Three Powerful Time Management & Stress Reduction Steps
by Souldancer
1. Stop!2. Drop!
3. And Roll!!
Have you heard this expression before? “Stop, drop and roll?” If you’ve ever taken a first-aid course, you’ll recognize this verse. If anyone is on fire, besides diving into water – stopping, dropping and rolling is another effective way to put out the flames.
How’s your calendar looking these days? Does it seem like it’s on fire? Do days burn by leaving you feeling fried or spent? No stress there right? Do you consistently feel exhausted, overwhelmed, dazed, crazed or numb at all that’s on your to-do list? Then it’s time to stop, drop and roll!
STOP! Lightly, persistently, kindly, gently press your calendar break peddle. Begin to SLOW down BEFORE you crash into a wall of stress. How? Learn the art of gracefully saying NO! (even to yourself!).
Goal: enjoy at least TWO full-stop days a month. While it’s nice to enjoy both full-stop days in a row, you might not be able to do that at first. Add ONE full-stop day a month each year for the next decade. Before you know it, you’ll enjoy a week of absolute, guilt-free – free time! (Imagine what THAT would be like! Hold that vision in your mind. When you do, you’ll discover that vision will attract what you need – to enjoy such a day – more often.)
DROP! As you begin to press your calendar break peddle, begin to drop YOURSELF into your calendar more and more every week! Plan time for YOU!! Do something you enjoy – even if only for 10 minutes in a day at first! Take a walk. Sit and enjoy a cup of caffeine-free something. Read an inspiring something! If at all possible, just “be” quiet for five minutes while taking a few deep breaths. You’ll be amazed at how refreshed you feel. After a few deep breaths, you’ll experience some energy to roll along with less stress. (We practice deep breathing exercises in my daily meditation conference calls.)
ROLL! Or, as I often suggest, FLOW with change versus MAKE change. For anyone who needs to control everything (and I know there’s only a couple people left in this world who qualifies as ‘control freaks!’ – so this may not apply to you!) PLEASE DEAR GOD! Do yourself a favor! Remove the CONT and add an extra L at the end of the word. That looks like: CONTROLL. As you learn how to roll / flow with life, you’ll experience to consistent results. 1) More quality time. 2) MUCH less stress.
Stop!
Drop!
And Roll!!
Repeat!
Stop! Feeling like you need to give everything to everyone but yourself. Rediscover the art of receiving with no strings attached.
Drop! Any idea that you’re unworthy in any shape or form from enjoying life – more fully , one step at a time. It IS doable. I’ve done it. I share what I do in a daily downloadable .mp3 file for all my subscribers. Drop $10.00 a month along with 10 minutes a day to rediscover your worth in many ways!
And Roll!! Roll with the notion that you’ll attract more health, wealth and wisdom by allowing things to come to you versus ‘making’ things come to you. While this sounds rather new-agey – it’s amazing how well it works. Once again, I speak from first-hand experience. The more I ‘roll / flow’ with things – the more I’m able to do with ease and grace.
Once again . . .
Stop!
Drop!
And Roll!
I encourage you to write / print these three powerful steps onto something you’ll see every day. Fill in fresh ideas each day to start yourself on a path to enjoying more quality time with yourself and those you care for.
Example: Day One:
STOP: skipping breakfast. (Healthy nutrition plays a key factor in reducing stress in many ways.)
DROP: one negative attitude about someone or something. (Negative attitudes are like multiplication tables! One negative attitude inspires two negative attitudes. Two become 4, 4 becomes 8 – and so on! No stress there right?)
ROLL: plan 15 minutes of absolutely unscheduled time someplace within the day. During that time – do whatever comes to mind that helps you experience less stress. This is NOT the time to catch-up on emails, phone calls, running errands, etc. This is absolutely FREE time to sit, relax, or maybe enjoy a hearty walk.
On day two – continue where you’ve left off or start something new. The goal: be consistent in your passion to enjoy more quality time with less stress. As with all things, practice inspires perfection one step at a time.
Call to action:
If you need support in any of what you read above, kindly consider subscribing to Souldancing. Each weekday, you’re invited to download ONE new audio (.mp3) file featuring a guided presentation of some sort. It might be a way to learn meditation. Maybe you’ll listen to a way to visualize something you want more of (or less of) in life. Often, there’s a fun little exercise on how to advance your ability to learn, laugh or grow with ease or grace.
On Sunday evenings, we gather together via a conference call to explore questions, share wisdom and enjoy hearty laughter on a topic we select at the beginning of the call.
Cost: $10.00 per month. Click to subscribe or explore more details.
Souldancer is known as the Founder of Souldancer Network and principle teacher of souldancing. Students, clients, researchers and related professionals speak of Souldancer as a corporate shaman and ethicist, Socratic teacher and dogma-free spiritual guide.
His client roster includes Ameriprise, Wells Fargo, Wells Fargo Mortgage, Wells Fargo Trust Operations, The American Red Cross and The American Association of Blood Banks. His volunteer work (from Board member to the frontlines) include Outfront, Center on Halsted, The Center, a variety of helplines and pride groups.
He’s a published author, internationally recognized key-note speaker and radio show host. His life focuses on two passions. First, to gently awaken and engage life to the fullest. Next, to live a kind and aware life free of worry, doubt, shame or guilt.
Souldancer’s wisdom flows from two decades of diverse spiritual practices. He earned a University of Minnesota undergraduate degree in human relationships and a masters in social work. His travels to 30+ countries and over a dozen leadership awards confirms his passion to be of service. Souldancer practices each day to live a culturally competent, spiritually awake and aware life.
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If you’d like a tool for managing your time and projects, you can use this application inspired by David Allen’s GTD:
http://www.Gtdagenda.com
You can use it to manage and prioritize your goals, projects and tasks, set next actions and contexts, use checklists, schedules and a calendar.
A mobile version is available too.