A lot of people get annoyed when a successful person tells them that money and power isn't everything. I attended "An Evening With Arianna Huffington" the other night at Princeton University and several people noted that it's much easier to have that philosophy after you've "Made It" and have a lot of money. However, when you listen to Arianna's story, you see that she is offering us a cautionary tale. She's sharing her story of challenges, heart ache, and failure so we can learn from her mistakes.
The bottom line is our priorities and measurement of success are flawed. Our calendars are filled with an endless list of tasks to prove to the world that we are the best parent, employee, student, soccer player, dancer, or musician. At the same time, making a home cooked meal, going for a run, or relaxing with your family is viewed as unimportant.
The worst part is we are setting a bad example for our children. The number of children and college students on antidepressants continue to rise every year. Our children are using our faulty definition of success and can't deal with the pressure and fear disappointing us.
We all need to take a moment and decide what's most important to us and re-evaluate our definition of success. Then the easy part starts, actually making simple changes to make your life truly SUCCESSFUL!
Recharge Your Battery, Not Just Your Smartphone's Battery
Although our body tries to warn us, we don't have a digital readout like our smart phone to let us know we only have 10% battery left. As a result, we sometimes keep going till our battery dies.
We all need to create a personal plan to recharge our batteries. It could be taking a class at the local gym, going for a walk, reading a book, watching TV, playing with your kids, or hanging out with your friends. The key is finding something you like that recharges your battery before it gets too low.
Get Enough Sleep
Your productivity, creativity, and health all suffer when you don't get 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Do you think you function just fine with only 3-4 hours of sleep? Numerous studies say you are wrong.
Learn how to call it a night and go to sleep. Stop pushing yourself beyond your physical limits and learn to say "No, I can't do anything else right now." People will respect you more for standing up for yourself. Besides the fact that no one wants to be around someone who is sleep-deprived, bad mannered, and making poor decisions.
Turn Off That Gremlin Inside Your Head
We all need to turn off the annoying gremlin inside our head that tells us we aren't good enough. The secret to defusing the gremlin is recognizing that it's voice comes from FEAR. Sure it's scary to try something new and different, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't go for it.
Start slowly and don't be afraid of mini-setbacks. You'll get there at the pace that's right for you. You can do Anything!
Take Time To Meditate Everyday
Meditation doesn't have to mean sitting on the floor with your legs crossed and chanting. You can choose the type of 'meditation' that works best for you. It might be traditional meditation, yoga, or deep breathing. However, it could also be as simple as walking outside, closing your eyes for a few minutes, or counting to 10. What's important is taking some time to reflect and de-stress each day.
Do What Makes You Happy
There may be some nights when you can't avoid staying late at work or missing your kid's baseball game. However, that doesn't have to be your normal routine. It's important to find a happy balance where you can work hard, but still have time for the people and things that mean the most to you.
You don't need to fill your day with worry, stress, unmanageable workloads, and unhappiness. Become a role model for your children and teach them how important it is to balance work, life, and fun. We can all benefit from Arianna Huffington's lessons. Take the first step and redefine what success means to you and your family. Then enjoy your journey to the wonderful, healthy, and happy life of your dreams.
Beverly M. Entin is the owner of Entin Health Coaching Group, LLC specializing in health coaching solutions for children, adults, and families designed to fit your life.
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