CONFIDENCE 4 U

Handling the pressure of life and maintaining your work life balance.

11-Mar-2008, Number 216

Written and published by Rachel Green.
Visit our website at http://www.rachelgreen.com
To subscribe or unsubscribe please go to the website or click here.

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1. Welcome.

Have you noticed that despite all the advances in technology that were meant to bring more rest and relaxation into our lives, we are all busier than ever? People are so busy that some feel as though they’re in a permanent pressure cooker just trying to keep up. Everything seems to be expected of us instantly, there seems ever more knowledge to gain, there is mortgage stress, staff shortages, fly-in fly-out jet-stream jobs, children having problems, mobile phones finding us everywhere ... the list of potential pressures seems endless and there seems no way to take a break. Things aren’t always as they seem, though, and breaks are possible. As pressure mounts, this is the time to look after yourself. Do not just survive - thrive. But how? Read on to the tips section to find out.

Welcome to our new readers from around the world, including this fortnight people from UK, Australia, USA, India and more. The winner this fortnight, of a free E-book from our range, is so/hrluk in the United Kingdom. If this is your e-mail address, please contact us to claim your prize by Saturday 15th March 2008:

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2. The tips: Handling the pressure of life and maintaining your work life balance.

Tip 1: Use your spare moments well.

Your time is very precious – don’t waste it – make the most of the minutes you have to take care of yourself. Everyone has spare minutes or moments if you start looking for them. Waiting in line in the supermarket or bank, watching the adverts during a TV programme, waiting for the computer to boot up ... we all have spare moments. What you do with them matters to your health, life balance and stress levels. In moments like these you could close your eyes and rest them; you could gently monitor your breathing going in and out and let go of some of the day’s tension; or you could replay a really happy memory in your mind to help you rejuvenate. It’s even possible to do a one minute meditation at the traffic lights – this is much better in helping you maintain your work-life balance, than getting irritated at the amount of traffic on the road. Use your spare moments well and feel better. In other words, whether you are in the office, at home or on the move take the spare moments to refresh and rejuvenate.

Tip 2. Do energising activities not brain sucking ones.

Know what gives you energy and what sucks it from you. Then do the things, eat the foods, think the thoughts and be with the people that give you energy. Need help in working out what your energy givers are? There are lots of ideas and self-tests on the CD set: Energy for living. Click here for more details

Take an active, determined choice to do the energising activities, even when the brain suckers seem more enticing. For example, this may mean going for a walk instead of flopping down in front of the TV and having your energy sucked out of you. If you’re sitting on a plane don’t read the newspaper, meditate and refresh yourself. Instead of staying on the internet go and do some tai chi, massage or yoga, or whatever it is that helps keep you physically, mentally and spiritually in good shape. In other words, have energy as a top priority and take action to keep your energy. Don't just let it drain away or be sucked out of you.

Tip 3. Keep in touch with the important people.

If you’re working away from home or you’re very busy and passing your loved ones like ships in the night, take deliberate action to stay in touch. Keep nurturing your relationships no matter what. For example, I was listening to a man talking about his job where he flies out to the mine sites for three weeks at a time, and then flies home for a week off. He was explaining that he calls his partner every single day to keep in touch so that when he comes home his relationship is still intact and she still involves him in what is happening. Don’t just blame your circumstances – take control. Make the effort to keep in touch with your important people. Effort is needed. Effort can be what makes the difference between keeping a relationship and losing one during times of pressure.

Tip 4. Pace yourself.

Look ahead and work out what demands are going to be placed on you each week, (that you can predict), and work out IN ADVANCE how you are going to keep a balance during the week. Pace yourself. This means, in advance, you might plan rest and relaxation times; times when you will have quality time with your partner or children or parents; times when you will meditate, do yoga, your painting, work on your car or needlework, or whatever similar activity keeps you calm. Do not just let everything overwhelm you, or hope there will be time for rest or holidays somewhere – take control from the beginning and make these things happen.

Tip 5. Laugh and laugh often.

Do I keep mentioning the value of laughter? Yes! That’s because there are benefits for mental health, relationships, physical health and more. However, a sense of humour is often one of the first things to go when people get stressed. This means you can’t just expect to keep laughing without deliberately cultivating it. Deliberately watch funny movies, collect jokes, play silly games, whatever makes you laugh, keep doing it. Don’t just let your laughter go as the pressure mounts. Keep laughing. Spread joy in pressured times. It will help everyone.

