Clutter Busting Coach

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Live with VIGOR©

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Several months ago, I was asked to do a presentation for a group that centered on the theme taking back your life. As I thought about the goals for the program and my audience, I focused on creating a vision, setting intentions, practicing gratitude, taking action and identifying daily practices. And VIGOR© became the acronym for that program and a part of my coaching practice. VIGOR© is:

• Vision
• Intention
• Gratitude
• Orchestration (action)
• Routine

I will be sharing with you some thoughts about VIGOR© over the next several weeks. Let’s start with the definition of vigor according to dictionary.com:

Vigor [vig-er]
Noun
1. active strength or force.
2. healthy physical or mental energy or power; vitality.
3. energetic activity; energy; intensity:
4. force of healthy growth in any living matter or organism, as a plant.
5. active or effective force, especially legal validity.

Any of those definitions would apply to the goal of taking back your life. Which of those speak to you?

Slow Down

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A colleague of mine often says, “You have to sometimes go slow to go fast.” Usually that is in reference to a project we are working on that takes longer or heads in a different direction than the original intent.

But today, I am suggesting that you need to slow down in this hectic world. We move from task to task and experience all this busyness that can crowd out our happiness and well-being. Do not be tempted to speed through life and in the process give up your happiness and joy.

Self-care is an ongoing process and is a way for you to slow down and refill the well. So, rather than pushing through all your reserves choose daily self-care need. Taking time for yourself does not have to be time-consuming or expensive. Here are a few ideas for things you can choose to practice daily:

  • Mindfulness
  • Meditation
  • Pray
  • Breathe
  • Gratitude
  • Journal
  • Walk
  • Smile

From one minute to 15 to more, you can pick one thing from the list to fill your well…just slow down and delight in at least one moment each day….

What Nurtures You?

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Even if you make time for self-care, it is another thing to engage in self-nurturing activities. What are self-nurturing activities? They are simply things you love to do.

To get started, brainstorm a list of activities that you love to do. Yet don’t stop there. Go deeper and think of it in terms of the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual areas of your life. List things that are quick and easy or those that are more involved.

If you are having trouble brainstorming, here are some ideas for self-nurturing activities:

  • Take a walk outside
  • Take a bubble bath
  • Read a book for pleasure
  • Garden
  • Visit a garden or historic place
  • Create…do a craft or some type of art
  • Listen to music
  • Enjoy a favorite food. I mean really enjoy it.

 

Now pull out your calendar and schedule at least one activity each week. Ideally, it would great to do one small thing at least daily.
By doing things you love, things that nurture you, you will be able to refill your cup.

Self-care is not optional

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When ever I do an inventory of my ‘to dos’, I realize that I have typically forgotten to take care of myself for a period. That self-care is not even on the list and that I need to again make myself a priority.

But how do we make time for self-care and how to we find time to do this consistently? Here are some ideas for time management so you can take time for yourself since you can’t pour from an empty cup.

  • Let calls go to voicemail and block out a specific time to handle
  • Put your self-care first on your day’s to do list
  • Consolidate errands
  • Ask for help
  • Be selective with TV viewing and social media time

As you plan your day, ask yourself “how am I choosing to spend my time…is this important to my purpose or self-care?