***BOOST YOUR CREATIVITY AND MAKE IT WORK FOR YOU***
There are times when it can feel like you have simply run out of good ideas. This is the classical “writer’s block,” and you don’t have to be a writer to experience this phenomenon. No matter what you do for a living, your creativity can be one of your best resources. What can you do to boost your creativity when you feel as though you just can’t access that part of yourself? Take advantage of the mind-body connection to boost your creativity. There are a number of simple things you can do to clear your head and get your creative juices flowing.
*EXERCISE. Step away from your project and go for a walk, or head to the gym. Exercise promotes the flow of oxygen to your brain. Exercise also releases stress-relieving endorphins and decreases the levels of cortisol (i.e., stress hormone) in your body. All of these positive side effects of exercise will help to get your creativity going again.
*GET PLENTY OF SLEEP. Be sure you are getting sufficient sleep. In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to short-change yourself on sleep. We need at least eight hours of sleep to be fully alert and functioning at our best. It is impossible to come up with your best ideas when you are sleep deprived.
*GET AWAY. Take a vacation or mini-vacation for a change of pace and scenery. Do something totally outside of your ordinary routine. This will help you to see the world differently and get a fresh perspective. If now isn’t a good time for a vacation to the Bahamas, take a mini-vacation. This can be as simple as a 5-minute break to close your eyes and use imagery to evoke a relaxing scene in your mind.
*PRACTICE RELAXATION, MEDITATION, OR YOGA. Inducing a relaxed state of mind and clearing your mind of clutter will help you focus in the present moment. You will be surprised at the creativity that returns to you once your mind has been freed of the clutter of your daily thoughts and worries.
*SCHEDULE FOR CREATIVITY. Notice the days and times of day you are most likely to be creative and have good ideas. Rearrange your schedule to best utilize those times for your creative endeavors. Treat this like an appointment with yourself. Do not let other matters intrude on this important time.
*GET COACHING. Coaching is an excellent way to get your creativity flowing again. As a coach, I love to work with creative clients. Even the most creative person sometimes feels stuck, or has difficulty implementing creative ideas. Having a supportive coach to assist you in brainstorming and developing specific plans to implement creative ideas can move you much further along than when you work alone. An example that comes to mind is a woman with whom I recently talked to about business ideas. For several years, she has had the idea of marketing her creative therapeutic interventions to other therapists, but she has never had a plan for moving forward with her business. After just a few conversations, she is developing a website and products she will be marketing to other therapists. The support of a coach can be of tremendous value as you take action to put your creativity to work!
For more assistance with boosting your creativity and putting it to work for you, email me at Sabrina@tapthepotential.com to schedule a complimentary coaching session.
***“Spring into Action” COACHING SPECIAL*** Spring is my favorite time of year. There is new growth everywhere. With the change of seasons, we become more energized and ready to begin new projects. Spring is an excellent time to get to work on your plans and goals that have been on the backburner. START YOUR COACHING NOW! FOR A LIMITED TIME, RECEIVE A 10% DISCOUNT ON THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF LIFE COACHING. By the end of your first three months of coaching, we will have created a life plan specifically tailored to you and you will have taken significant steps toward accomplishing your goals. So, what are you waiting for? Email me now at Sabrina@tapthepotential.com to be eligible for your 10% discount.
***Considering Hiring a Coach?*** Go to www.tapthepotential.com/hiringyourcoach.html to receive a FREE REPORT on 5 TIPS FOR FINDING THE BEST COACH FOR YOU
***PSYCHOLOGICALLY HEALTHY WORKPLACES *** On my website, I feature public education and links to promote work-life balance. One of the ways in which I work to promote work-life balance is through educating others about psychologically healthy workplaces. Visit my website, www.tapthepotential.com and click on “Healthy Workplaces” in the Index to learn more about the benefits of psychologically healthy workplaces for both employees and employers. Check back regularly. In the coming months, I will feature a FREE REPORT for employees on how to introduce psychologically healthy practices into your workplace.
WORKFORCE HEALTH INITIATIVE PROGRAM. Would you like your employer to subsidize the cost of your health club membership? Currently, employers are allowed to deduct the cost of on-site workout facilities. That’s great, but for many businesses, it is not feasible to build an on-site workout facility. Currently, employees who receive an employer subsidized health club membership are required to pay income tax on the value of the subsidy and the employer incurs administrative costs for complying with IRS rules. There is a federal bill in the works that could change this! The Workforce Health Improvement Progam (WHIP) Act would allow for the equitable tax treatment of health club memberships as a benefit for employees. Employers would be allowed to deduct the cost of health club memberships for their employees. The act also would ensure that this benefit would not be classified as additional income to employees. If this act is passed, it would encourage more employers to subsidize fitness initiatives and encourage Americans to live a healthier lifestyle. If you would like to encourage your Congressional representative to support this bill, log onto www.getactivemagazine.com and click on the menu option for “write to your elected officials.” They have made it very simple for you to send a prewritten letter (that you can edit) to your elected representatives in support of this bill.
LOOK FOR DR. SCHLEICHER’S NEW COLUMN on the value of Psychologically Healthy Workplace Practices for recruiting and retaining medical and mental health practitioners in rural, underserved areas. This column will be featured in Rural Roads Magazine, a publication of the National Rural Health Association, which highlights successful rural health programs.
NEW WEBSITE FEATURE: THE BALANCED LIFE MESSAGE BOARD. I have added a message board to my website to compliment this newsletter. The message board is a place for you to share your questions, ideas, opinions, and knowledge about work-life balance, time management, career issues, business start-up, etc. You also can use The Balanced Life Message Board to comment on articles from The Balanced Life Newsletter. To get the discussion started, I posted a question asking for your ideas about workplace practices that promote work-life balance. To share your comments or start a new topic, log onto www.tapthepotential.com/messageboard.html
SPREAD THE WORD…please feel free to forward The Balanced Life Newsletter onto others who may be interested in the articles included here.
If this newsletter has been forwarded to you and you would like to subscribe to The Balanced Life Newsletter, visit www.tapthepotential.com/thebalancedlifenewsletter.html
Sabrina Starling Schleicher, Ph.D. Licensed Psychologist Executive and Life Coach e-mail: Sabrina@tapthepotential.com
