5 Tips to help you Recover & Recharge

Not surprisingly, stress and anxiety have been the top concerns for people in our community over the past two years. We’ve touched on different strategies you can use to recharge and recover, however actually incorporating these practices into your life can feel overwhelming and unrealistic, especially on days when you're tired, you’ve just about had it, and you’re about to blow up.

Thankfully, you don’t have to go on a week-long vacation to recharge (although we won’t stop you!). You can incorporate micro-practices into your life to help you recharge - regardless of the time you have to do so. Whether you have a full week to recover or only a few seconds, there are simple strategies that you can do to help you re-energize, refocus, and to tackle whatever challenge may lie ahead.

Here are our five tips to help you recover, refocus, and recharge your body and mind:

1. I have seconds to recharge: Take a big stretch

Taking a big stretch is one way to press the pause button, if even for only a few seconds. Stretching your muscles will help you dissipate tension and feel better, as it activates the parasympathetic nervous system (the "rest and digest" system). While lying down, sitting, or standing, extend your body as long as you can, from your toes to the tip of your head, and reach up to the sky. Feel the tension in your body as you take this big stretch, and then notice the release as you let go of the stretch.

2. I have minutes to recharge: Practice gratitude

If you have a few minutes to recharge, a great way to reset your mindset is to practice gratitude. Take a few minutes to jot down the five things you are most grateful for in your life right now. Doing this simple practice will help you focus on what is important so you can avoid getting caught up in short-term issues.

3. I have an hour to recharge: Be absolutely alone

With a whole hour to commit to yourself, you have the ability to put space and time between a stressor and your actions. One way to change your mindset and set yourself up for excellence is to be absolutely alone. Go for a walk in the park and leave your phone behind. Go to your local coffee shop with some headphones and a great book. Enjoy some time with yourself so you can return to whatever challenge you had with a new perspective.

4. I have a day to recharge: Change your environment

If you have a full day at your disposal, you have all sorts of options for really regenerating, not just recovering. With so many of us working from home or stuck at home as a result of the pandemic, changing your environment can be the perfect reset for your mind. Getting into nature is particularly powerful, as it has been shown to stimulate the brain to move from beta mode – a state of focus, execution, and hustle – to alpha mode, a state of reflection, de-stressing, and strategic thinking.

5. I have a week to recharge: Learn something new

If you are fortunate to have a week or more off, learning something new is a great way to stimulate your mind and recharge your energy. We live in a world with almost unlimited access to information and training. When we take some time to be creative and learn, new opportunities and experiences emerge. From music, to painting, to learning a new language or skill, learning puts us into a growth mindset. It doesn’t matter what you are learning or creating, just that you’re trying something new, embracing being a beginner, and getting comfortable with the uncomfortable.