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Sabotage Part 5: Well-being


We’ve spent the week discussing ways in which we sabotage parts of our lives, but what’s probably most important is how this daily dirty work affects our overall well-being. It’s hard to keep tabs on our brain running amok all day long and we have things to focus on (school, work, relationships) other than what our brain is chattering about. How in the world are we supposed to take care of our own well-being with all this going on in our minds and around us?

Each of us really has to find our own way to keep ourselves on a positive, healthy track. I can share some ideas that I have found helpful:

·         Take time for yourself. I have a student who works full time and takes four college courses, but she still takes time in the bathroom each morning to stop, read the news, listen to music, or even play a quick game on her phone. Doing a little bit of nothing or a little bit of something fun by yourself is important to let your mind relax and unwind. If you have more than a few minutes, take your dog for a walk (exercise, sunshine, and the company of your four-legged bestie), play a game with your child, friend, or significant other, or cook a meal (or cookies if you’re me). The important thing is: do something you enjoy!

·         Take time for others. If you have the time while you’re in school or if you’re on break, helping others can be even more of a positive boost than doing anything for yourself. There are so many short-term ways to help others: go to your local animal shelter and play with the cats and/or dogs, go to a homeless shelter and volunteer to clean or serve meals, cook goodies for someone who needs a boost, or pick up litter in your neighborhood or community (not on busy roads!).

·         Make time for family. No matter how busy you are, you don’t want to graduate from college with no friends and/or a broken marriage/family. Something as simple as having a meal together (without the television) is important when you have a lot going on in your life.

It’s a real challenge to keep your priorities in good order while you are in school. The good news is that this challenge is the same challenge you’ll face later in life once you’re done with college: you’ll always be busy, you’ll always have too much to do, you’ll always find yourself pulled in too many directions.  Taking the initiative to really get and keep your priorities in order now is going to set you up for a lifetimes of successes. When you put yourself and your well-being first, you will find that a lot of the other dirty little mind games your brain likes to play take care of themselves.

I wish you the best for your weekend and hope you are taking the best care of yourself!

Kelley

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