If you’re not doing this already, start it today. Don’t skip that lunch break no matter what. Don’t sit at your desk to work while eating. That’s the opposite of taking care of yourself, and a sure way for a dreadful and soon burnout. Make no exceptions. Bring no excuses.

Happiness expert and CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, Meik Wiking, reminds us to create rituals of food and fire; making time to eat, reclaiming our lunchtime and sitting with colleagues to enjoy eating our food slowly and with company. In his book “The Little book of Lykke: The Danish research for the world’s happinest people,” he advices to eat like the French. While most countries have official diet recommendations about how many portions of fruit and vegetables we should eat per day, one of the official recommendations in France is that we should eat with other people.

If you’re already eating with others during lunch and taking care of your physical and social self, try changing the rules. If you’re used to eating out daily, bring a lunchbox instead. Have the courage to sit with other people you’re not usually eating with. Call it an experiment. Tell them you lost a bet. Whatever you need to get moving around and getting new experiences and new perspectives.

I faced a life-changing situation in the past 2 months that demanded new ways of seeing the world.

In recovering, I had to reflect on ways to stay positive and grounded. I’m sharing this list with you in case you needed a gentle reminder to take care of yourself while taking care of business.

When I felt like I couldn’t function anymore,

• I surround myself with positive people and limited my access to negative ones. This has made a big shift. I gave no chance to naysayers and I opened no doors to the judgmental type.

• I tried to indulge in small things. I gave myself permission to nap when needed and take extended coffee/tea breaks to think.  
• I don’t eat on the go or walk/drive while grabbing a snack. I sit down and enjoy the meal. Preferably with family.
• When I had no access to my brain, I took the time off entirely. Asking for an extended deadline or cancelling an event altogether was better than providing mediocre results that would affect my professional reputation in the long run.  
• I used music to create energy in different ways. Louder and faster rhythms help get started with a job. Slow, classical or instruments music help with completing complex focused tasks.
• Being more spiritual comes in different ways; prayers, meditation, or stillness to reflect. It clears the clutter in the mind and reminds me of what’s important in the now.
• I reminded myself that grief comes in so many faces. Sometimes it’s recovering from a loss of life, other times it’s feeling hurt, wronged, or the ending of a relationship. “Moving with”, rather than “moving on”, might be the fastest way to find meaning again.

These are a few of my favorite things.

I’m curious to learn your ways of enjoying daily positivity  

~ Imagine happiness,

Randah

p.s. On a special note, the Mavericks Masterclass is back by popular demand. One week to closing. Apply today.