August. Our last full month of summer here in the Northern Hemisphere.

This got me thinking back to my corporate days. Sitting in my climate controlled office. Not always anywhere near a window. Sometimes I forgot what month it was. Not in relation to all my deadlines, of course. Just in relation to the seasons. It was always the same inside. When I left in the evening, there were times when I was actually surprised by what I encountered. Darkness vs. light. Heat vs. frost. Seasons slipped by as quietly as the fair weather clouds.

Does this happen to you? In an era where the word mindfulness is never more than a few dozen words away, it really shouldn’t. But does it?

I know I can get as lost in my work as anyone. And the corporate world doesn’t exactly discourage that kind of devotion. Once I left that world and became my own boss, I discovered that self-employment is even worse when it comes to demanding complete devotion.

Luckily, I’ve learned. Or changed. Or both. It might shock you to know how much I’ve changed. But I’ve realized that my success depends on my well-being. When I feel fit, happy, and relaxed, I am a better person. I think more clearly, make smarter decisions, am more innovative, and work faster.

So I put my well-being first:

• I take more vacations to recharge my batteries. If you don’t have a lot of time off, know that even three-day weekends can make a huge difference.
• I travel far afield to shift my perspectives. New experiences are the most rewarding for me in so many ways. But you don’t have to go far to try something new!
• I walk away from my desk more often during the day, especially if I find myself getting bogged down. Walking away allows me to step back and regroup. Taking my mind off the matter at hand is often the key to breakthrough. Even just for 10 minutes.
• I make time for more exercise. This increases my energy level across the board.
• I sleep later. I think I was still in my twenties when I first recognized that the corporate schedule necessitated being awake during my best sleeping hours. I can’t believe it took me so long to do something about that!

This is the last month of the summer. Are you letting another season slip by? If so, grab a long weekend or two, before it’s too late.

This is your only life. Are you putting your well-being first? If not, what’s one thing you could do differently that would make you feel more energetic, happier, and able to be your best?

Positive change starts with clarity and one concrete step. What will it be?

As always, I would like to know your thoughts. – Ann