-like artist within you! This includes: a resource list of clipart sites to choose - lots of public domain images (Left Click Here).

There are some great ideas for creativity there. Why just write and scrawl small print in your diaries/journals, when you can fill them with colour, drawings and quotes. I know I am going to start changing my approach and Be a child again!

Colour can have a profound effect on our state of mind and moods.

The owner of this site has also created some 'Mandellas', which you can download and colour in - find out more by left clicking here!

Plus - some art projects and colouring books to add to our own journals, which are especially useful if we are not feeling particularly creative, or have never been very artistic. You can download these for your personal use only, including a cat and a flower-themed colouring book, which also contain affirmations for your journal.

If this inspires you, left click here to find out more - the colouring books can be found by left clicking here. We really do need to escape sometimes . We don't need to be perfect artists either! Just be free and children again. I hope the author doesn't mind, but she says -

"..don't plan anything out. Be spontaneous. And DO NOT JUDGE. Just let it be what it is. That is what art healing is all about.... Have fun, be silly, and feel good about being you and being alive in this gorgeous amazing world."

Enjoy your Time Out - Are you taking a rest, your deserved break?