Every now and then, new corporate buzz words will pop up. Some are here to stay and actually have some substance, while others fade with time.
Personally, I think resilience is one of those concepts, and I definitely think it’s here to stay. It’s not something that can just fade way, especially given the way we live our lives now.
I learned more about what resilience means in terms of personal and professional development during the conference I attended in London back in October. One of the speakers for my team’s session was a resilience expert who talked to us about what it is, why it’s important, and how to create more of it on a daily basis. Since then, I’ve been keen to learn more. From what I know, resilience is one of those things that is the result of mindful habits/living.
Ok, first thing’s first. What is resilience? Well according to Alexia Michiels (the speaker) in her book, The Resilience Drive, it’s the range of skills that enable us to bounce back when faced with adversity. It helps us lead a successful and fulfilling life. “Resilient people demonstrate rapid bounce, courage, and creativity; they cultivate healthy connections with themselves, others, and the environment.”
I read The Resilience Drive on the way to London just last week. It’s not so much a true book as it is a pocket guide with over 100 ideas for how to cultivate resilience in our daily lives.
There are five sections based on different areas of self and life. And under each, there are ideas for how to be more resilient.
So, being the nerd that I am, I took notes while reading this on the plane. I wrote down the ideas under each of the five sections that I thought would work for me and/or things that I want to implement in 2020.
Stay calm and rejuvenate
1. Exhale – 4 seconds in and 6 seconds out
2. Close your eyes every now and then
3. Get in child’s pose a few times a day
4. Walk slower (been on my to-do list since I was like 1…ha!)
5. Disconnect from screens and limit screen time
6. Relax before bed (happy to note that I’m starting this in 2019…started meditating
using the Head Space app!)
Stimulate your vitality
1. Stretch in the AM – right when you wake up
2. Adjust your posture throughout the day
3. Practice balancing exercises while doing everyday tasks/chores around the
house (i.e. folding laundry)
4. Take real lunch breaks (without your laptop and/or phone)
5. Eat slowly
6. Create a sleep routine
Engage your emotions
1. Listen more actively
2. Think about and list out WWW (what went well) every day
3. Actively participate in discussions
4. Find and/or create quick wins for yourself every day
Train the mind
1. Set a daily/weekly intention
2. Schedule email breaks (only check email during specific times of the day)
3. Monotask
4. Keep things simple (stupid) – KISS!
Spirit in action
1. Do one random act of kindness a day
2. Be open to different opinions
3. Meditate (check!)
The book explains more about each of these daily resilience habits. If you’re interested, send me an email or buy the Kindle version off Amazon. It’s a great reference book to have, especially on those tough days where you feel anything but resilient!
No portion of this post is sponsored. However, affiliate links are included. There is no extra cost to you, but I do receive a small commission on anything you buy through my links. Thank you for reading and supporting My Inner Shakti!
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