Work, work, work. If you’re not careful this will be the very nature of your existence from leaving education to retirement (if ever reach it). This is the case whether you’re employed, your own boss, freelance or indeed in the arts.
The fact is that rest is essential to your growth, goals, creativity, sanity and your health. Of course we all rest and relax and recharge in different ways… which is great. But it can be wise to avoid the temptation with filling your time out, holiday or breaks with too much activity. Very often it is the space that you need in order to attain clarity, perspective and focus for the road ahead.
You may feel that you are so busy you don’t have time to take out. But without the time out you’re productivity, clarity and energy levels will be greatly affected. I remember when I worked in the media - I had a full on job and worked crazy hours without a lunch-break. Sure I worked long hours but my productivity levels dipped so significantly after lunch I would have been far wiser and far more efficient had I given my self the lunch break and trimmed back the hours.
Time after time when I’m coaching clients the first thing we address is giving them down-time, social time, free time, family time, looking-forward time. The impact is often profound.
Have a wonderful day.
Rasheed is a leading coach and author of The Gift of Inner Success
2010 is underway which means back to work for billions worldwide. And that means back to work for you too - unless you’re one of the few who cannot, need not or choose not. But as you settle back at your desk, shop, factory or workplace do not forget play.
Whether you work for yourself or someone else it’s all too easy to get caught up in the serious stuff of work / business. It’s also easy to forget that lightheartedness, humour, fun, playfulness are also important aspects of not just your personal life, but your professional one too. Used aptly the spirit of fun can boost productivity, overcome negativity, help problem-solve, boost innovation … and beat off boredom. And very importantly it can charm, disarm and enchant bosses, customers, colleagues and suppliers.
But as you settle back to work and focus on your work / business objectives, do not forget your own. So here are my 3 Tips for success, progress and happiness in 2010…but ensure you build some fun into these too.
Rasheed Ogunlaru is a leading coach, motivational speaker and author of The Gift of Inner Success.
I’ve just issued my Coping with Christmas Press Release to the media. And with only 4 weeks until Christmas the hype, stress, family pressures over-spending and over-indulgence are set to take their hold. Shops and transport will be heavy as wallets and purses will get ever lighter. However three simple steps will help your Christmas be happy and peaceful without spiralling into stress and debt.
Preparation, moderation and communication are the ‘3 wise keys’ to surviving the financial and emotional stress and strains of Christmas during the economic downturn.
Rasheed Three Wise Keys of Christmas
1. Preparation:
* Set a budget you can afford and stick to it: don’t give in all the ads, expectation and hype.
* Decide who you do and don’t want to spend time with over Xmas and for how long.
* Give everyone time and space to plan and to adjust/ overcome any disappointment.
2. Moderation:
* Are times tough? Set a gift truce. Agree not to buy each other gifts, or only buy for kids.
* Know your limits when it comes to food and drink
* Partying? Have fun but be measured - work and social relationships can be harmed at Xmas
3. Communication:
* Discuss sensitively: tell all concerned what you will / won’t be doing well in advance.
* Avoid arguments - everyone can be on edge so step back to safer ground.
* Bury the hatchet: use this time of peace and goodwill to end feuds and fights.
This morning I appeared BBC Breakfast News on the topic of Charisma. The item was on the Charisma masterclass event that my colleague Richard Reid of Pinnacle Proactive and I are running on April 4-5.
But who has it? Can you create it, can you fake it? Clearly the likes of Barack Obama, Richard Branson, Helen Mirren, Oprah Winfrey, Mohammed Ali and Jack Nicholson have it. But so do millions of ordinary people - you may know many yourself and you may well have it.
I started my career in the media, training people to appear on TV and I have also been a singer. In both cases the secret is to be yourself. The Charisma Event will help you find and project their own magic. The benefits will pour into all areas of your life and work.
Rasheed Ogunlaru is a life coach, motivational speaker and author of The Gift of Inner Success
I’d like to wish you all the best of the season. And seeing as it’s the festive season here’s my “Food for Thought” 1 min double bill. Enjoy and Have yourself a merry little Christmas, Best wishes, Rasheed
Video 1: So this is Christmas
Video 2: Peace & Happiness
Rasheed is a leading life coach, motivational speaker and business coach
Today is Friday and you may be one of the millions thrilled to have finally arrived at the weekend.
This raises a few questions: Are you enjoying what you’re doing Mon- Friday? Are you failing to see the value in what you do and contribute Mon-Fri? Or infact perhaps it’s just the case that you’ve worked hard and you are now ready to enjoy the weekend.
The key thing now is to relax, unwind, recharge and enjoy you time, social time and family time. They say that we live in a work-hard, play-hard culture… so be mindful about living only for the weekends, otherwise you’ll find that life rushes by at the weekend and drags during the week. And that’s not much fun.
While relaxing be sure to find a little time to reconnect to you. Sometimes a weekend full of content can distract you from being at peace with yourself. And it’s being connected to ourselves (and therefore others) that is the real route of fulfilment.
If chilling out is something you find hard to do then you may enjoy my free 10min relaxation / meditation which you can listen to and download for free on the resources page of this site.
Isn’t it funny how serious we take life … and ourselves?
And isn’t it seriously true that when we take a lighter approach we become more at ease, effective and enjoy our life, work and our relationships far more? Now that’s something to smile about. Enjoy today’s film below.
Rasheed Ogunlaru is a leading life coach, motivational speaker and business / corporate coach.
For some reason we seem set on living fast, frantic, full-on lives. As a result the numbers of people who are stressed, depressed, obsessed and overwhelmed by life has sky rocketed. We want more and more and yet find happiness less and less.
But there is another way of living. There is another way of being. Too often we try and rush life. Too often we want things to happen in our way and at our pace. If life isn’t working for you then it is time to slow down, relax, flow with the tide and learn the pace of life. As soon as you learn the pace of life you will be at one with it.
Rasheed Ogunlaru is a leading life coach, motivational speaker and business coach. The is also author and contributed to a number of newspaper and magazines by request, including New Nation.
I’m just about to set out to go to an event. On my journey I’m going to see how many happy faces I spot of those that are looking tired, bored, disineterested, agigitated and worn.
Many people come to me because they feel lost, tired, fed up of their job. They come to me because they are looking for deeper meaning or fulfilment in their lives, careers and relationships.
My question to you is ‘What’s most important in life?’ and are you doing what’s most important or are you being sidetracked by something else.
Once you start asking these questions of yourself you will find yourself on a path from which life will stop being ‘work’and you will remember what is really important.
Isn’t it funny how we take life so seriously?
And isn’t it ironic how many comics and bubbly people are seriously depressed behind closed doors?
Yesterday I was working with a client and we were discussing the light side of her being. By us zooming in on how she is when she is at her best we realised how naturally the things that she’s keen to do in life can come about. In fact she is already moving in that direction.
When our energy becomes heavy then we get weighed down in thought, fear and issues. When we get back in touch with ourselves we begin to flow.
Funnily enough I’ve met a handful of commedians in my time. I’ve always been struck by how insightful they are about life. I’ve told one or two of them ‘if you only knew how much you knew and learned from your art life would be so much richer for you’. You see a comic sees through the seems of life. They see the humour in it all’s. They lay it bare for all to see.
Take a moment to step back from your life and your idea about yourself. As you see the lightheared side your heart will become lighter.
Have a wonderful day
Rasheed, life coach - speaker - business coach
Leading life coach and inner fulfilment speaker, Rasheed Ogunlaru
explores how to balance being true to your ‘self' with finding a
‘meaningful' life path in today's material world. [read more / hear extracts]
