Remember to Stop and Smell the Roses: 4 Tips for Instant Rejuvenation

I love having flowers around because the bright colors and big open buds bring joy into my space. I place flowers on a table that I pass several times a day so I can enjoy their beauty. I recommend cutting stems diagonally under running water and using flower food to enhance the lifespan of your bouquet.

Wouldn’t it be cool if we could enhance our own lifespan with something so simple as a diagonal cut and a little healthy food? Lifespan extension might not be that easy, but taking time each day to rejuvinate ourselves will certainly add to your daily quality of life, and that in itself can help with lifepan.

We get very caught up in the busy pace of work life from business meetings to working after hours that we forget to take downtime for relaxation and fun.

Time moves so fast (it’s almost March, it feels like we just celebrated NYE) that before you know it an entire season has flown by without stopping or slowing down to notice all of the wonderful things around us. We are so focused on work, chores, or just getting by that we forget to stop, slow down, enjoy life, and smell the roses.

I was bummed when I noticed that a few of my roses were beginning to wilt. “Hmmm, that’s strange, they were perfect yesterday. I guess it’s just time.”

I removed a few of the drooping roses, recut the stems (under running water), placed them into a new vase, and added flower food to both the original boquet and to the new vase. Maybe this will rejuvinate the droopy buds. It took only a moment for this task and I was able to (hopefully) give new life to both boquets. I was too busy working to tend to my flowers, which I pass multiple times per day, that I forgot to provide just a little TLC that would be needed to keep them thriving much longer.

So here comes my analogy — if we took a little time every day to provide a little TLC to ourselves — Remember to Stop and Smell the Roses (RSSR) — we’d be much happier and more productive people. Taking just 5–10 minutes to rejuvinate can make a big difference in our levels of energy, motivation, and inner peace. RSSR can be completed in just 10 minutes or you can take an extended 10 days (think vacation time!). The point is to be deliberate about making time for self-care and to not become overwhelmed by your workday.

RSSR — Relax, Stretch, Socialize, Resume are four things we can do quickly (or for an extended time) for instant rejuvination.

Relax — Schedule relaxation time. This can be as simple as taking a 10 minute break or taking an extended (60–90 minute) exercise break. Relaxation (meditation, zoning out, deep breathing, going to the spa) will help clear your mind and prepare you for the next part of your day. I recommend beginning any relaxation time with a minimum of three deep breaths and setting an intention to relax. (Yes, we must set the intention to relax and then take action to follow through).

Stretch — Stretch your body, stretch your mind. Physically move from your workspace and give your body a few stretches. Try 5–10 sun salutations, a few minutes of simple quad, hamstring, hip flexor, and back stretches, or take a walk around the block (indoors if the weather is icky). Get the blood flowing in your body to feel instantly energized. Try stretching your mind by focusing on a task that does not come easily for you and has nothing to do with your job or career. Try a Rubik’s Cube , a challanging Suduko, or learn a new skill. Stretching your mind will help exercise your brain in new ways and can increaes cognitive alertness.

Socialize — If you have only a few moments to RSSR take 2–3 minutes to reach out to a friend or loved one. Take a few seconds to send a text message or a few minutes to make a phone call (call me old fashioned but making and receiving phone calls are my favorite). Reconnecting with the world through social interactions help people increase happiness. If you have more than a few moments go out to lunch with friends or head out for a night of theater and cocktails. Being in social enviroments reminds us that there is more to life than just working. Be happy, interact with the world (IRL), and enjoy being around others in a fun environment.

Resume — Just like we plan time to relax, we must plan time to resume our every day duties. After you have time to relax, stretch, and socialize, plan a reentry to resume your day. Give yourself a timeframe for RSSR, again, that can be 10 minutes or 10 days, and plan the first few tasks back at work (I recommend picking simple tasks). Planning ahead of time can actually help you relax better and have more confidence in your ability to get through your to-do list. The first thing on my to-do list is planning my next RSSRmoment and picking up more roses.

Remember to Stop and Smell the Roses (RSSR) every day for instant rejuvination and as a reminder to let go of the small stressors and enjoy life’s great pleasures.

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