Get Out Those Legos

Many of my clients are working harder than smarter. This is not a put-down of their intelligence. It is a statement about the conventions of the way most of us live and work. Without a concerted effort to step back and take an objective look at how we function day in and day out, we find ourselves subject to old ways of doing things without periodic checkups to see if they are working.

The first step to changing the high stress road to burnout approach to your work day is to build in "joy breaks" or mini refreshers. It is not true that you get more done if you don't stop for lunch or other refreshing breaks during the day. On the contrary, I always remember the days I sat at my desk searching for a solution to a particular problem. I tried very hard to come up with the answer and was not successful.

In the afternoon of the second day, I threw my hands in the air, exasperated, and went out to pull a few weeds from my garden. That's when the light bulb went off and I had the answer.

In order to have meaningful joy breaks a plan is necessary. Start by making a list of things you consider fun and refreshing that can be done in 5 or 10 minutes, a half hour, an hour or more. Then list the supplies you will need to have on hand when you want to do that activity: magazines, puzzles, a musical instrument, books, CD's, running shoes, Legos, phone numbers of friends or family, gardening gloves, crayons, paints, jelly beans, yoga instructions, a basketball, a movie schedule, etc. Make sure that your breaks have NOTHING to do with your work.

You will experience even more benefits than feeling refreshed. You will start thinking out of the box, be more creative, productive, and make better decisions. You will also notice that there are more facets to your personality than are reflected in your work. You may remember old interests you forgot about or discover new talents you would like to develop. Your joy breaks will bring more joy to your daily life and make you a more pleasant person to be around.

At some point you may want to take a closer look and examine in greater depth how you are spending not only your work life, but your whole life. Are you actually doing what you are supposed to be doing in the world? We will take a deeper look into that in the future.

Master your next level and enjoy the journey.

About The Author

Dorene Lehavi, Ph.D. is principal of Next Level Business and Professional Coaching. She coaches Professionals and Business Partners and teaches teleclasses on techniques to break through barriers to the next level. Dr. Lehavi offers a complimentary coaching session so you can experience how coaching can work for you. Contact Dr. Lehavi at DL@CoachingforYourNextLevel.com or on the web at http://www.CoachingforYourNextLevel.com Subscribe to Mastering Your Next Level monthly e-newsletter at http://www.coachingforyournextlevel.com/newsletter.html

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Happiest Person In America: Whats Sex Got To Do With It?

Who is the happiest person in America? USA Today featured... Read More

Suffering and Happiness

The one feature that sets life on Earth apart from... Read More

Happiness - Cause and Effect

Your reaction to the events around you determines how you... Read More

10 Fun Ways To Live An Enchanted Life Today!

I am often asked how I can live the way... Read More

Self-Worthiness

Worthiness-word origin. Worth and worship both come from Old English... Read More

Create a Balanced Lifestyle and Begin Living a Happier, Healthier and Enriched Life

Are you living a balanced life?Many people are not. Their... Read More

Inner Peace

Are you content and at inner peace?Or are you insecure... Read More

Got Play?

Passion Love Action You! Playing with your own divinity, spirit,... Read More

Are You Doing What You Love Each And Every Day?

It is easy to get caught up in the day-to-day... Read More

Achievement and Happiness the 80/20 Way

If there was ever a principle that was responsible for... Read More

Have Fun, Make Friends, Be Happy

I always marvel at the way people shine when they... Read More

It?s Good to be Goofy

To paraphrase a saying my mother liked to use occasionally,... Read More

Simple Pleasures: Ingredients to Feed Your Spirit.

"When we do something we love, again and again, our... Read More

10 Easy Ways You Can Feel Happier, Be Healthier and Live Longer Starting NOW!

Let's just say? first thing when you popped out of... Read More

Love and Laughter ? Celebrating the Gift of Life

Only you can call me into aliveness. Each time... Read More

The Personal Cost of Shyness

Has someone nearby been sending you emails rather than calling... Read More

Authentic Happiness

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE - how to build positive emotions for extraordinary... Read More

But I Bought All The Books And Tapes, And Im Still Unhappy!

I love this quote by Zig Ziglar, and think it's... Read More

Your Perfect Partner

A woman we'll call "Jane" thought she was a great... Read More

Happiness Is In Our Own Hands

Other people can bring tremendous happiness to our lives but... Read More

Why We Have Problems? A Coach Debates

As a coach, I often ask myself the question why... Read More

Love, Uncles, and Etymology

Thwack! . . . Thwack! . . . Thwack! Steven... Read More

What is Happiness and How to Achieve It?

True happiness is such a rare commodity that the whole... Read More

Common Scents For Emotional Well Being

Aromatics which include essential oils, perfume, centred candles and incense,... Read More

Uncovering Your Joy: Using a Personal Journal to Discover a Life Filled with Happiness

Author Tristine Rainer wrote "Happiness within a diary has less... Read More

It Costs Nothing To Smile

I like to be around positive people, people who tend... Read More

Poetic Romance

Romance is conveyed in so many different ways.One less commonly... Read More

Body, Mind, and Soul

Being in tune with your mind, body, and soul and... Read More

Sweeten Up Your Life

Sometimes life experiences can be like a lemon-flavored Tootsie Roll... Read More

Our Feelings and Attitudes Around Happily Ever After

Our feelings and attitudes have a huge impact on our... Read More

7 Keys to a Happy Life

1. Do not act in order to receive a payoff.This... Read More

Happiness and Keeping Ahead of the Joneses

Imagine that the Internal Revenue Service in your country claimed... Read More

Many Blessings

"Reflect on your present blessings of which every man has... Read More