There is so much to learn to know how to handle pressure and keep your life in balance and far more than I can fit into one newsletter. However, I do run workshops on this for private groups and organisations, so if you’re in Western Australia feel able to invite me to come in and run one for your organisation.

We also have a series of relevant CDs to help and one of these is available as a s.p.e.c.i.a.l offer in section 4.

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3. More stress management and work-life balance tips.

Each month new tips are placed on our page of Personal Development Tips and Articles.

There are several sets on stress management and work-life balance, for you to read. Click on the links to read three of these:

1. Ten Tips on Reducing the stress of selling your house.
   

2. Ten Tips for Balancing your family and work responsibilities.
   

3. Ten tips on how to boost your mental energy.
   

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4. Find out how to keep your energy levels up despite being busy, busy, busy.

"Energy For Living: How to have abundant energy and feel fully alive. An energy make-over for BUSY women who feel tired, run-down or depleted."

Ever feel that your energy is flagging, that you're tired, and sick of being tired? Do you deserve better? Yes! Then I will talk you through the seven key ways to keep energy flowing. I have tried every way myself and found it to work. In fact, I live the ideas on these CDs – they describe in detail how I personally manage to avoid fatigue and keep my energy levels flowing despite being busy, running full day workshops, managing a high workload, sitting on committees, running a property, and so on. I lead you through practical activities and self-tests to get your energy back, so you can be the person you want to be. Become your own energy expert. Stop the tiredness. Apply these ideas to your own life, and learn how to feel fully alive and vibrant. Order this unique 2 CD set now and reduce fatigue. Only $39, with no extra for postage or packing, world-wide.

Bonus: If you buy these CDs on the website no later than Saturday 15th March 2008, then you will receive a second copy of the CDs for F.R.E.E. worth $39. Give them to a friend and help them too.

To be eligible for the extra copy you must order through our On-line Book and CD store and click newsletter when it asks you where you heard about the CDs. Don't miss out - hurry as this offer closes, Saturday 15th March 2008. This offer is ONLY available to CONFIDENCE 4 U Readers.

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5. Laugh your socks off.

Thanks to our Confidence 4 U reader in India, Angelee Deodhar, for sending us this fortnight's joke.

The Flowers

A business was opening in a new shopping centre and one of the owner's friends wanted to send him flowers for the occasion.

They arrived at the new business site and the owner read the card, .... "Rest in Peace."

The owner was angry and called the florist to complain.

After he had told the florist of the obvious mistake and how angry he was, the florist replied,

Sir, I'm really sorry for the mistake, but rather than getting angry, you should imagine this: somewhere, there is a funeral taking place today, and they have flowers with a note saying,... 'Congratulations on your new location!'"

If you have some clean jokes we can use, please send your contributions to

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When you handle pressure the world becomes a better place, you will be happier and the people around you will be happier too. It’s worth looking after yourself then, isn’t it?

With kindness,
Rachel.

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Further information for you

Speeches, courses and 1-1 coaching

If you'd like me to speak at your function on public speaking, emotional intelligence, confidence, staying calm with negative people, networking, stress management or a similar topic; or run an in-house seminar; or provide 1-1 coaching; e-mail or call +61 8 9390 1188.

Learn in your own time.

There are seven CD sets, a printed book and 6 Electronic books to help you, including:

1. NEW! CD set on "CONFIDENCE for women in PUBLIC SPEAKING,"
2. The 3rd edition of the E-book "How to be a brilliant master of ceremonies."
3. Confidence for women in social situations and life in general: How to build your self-confidence and overcome a loss of confidence.
4. A Successful Marriage: How to have a long and happy marriage and overcome the problems.
5. Be a winner at dinner: Chat and network with confidence and skill.
6. Happy not hassled: Using meditation to manage your emotions and find contentment.
   

Please order in our online book and CD store - we have a secure server: click here.

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Please note, material in this newsletter is copyrighted and remains the intellectual property of RachelGreen.Com Pty Ltd.

Disclaimer: The information in this magazine is of a general nature and may not suit everyone or every situation. While every care has been taken to ensure it is useful and appropriate, no responsibility can be taken for the results gained from its implementation. Please seek individual professional guidance for any difficulties you may have with your confidence, public speaking, relationships, stress levels, managing people, communication, or emotions. Thank you.