Recently I was coaching on the subject of self care and creating a formula for repairing, rejuvenating, and relaxing. While it is fresh in my mind I thought that I would share my process with you.
The intention here is learning to fully unwind relax, and recharge, but ultimately practice the art of switching off and being fully present with a quiet and still mind.
It’s a beautiful thing to have serenity in your life and enjoy peace of mind. It does take practice though and will not happen over night.
The return is huge and the upside epic. You will have a stronger, deeper connection with self. You will have a deeper connection with those closest to you. You will have more energy which in turn will improve performance and ultimately increase financial wealth. , time management and relationship wealth.
So then how do you go about learning to relax and switch off?
STEP 1 – Creating Headspace
The first place I would start is with the headspace app. At first you may struggle with this because it’s new and different.
You will probably be busy in your minds chat. So allow yourself some time, some space to get better at it and apply some patience.
Practice Headspace daily for 10 mins and over the next few months the skill of naturally relaxing will start to develop.
I’ve been relaxing my mind since 2012 and it took me a while to get good at it. Actually everyone I know who’ve gotten good at it sucked in the beginning so stick with it.
STEP 2 – Design your self care day.
Next it’s time to plan out a day for you to relax and unwind. If you have a busy house you may want to book a hotel or spa for the day / night.
Prepare a list of activities that you’re passionate about and fill your day with these.
It may be as simple as napping for a few hours or maybe you get a massage and/or beauty treatments.
Perhaps you listen to your favourite musician, watch some movies and eat your favourite foods as you have a pyjama day.
You may want to go to cinema or to a favourite restaurant or meet up with an old friend for coffee and cake.
Maybe you take a hike up a mountain or spend time in the countryside.
The main objective here is to get creative and enjoy some me time. Using fun activities that YOU love and that will make YOU happier.
There is a lot to be said for smiling and laughing so get some funnies on.
On a Friday I get my boys ready for school, do the school run, the housework, then from 9:30 till 3pm it’s my time I call this my Davie day.
Most of the time I lie on my bed with the duvet covering my legs, the windows open for fresh air and the curtains closed. I either listen to soft music or guided meditations.
This is the one I’m using right now:
I’m encouraging people to prioritise and plan these days so that they are doing them weekly.
Some times I’ll go for a massage . Then go to my favourite steak restaurant for an epic feast but that’s once every few months . It’s a different kind of Davie day.
My main objective is to relax and recharge. It’s all holistically done. I’m all for feasting like a king and drinking like a pirate. Everything in moderation including moderation.
STEP 3 – Getting our priorities right.
Here is a task for you to complete. Think about and list all the roles and responsibilities you have.
Here is my list as way of an example.
Business owner including operations, sales and marketing, product innovation and everything in between.
Coach.
Employer / crew captain
Father
Husband
Athlete
Student
Friend
Family member
Then me
If you’re like me then that’s a lot of responsibility and many plates to spin at times. I know I get stressed at times and a bit overwhelmed, so probably you do too. This is perfectly normal.
I recognise it all much quicker now and it’s at times like these I prioritise myself and create a space for de-stressing which is also self healing.
On the ladder of life we our own well being should be the no 1 priority in our lives but it doesn’t always work that way. I wouldn’t recommend being self centred in life but sometimes it can be beneficial, especially when it comes to self care.
STEP 4 – Taking care of the fundamentals
We all have a responsibility to ourselves and take care of our own health and wellness. Taking care of the fundamentals first and foremost. I’ve covered these areas here:
Eat healthy and wholesome foods
Take great care of your mobility and flexibility
Move around by having fun with exercise
Take vitamin and mineral supplements
STEP 5 – Love yourself
Learn to treat yourself with care and compassion and ultimately learn to love yourself wholeheartedly and unconditionally in the same way you would your children.
A great place to start this process is studying ‘You Can Heal Your’ life by Louise Hay
This all sounds like a lot to do but when you take a methodical approach it’s a very simple and straight forward process. A strong healthy body and relaxed mind makes for a happy human.
The end goal is to be able to leave our careers and switch off while switching on to ourselves and our families.
To go on holiday and leave ‘work’ behind as we chill out and recharge our energy.
To be fair it has taken me a long time to master these techniques.
The reality of this is that the first time you put this into practice you may feel uptight or a bit anxious about taking time for yourself and obviously this is counter productive to the outcome and intention we have set within this practice.
Creating a space where you are with yourself on your own. This will let you experience how busy your head is and this is the first step to learning how to switch off and still the mind.
Also taking time to relax and unwind when you have a huge to do list to work through and multiple projects on the go can make you think that you don’t have the time to do a tasks like this. This again is normal and expect it.
At the end of the day we all need time to recharge and rejuvenate ourselves in the most effective and healthy ways. Having a strategy for self care is of the upmost importance so that we stay healthy, energised and are able to perform with ultimate effectiveness.
Another great book to read and study is The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
The steps I’ve shared with you today form a daily practice that keeps me healthy, happy and whole. I am really happy that I put the time and effort in developing these skills.
It’s definitely a practice I encourage all our clients to get into.
I really hope you’ve found this blog interesting and that you’ll consider putting these 5 steps into practice.
Give it a share if you found it helpful and leave your thoughts in the comments.
“Strength for Life”
Davie
Davie McConnachie
Davie McConnachie is Scotland’s leading health and wellness coach, multi-award-winning gym owner, motivational speaker and the founder of DMC Fitness, a fitness education facility known as the premier choice for 1-2-1 personal training. He has inspired thousands of people to fall in love with fitness – his true purpose and mission in life.
Diving into the world of fitness and wellness has helped Davie to deal with his own trauma and inner demons. He, overcame many dark times using his own unique methods to continue his cycle of healing.
One Response
Got some amazing advice from Davies Website /Blog.
The advice Davie gives is from the heart and through years of knowing his profession .
One of the nicest people I have ever met , Davie gives advice out to ensure you can become the best version of yourself .
Already feeling the benefits of Davies advice becoming stronger by the day ❤️