Advertisments

Recharge Your Life! with Dr. Sue

This Month: "Complete One Thing"

by Suzanne Zoglio, Ph.D.

Having more energy is important not only to make you feel better, but also to keep you healthier. Studies have shown that "recharging" -- whether through prayer, meditation, focused breathing, positive thinking, hobbies or other things that give us energy -- can promote faster healing, increased mental acuity, better emotional well-being and greater productivity.

Research also shows that stress -- which depletes our energy -- may increase our risk for many health problems, especially cardiovascular diseases and autoimmune illnesses. On the other hand, positive emotional energy can increase longevity and strengthen our resistance to unexpected distress.

Here is a simple way to get more energy starting today.

Complete One Thing

When we can't think straight, it's often because we have too much stuff on our plates. Decisions deferred or actions delayed don't go away; they just add to your pile. One way out of this clutter is to complete things systematically, before starting something new. Decide, act, complete.

Make or review your to-do list for the week, or the day or the hour.

Now pick one item that you can complete or one decision you can make in five minutes or less. Make a phone call? Send an email? Decide what to have for lunch? Order a birthday bouquet? Jog in place?

Great! Now cross it off your list and say out loud: "Done!" No matter how small a task, give yourself credit for completing it. As your list shrinks, your sense of control and competence expands. One success sets you up for another.

As you become a master of completion, you will be spurred on by your obvious progress. Feel your head clear as you cross one more thing off your list. Every time you complete something, you reduce the number of things you have to remember to do. When your mind has fewer incompletes to keep track of, it won't need to keep switching tracks.

* * * * *

Suzanne Zoglio, Ph.D., is a life-balance coach, national speaker and author of Recharge in Minutes: The Quick-Lift Way to Less Stress, More Success and Renewed Energy and Create a Life That Tickles Your Soul

---