Simple tools to bring your best self into work and home life
Have you ever struggled to separate what's happening in your personal life from how you show up at work or vice versa?
Earlier this week I was working through this with a client who was feeling the impact of a colleague whose ability to be their best at work is being impacted by what's going on at home.
Here's the thing. We can't separate our work and home lives, because they aren't separate.
We're the same person, carrying the same mental and emotional load, whether we're at work or at home and so it's unrealistic to expect that we can simply switch off from one part of our lives as we show up in another.
What we can do is learn strategies and tools to show up as our best at home, or at work, despite what's going on in the other environment
Here are some simple tools I have used when arriving at work or at home to prime my energy
🌟 Spend 2 minutes in a quiet space (car, reception, park, meeting room) taking some deep breaths before you head into the office or your house.
🧘♂️ Use your breath to let go of the tension you're holding before you enter the new environment
🌬 I find block breathing really useful, using the 4-4-4-4 technique (4 seconds breathing in, 4 seconds hold, 4 seconds breathing out, 4 seconds hold) and I do this for 1-2 minutes.
🌟 Ask yourself these questions
➡ "How do I want to be today in this environment?"
➡ "What am I holding onto right now that could impact my ability to be that way?"
➡ "Do I need to take that with me?"
➡ "Is there something I could do right now to let it go?" E.g writing it down, consciously choosing to park it for later, taking action in the moment that helps you let go
Now if you get dysregulated in either environment take a few moments to
🌟 Breathe - Counting up to 10 deep and slow nasal breaths (this instructs your nervous system to release calming neuro chemicals)
🌟 Remind yourself that you're human, and that everyone gets dysregulated
🌟 Remind yourself of how you want to show up/be
🌟 Give yourself the same kindness and compassion you would give a friend if they were experiencing what you are - be kind in your words, thoughts and actions.