Did You Return from Holiday Break Needing a Break?

I have heard several people say they were almost glad to get back to work following a 'crazy' or 'hectic' holiday break. It is very easy to get caught up in the frenzy of the season, and not take time for yourself.

If this describes your situation, I encourage you to spend a little time winding down now and plan to handle things differently next time. You probably need to carve 20 - 30 minutes out of your schedule to just sit and relax. This could be in your favorite chair or in a nice warm bath, etc. I know someone who sits in his car to get a few minutes of peace and quiet. By taking a few deep breaths, you should be able to slow your breathing and catch your breath.


Then spend a few minutes thinking about things that went well or moments you enjoyed or should have enjoyed at the time. This might include the look on someone's face as they opened a present, the quiet moments before you enjoyed a holiday dinner, the deep sigh as you kicked off your shoes after a long day, etc. Think about some of the reasons you have to be grateful for each day.


Then spend a few minutes thinking about things that you didn't get done or people you did not have a chance to connect/re-connect with. Are those things you could still do this winter? If so, how? If you know how, then you simply have to decide when. If not, then is it something that must wait until next November/December or could you plan for them for this spring or summer? Keep in mind, some moments are lost and others can be sort of reconstituted.

But whether your holidays were absolutely perfect, or not at all, I would encourage you to remember to do things to take care of yourself on a regular basis. Plan for and build in time in your schedule to do so. That should be more often than once a year - once a week would be good, but once a month is a start. After all, if you don't take care of you, who will?





Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including a job change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, non-retirement planning, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association, a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association, and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at http://www.yourcareerplan.com/ for more information on her services.


To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.

Day Dreams

Day dream - is that something that you no longer allow yourself to do? So many of the people I talk to say they can't remember when they 'allowed' themselves to day dream. It seems that as we continue to mature - or when we became 'adults' - that day dreaming was something we gave up. Sometime between childhood and today, we have lost touch with the ability or willingness to day dream. But I believe that daydreams, imagination, and creativity are very important tools in designing the life we want.


So often when we do try to visualize what our life will be like when it is the way we would like, we are not able to 'see' it because we immediately become afraid. Fear of so many things comes over us - fear of failure, fear of the unknown, fear of success, etc. Visualization requires the ability to day dream or to see something 'in your mind's eye'. Many believe that if we can visualize it, we can create it, or at least develop a plan to bring it into being. If we cannot visualize it, it is very unlikely that we can do no more than just wish or hope for it. And wishing and hoping, alone, do not usually bring about results.


Give yourself permission to sit quietly or with soft music or quiet sounds of nature surrounding you and clear your mind of the day-to-day worries. Focus on you and your innermost wishes; or focus on nothing, just listen to your breathing and the soothing sounds. Many people need to build up to doing visualizations - take it slowly - maybe start with just 5 or 10 minutes of sitting quietly and build up to 15 or 20, then 30 minutes of solitude. When you are able to do that you can begin to focus your attention on filling in the blanks or listening to your heart. What is missing from your life? What do you need to fulfill you? What would bring you joy/happiness? Consider whatever aspect of your life you believe needs something different.


During your quiet time, if distracting thoughts creep into your mind, put them aside for the time. You can deal with that issue or those problems or that 'what if worry' later. Take the time to allow yourself to daydream and to believe.





Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career and job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, non-retirement planning, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Counseling Association, a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association, and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at http://www.yourcareerplan.com/ for more information on her services.


To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential voice message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.