​Are you wishing your life away?

Hooray it’s Friday!!  TFI Friday!  Another week down! 

How many posts on social media do you see like this come the end of the week?  If your feed’s anything like mine I bet it’s a lot!  Well I want to challenge this habit and ask WHAT’S THE RUSH??  Why are we celebrating the end of another week like it’s been a chore?  Whilst we’re wishing the days away, counting down to the weekend, the holidays, the end of the holidays, we run the risk of missing the very thing we’re actually here for…. LIFE!!!
Last year I did a VLOG on the topic of “I’ll be happy when…” for those that missed it here it is again:

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I recently read the fantastic book The Rise of the Ultra Runners by Adharanand Finn 
​https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rise-Ultra-Runners-Journey-Endurance/dp/1783351322 ​
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Finn explores the psychology of running ridiculously long races & the fascinating ride the mind goes through.  What struck me is that very often, despite having gone through pain like us meer mortals can’t begin to imagine & fighting the demons in their heads, the athletes will feel a huge sense of anti-climax when passing the finishing line!!  So the way they battle this is by staying in the present all the way through, some don’t take watches & take no notice of mile markers so they are purely living in the moment.  Now THAT is a great analogy for life!!  I, for one, don’t want to feel a sense of anti-climax when I get to the end of my race! I want to look back & know that I’ve savoured life as much as I could.  I remember feeling exactly the same when I ran (bimbled) the London Marathon.  I turned the corner at Buckingham Palace & didn’t want it to end – that 9 month long journey was almost over &, despite it being almost vomit inducingly tough, I felt sad.
This is particularly poignant when, like me, you have what’s known as a “Hurry up” driver!!  I really have to battle to keep mine under control!  When I have an idea I want to have already completed it by the end of the day – no matter how massive an idea it is, so I have to implement strategies to slow myself down!  If you are wanting to slow down & NOTICE – be more PRESENT why not try the following:

5 ways to SLOW DOWN & savour the moment

1. Take a mindful walk – notice the colours around you, feel the wind or sun on your skin, notice how your muscles feel as you move them.
2. Look at a photograph from 1 year ago – focus on all the details, events, experiences that you have encountered since that photograph.  Write them down or draw them or talk about them, make sure you go into detail!!
3. Take half an hour out of your day and do some mindful colouring.
4. Meditate – if you’re not used to it then use a guided meditation app like Calm or Headspace 
5. Go watch a dog or a young kid playing (obviously don’t be too weird and stand outside school playgrounds!)  Kids and animals don’t have any concept of time & look how happy they are!!!

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Part of my work as a positive mindset coach is based on building strategies to savour the moment more.  If you would like to find out about how we could work together please do book a call to discuss your options.