Reclaiming Your Afternoon

Does anyone remember that terrible Geico commercial "Happier than a Camel on Wednesday?"

Some weeks, it feels like we are just surviving until Friday. Does it ever feel like Friday is miles and miles away? And let’s address how motivation sinks the closer we get to Friday…

I get it.

It's easy to get caught in the lull of Wednesday, and it's natural to feel a little "winded" after the uphill climb of Monday and Tuesday. As you're rounding the apex of the work week and looking for a smooth ride down, now is a great opportunity to perform a spot-check on your goals, wellness, and prioritize your tasks over the last few days of the week. Not only does this improve our productivity by focusing our energy for the rest of the week on completing the most important tasks, it also sets you up to enjoy your weekend better.

Imagine waking up on Saturday morning and actually feeling rested, not worrying about work or having your head swim with all the things you didn't cross off your to-do list. There is an art to successfully closing out a week, and part of it includes checking in with your priorities list and ensuring the most significant actions get accomplished.

Here's a midweek check-in for you:

• What successes can I celebrate from the week so far?

• If I could only complete ONE task between now and Friday, what would be the most important?

• How am I feeling? Energized? Drained? Anxious? Excited? Something else?

This isn’t just about “productivity hacks.” It’s about consciously choosing how you experience your life, one moment at a time. Checking in with the body provides a beautiful opportunity to course correct. Mindfulness practices can improve our creativity and focus skills, tangibly reduce stress and anxiety, and help you reconnect with yourself a little. By intentionally taking a moment to ourselves in the middle of the work week, we cut through the noise, reclaim some of our energy, and find the respite we desperately need. It gives us control of the most important moment: the present.

Wouldn't you rather feel grounded, centered, and calm at work rather than frantic, frazzled, and fried?

Here are 5 quick mindfulness activities that take no time at all and have a huge ROI:

• Slow exhale breathing. Inhale deeply while you count to four, exhale slowly while you count to eight in your head. (Bonus: you could also pause for a four-count in between the inhale and the exhale.) This simple technique lowers the heart rate and activates the parasympathetic nervous system, calming you down. Do this for as many as you'd like - could be 3 breaths , could be 10, could be 30. Whatever feels right. Go wild. Even if you don't do this exact pattern, any form of mindful breathing will do. Close the eyes and listen to the breath, try to elongate the exhale. That’s all you need.

• Voice Journal. Go sit in your car or your office for 5 minutes with the door closed and where no one can hear you. Open up a voice note on your phone and let it all out. Talk to yourself out loud. What are you feeling? What are you worried about? What's going right? Whatever comes out, just get it out. What would you say out loud without fear of judgement? Don’t judge yourself - the point is to release it all. This cathartic release can help ease the pressure valve just enough, freeing your mind because you got it out of your thoughts and into a tangible form.

• Body scan. You can be sitting in your office or standing outside - you can do this literally anywhere it is safe to close your eyes. Wouldn't recommend while driving, though. Get very still and take a moment to bring your awareness to the body. Start with your toes and the bottoms of your feet. What do you notice? Tingles? Numbness? Work your way up to noticing your ankles, calves, knees, finger tips, nose, and so on. What to do you feel? Can you hear your heart beat? Observe without judgement, and sit in this moment for as long as you have - one minute, or 5. Heck, you can conduct one in less than 5 seconds!

• Sensory scan. Similar to the body scan and safe to do anywhere, except don't get too carried away if you're driving, this time, you’re focusing on your surroundings. Engage all the senses. What are you seeing? Hearing? Smelling? etc. Notice the details - the hum of the car outside the window, the sound of your fingers clacking away on the keyboard, the way the light falls on the plant sitting by the window. You can look around you and notice everything in your immediate environment, as well.

• Mindful Eating. If you know me, you know I love good food. One of my favorite mindfulness practices is eating without distractions. Put away the cell phone, turn off the TV, and truly savor the meal. Pay attention to the colors, textures, aromas, and flavors. You can do this on your lunch break. Taste how bland that Lean Cuisine is. Enjoy your plain bagel with cream cheese. Or, thank yourself for packing delicious left overs. The point is not to try and make every meal feel like a gourmet experience (though, I think it should be), it is to just notice.

Wednesday is just an arbitrary day. You don't need to cross a major hurdle before you can take care of yourself. Practicing mindfulness can happen on Monday morning, and Friday afternoon. Small moments of intention create big impacts, and any of these can fit anywhere in your life if you'll allow them to. It won't fix all your problems, but it will make you a little calmer, maybe a little nicer, and maybe a make it a little easier to make it through.

I am excited to launch a new referral program!

As a budding new entrepreneur, referrals are the best way to meet new connections. I know all of you who read this are here because in some form or another, you care about me and want to help me succeed. For that I am deeply grateful. One of the best ways you can support me is through personal referrals. In addition to sharing my social media channels and newsletter with them, you can also tell them a little bit about me and what I do and offer. Here's a brief overview:

In a nutshell, I help people unlock their full potential and create a life they love by designing personalized wellness strategies that lead to radical transformation.

I offer individual 60-minute Wellness Clarity Sessions, 3-month ongoing private coaching through my NeoNexus Coaching Program, as well as presentations for corporations, educational settings, and other organizations on holistic wellbeing. I am in the beginning stages of building my business and I am grateful for any support! Even if my coaching services aren't for you right now, if you refer a client who signs up for a Wellness Clarity Session, you get one FREE! If you refer someone who signs up for my NeoNexus Coaching Program, you get a $100 gift card! 🥳

I hope you have a restful and successful rest of your week!

Here’s that commercial, by the way.

Until next time, live uninterrupted.

~ Coleman