By Sid Madge, author of the ‘Meee in a Minute’ series of books
Me In A Minute
During Covid -19, if we are lucky, we have been able to stay home, reconnect with family and enjoy some serious down time, safe in the knowledge we have still been paid the majority of our wage. If we are unlucky it has been a struggle.
Despite the difficult times there is hope. And opportunity. The opportunity for us, as a society to change, and an opportunity for each individual to make changes to their lives and create a better balance.
Here are five practical steps to help make this ‘new balance’ a reality for yourself and for your family. Share these tips with those around you and help them create the space to turn these into regular habits:
1) Master your mornings: Start your day from a place of positivity. Focus on what you want to achieve that day and take a minute or two to remind yourself what you are already grateful for in your life. Write down six things you are grateful for, and six things you absolutely must achieve today. Then use these as your focus for the day.
2) While you eat your breakfast (or while you’re commuting) read an inspirational book. For example, ‘Meee in a Family Minute’ has 60 one-minute nuggets of wisdom including life hacks, advice, insights, science, short exercises, and thought experiments to ensure you start the day with positivity and confidence. Another great book is A. C. Grayling’s ‘The Meaning of Things’ which had a profound impact on my life. There are dozens of great books, some in audio form, so pick those that resonate with you.
3) Eradicate unnecessary work. Take some time to consider what’s really important in your life. If something doesn’t add value at work or at home, eliminate it from your life. Focus on what matters professionally and personally. Focus on what makes you happy. And make these things the priority.
4) Take time out, every day to get outside, ideally in nature or a local park. Walk, pay attention to what’s going on around you. Don’t cut yourself off from what’s around with music, audio books or podcasts. Instead, notice the trees, the bird song, the change of the seasons. Take this time, even if it’s just a few minutes, to learn how to just ‘be’. Listen. Think. Spend time in silence.
5) Connect with people you care about – at work and at home. At work find ways to maintain some of the flexibility that became essential during Covid-19. Honour both the human being and the employee. Find ways (using the tips above) to maintain a connection and to find a balance that works for both parts of your life; the work and the home. At home, talk to each other, eat together as a family and maintain the strengthened bonds facilitated by the pandemic.
If Covid has given us anything it’s a renewed appreciation for what’s really important: Human beings, happiness, safety, love, family, friends, laughter, appreciation – the simple things. Human things.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sid Madge is founder of Meee (My Education Employment Enterprise) which draws on the best creativity and thinking from the worlds of branding, psychology, neuroscience, education and sociology, to help people achieve extraordinary lives.
To date, Meee has transformed the lives of over 20,000 people, from leaders of PLC’s and SME’s to parents, teachers, students, carers, the unemployed and prison inmates.
Sid Madge is also author of the ‘Meee in Minute’ series of books which each offer 60 ways to change your life, work-, or family-life in 60 seconds.
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