December: Tips & Tricks from deVivre
It's almost New Year's Eve, which for some means only a week more to do anything and everything your heart desires before your New Year's resolutions begin. I'm not one for resolutions - I think it's important to indulge when you want, and take care of yourself ALL of the time. With that in mind, here are some tips & tricks for having the best 2017, the deVivre way. And of course, if you need some help planning your way through 2017, you know who to contact!
Don't worry. Be happy!
One of my favorite documentaries is Happy. Definitely put it on your list for feel-good films! In the meantime, Jenna Goudreau sums up the film profoundly: “It’s pretty simple; happy people do the things that make them happy,” notes Belic. “Fundamentally, as you become happier you connect more closely to who you truly are.” Figuring out what you want and what’s really important to you will improve your happiness. The key is being authentic versus faking positivity. It’s not about being 10 out of 10 on the happiness scale all the time, says Belic. There’s an important place for anger, sadness and anxiety, and balance is crucial.
Help someone/something less fortunate.
At deVivre, we believe in giving back. Whether it's volunteering at a local soup kitchen or raising money for victims of a natural disaster, it's intuitive. Feel like you don't have time or money and therefore can't help? Think again!
Take a break mentally.
Ferris Jabr for Scientific American notes Tim Kreider's essay "The Busy Trap" to remind us that mental breaks are as vital to all of us as the sun: "Idleness is not just a vacation, an indulgence or a vice; it is as indispensable to the brain as vitamin D is to the body, and deprived of it we suffer a mental affliction as disfiguring as rickets." Whether you meditate, take an exercise class, or even just veg out, allow your mind some time to get its own R&R.
Take a break physically.
As you all know, we LOVE taking a holiday here at deVivre. We find it crucial to surviving the hustle and bustle of NYC, and running a business. We know that not everyone has the luxury to take a long holiday, but Shawn Achor helps us find the right balance, which doesn't always mean a long and luxurious vacation: "If happiness is an advantage and we need to find a way to lower stress at work, don’t get tripped up: take a vacation, but do it the right way. Create a positive vacation so you can return recharged, less stressed, and happier."
Treat yo'self!
I find that people often make resolutions that they can't keep: The diet is thrown out the window by Valentine's Day; that yoga class? yeah, it was fun that one time you went; the job hunt lasts through the summer.. meh, working 60h/wk isn't all that bad I guess. However, I'm a big believer in treating yourself right. A quote that I live by is -- Respect yourself enough to walk away from anyone or anything that no longer serves you, grows you, or makes you happy. Here are some ideas from Kathy Smart on treating yourself right in 2017.