{"id":42107,"date":"2023-10-20T15:18:47","date_gmt":"2023-10-20T15:18:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/startupsmart.test\/2023\/10\/20\/unplug-find-the-funny-and-five-other-things-you-can-do-to-stay-invigorated-all-year-startupsmart\/"},"modified":"2023-10-20T15:18:47","modified_gmt":"2023-10-20T15:18:47","slug":"unplug-find-the-funny-and-five-other-things-you-can-do-to-stay-invigorated-all-year-startupsmart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.startupsmart.com.au\/uncategorized\/unplug-find-the-funny-and-five-other-things-you-can-do-to-stay-invigorated-all-year-startupsmart\/","title":{"rendered":"Unplug, find the funny and five other things you can do to stay invigorated all year – StartupSmart"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Boy<\/div>\n

Those lazy, crazy days of summer Down Under\u2026<\/p>\n

For some of you, that\u2019s already over and you\u2019re wanting to muster your energy.<\/p>\n

Or perhaps you\u2019re dragging your feet and spirits, remembering how that time floating in the pool, sipping drinks or eating fish and chips (or something equally good), felt all-too-brief.<\/p>\n

Have you started the year with great news and positive plans, or been devastated to find that what you expected is not what happened, and you are already out of control?<\/p>\n

Re-set yourself for 2017 with the following steps.<\/p>\n

1. Decide to move forward, not backward<\/h3>\n

Lots of people I know had a difficult 2016. It was a tough year on many fronts (see the negative \u201cLand of W\u201d below).<\/p>\n

Hanging onto the memories of your trials and tribulations can be educational to a point, but they need to be considered more objectively\u2014which is why the summer break slowdown can be helpful as you find mental space to consider what you\u2019re dealing with.<\/p>\n

Consciously position yourself to forge ahead.<\/p>\n

2. Be very clear about what you want to do from now on and what you don\u2019t want<\/h3>\n

Think of yourself clearing out the cobwebs and the clouds hanging over you. Be vigorous while there\u2019s time to think about the coming year before you\u2019re back, strenuously swimming in life\u2019s currents, and grunting and flailing in the waves.<\/p>\n

3. Set goals and aim high, while lowering your expectations<\/h3>\n

Think of yourself clearing out the cobwebs and the clouds hanging over you. Be vigorous while there\u2019s time to think about the coming year before you\u2019re back, strenuously swimming in life\u2019s currents, and grunting and flailing in the waves.<\/p>\n

What this conundrum really means is, stop aiming for the moon\u2014think Cape Canaveral. Harness your knowledge, research what you don\u2019t yet know, and ration your energies so that you\u2019re not stressing over what you haven\u2019t yet accomplished.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s work to be done planning and organising to make things happen. Don\u2019t expect too much of yourself too soon. I wrote out my goals for this year and I have been feeling very motivated as they are realistic for once!<\/p>\n

4. Create positive scripts for yourself<\/h3>\n

Were you stuck in the negative \u201cLand of W\u201d, wishing, whining and wasting your time during 2016? Each \u2018w\u2019 is completely understandable.<\/p>\n

You wish things would improve, you\u2019ve needed to whinge or whine about your circumstances on occasion with good friends, and sometimes bad events can cause us to freeze and spend a few too many hours going over what happened (which isn\u2019t really wasting time, but time vanishes nevertheless).<\/p>\n

Escape the \u201cLand of W\u201d and make 2017 a year when you create positive scripts for yourself.<\/p>\n

Be the best you can be. Do something special, however small for yourself and others around you. Do it gladly, with a smile.<\/p>\n

Refrain from snapping at some pushy person who beat you to a car park, or who zipped in front of you. Just don\u2019t. Think of those people who always let rip about something\u2014it gets ugly, doesn\u2019t it? Think and stop. Is there something better you can do, right now, instead?<\/p>\n

5. Commit and complete things<\/h3>\n

What\u2019s the bet you\u2019ve got tasks and jobs languishing, or people you haven\u2019t caught up with that you always say you will? Maybe you\u2019ve been avoiding them, or feeling overloaded.<\/p>\n

Maybe you want to get back to walking every day\u2014is it really that hard?<\/p>\n

Decide on what you will commit to, what you will complete, who you\u2019ll make (proper) time to visit, and celebrate as each thing is done. You\u2019ll feel great!<\/p>\n

6. Say: I will find funny!<\/h3>\n

Find the humour in life. Laughter is good; seek what and who makes you really laugh and feel good. Recognise those who pull you down and prioritise!<\/p>\n

7. Unplug<\/h3>\n

You know what this means. Switch off devices for at least a portion of your day. If you\u2019re on holiday, try to switch off your mobile, your social media feeds, and your email for a day at a time. Can you do a week? I can\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Being connected head down to a little screen 24\/7 really doesn\u2019t improve anyone\u2019s behaviour. You\u2019ll catch up with things soon enough. Unplugging gives us all a chance to notice things around us once more, to appreciate intricacy, beauty, even danger. Your awareness is all the better for it.<\/p>\n

Do all of the above for the next few weeks of January and by the time February is here, your advancement will be impressive and you\u2019re ready for the year.<\/p>\n

Eve Ash<\/em> is a psychologist, author, filmmaker, public speaker and entrepreneur. She runs<\/em> Seven Dimensions<\/em>, a company specialising in training resources for the workplace. See the rest of Eve\u2019s blogs <\/em>here<\/em>.<\/em><\/p>\n

This article was originally published on SmartCompany. <\/em><\/p>\n

Follow StartupSmart on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and iTunes. <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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