7 Ways Successful People Remain Calm When Life Gets Out Of Control

 

7 Ways Successful People Remain Calm When Life Gets Out Of Control
– by Carolynne Melny

Every now and again life doesn’t throw us a curve, it aims a quiver full of arrows. When this happens we don’t know which way to turn or what to do.

Panic sets in.

This is followed by frantic activity or total immobility.

But there are some people, who seem to navigate this onslaught of trials in a calm and peaceful manner.

What is their secret?

They know every problem has a solution.

When you start from this understanding you are already on your way to dealing with whatever you are facing. Knowing there is a solution means that now you have shifted the focus from a problem to a creative outcome. You are no longer in victim mode, now you are in creator mode.

They stay away from the mind circles.

Mind circles are those repeated thoughts that keep going round and round in your head. Thoughts like: What am I going to do? Where am I going to go? Why does this happen to me? These thoughts only add more confusion to the situation and keep you trapped in a victim mentality.

It is best to take a deep breath and ask yourself, “What is the worst case scenario?” This is a great question because often things are not as bad as they first appear. It will also stops you from repeating hypothetical questions based on imagination.

They don’t exaggerate the situation.

Our mind loves to take a situation and blow it out of proportion. In a flash, we can go from a simple fender bender to OMG I could have been killed. Look at the situation for what it is, don’t add to it.

Stick to the facts.

They breath.

So simple and so effective at calming us immediately! It is such a natural thing that we forget that we breath. When a situation arises that gets your blood pressure and anxiety levels up, stop what you doing. Take several deep breathes, allow yourself to feel the air entering and leaving your body.

This takes the focus off what is happening around you, and gets you centered so that you will think and act with clarity.

They break the problem down into pieces.

When faced with problems we often get overwhelmed by them because we only see the enormity of the situation. As soon as you can after the initial shock, break the problem down in to manageable parts. Identifying ONE thing you can do right now towards a solution. This will helps you see that there is a solution and that the solution is not as difficult as you thought it might be.

They are grateful.

This can be very difficult in some situations and you may not feel gratitude for a long time after an incident, but it is very helpful. If you can look at a situation and find one thing, however small, to be grateful for it shifts you out of victim mode.

In gratitude you are returning to your place of power and taking control over the situation. The situation is not leading you, you are leading the situation.

They accept what is.

Ultimately it all comes down to accepting the situation exactly as it is.

• accepting what has happened,
• accepting the difficulties it has caused,
• accepting that you might have to do without something,
• accepting that it could take time to fix,
• accepting that you might not be happy about the situation.

In accepting the experience for what it is, an experience, you will be stepping way from the drama within the story and be left with the facts. When you are no longer reacting to the drama of the story, the problem tends to become simpler.

In most situations our natural instinct is to react. We can react in such a way as to make the situation worse thus adding to the problem or, we can react in a calmer way that seeks to find solutions.

The choice is yours.
Read more at http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/7-ways-successful-people-remain-calm-life-gets-control/#ryEmS1gtVKlCgOZZ.99

From Treadmill to the Road

Taking It to the Streets

Published: March 2011 (RunningFreeOnline.com)

When temperatures hit the extremes, cold in the winter and hot in the summer, runners traditionally seek shelter by hitting their treadmills. But while you may be hitting new PR’s inside, you may be shocked to hit walls once back outside.

“Mentally, the transition is difficult because your mind expects the body to be able to run like it did on the treadmill,” says Denver Benton, running coach and creator of the Forge Trail Running Series. “However, because running is much more taxing on the road you can’t run as long and it’s more uncomfortable.”

Training for races scheduled in the cool fall months, runners can fool themselves into thinking they are ready to set new PR’s after running for several weeks or months inside on treadmills. Benton, who trains runners of all abilities in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, says he sees runners who are surprised that they were running longer and faster than they ever had before on treadmills during the steamy summer months only to fall flat once back on pavement.

“Getting back out of gym hibernation can be very frustrating at first if you’re not prepared for it,” says Benton. “On the treadmill, the machine maintains a set pace throughout the run but on the road, you constantly have to adjust the pace based on terrain, weather and how you feel.”

Setup for Success

While training on a treadmill during off-season months, runners need to keep in mind several techniques for avoiding muscle atrophy. Benton takes his runners through a series of steps to ensure a smooth transition.

Grounded in Reality

To avoid discouragement and worse yet, injury, runners should be educated on what to expect when transitioning from treadmill to road running. “Setting accurate expectations for yourself is one of the most important aspects of training,” says Benton. “Runners need to know that stepping from treadmill to the street does not equate.”

Start Slow

 Benton advises his runners to start with an 8 to 10 week training schedule to ensure they don’t over-do it too early and cause an injury. A schedule can also help runners gain confidence from seeing improving results. In following the schedule, “we would incorporate a short road run into the weekly workouts. Each week we’ll increase the time on the road and decrease the time on the treadmill,” says Benton. “All of the remaining treadmill runs will be on an incline of 1-3. This will force the legs and joints to work harder, lessening the effects of the road.”

Never Stop

 The easiest way to avoid the pitfalls of treadmill to road running is to never stop road running. Even if it’s only for 15 to 20 minutes a couple days a week, keep running outside during your extreme season. Also, to simulate road running on your treadmill, increase the incline gradually to work out muscles that would otherwise not get used.

Pace Yourself, Not Stress Yourself

 Once back on the road, take 3 or 4 weeks and slow the pace. Benton stresses to his clients to set their pace based on how they feel rather than setting pace from a watch.

“Runners tend to rely too much on technology and not enough on the body,” says Benton. “Your body will tell you everything you need to know if you just listen to it.”

Get to the Core of It

 Core work, consisting of a regular regimen of hip, abdomen and lower back exercises, can give your body a head start on recovering from weeks of treadmill running. The muscles used in road running will be stronger from the start and will better adapt when it’s time to hit the pavement again. “A quick 30 minute core workout can make all the difference in how your body responds to the road,” says Benton.

Take it Off Road

The best regimen for getting back to running on the road may be taking it off road. Benton prescribes a trail run every 2 weeks to his clients to add strength and stamina. “Running on trails provides a great change of pace, but also helps to strengthen your ankles, hips and knees,” says Benton. “I like to incorporate a trail run every couple weeks.”

Checklist

1. Don’t run exclusively on a treadmill. Make sure at least a third of your runs are outside on pavement even if they are short runs.
2. While running on a treadmill, increase the incline gradually to work muscles that would otherwise tend to suffer atrophy.
3. Take steps to increase core strength with exercises designed to workout muscles that may get weak from exclusive treadmill running.
4. Educate yourself on what to expect for your transition from treadmill to road running. It may take a few weeks and runs to get your speed and stamina back on track.
5. Set running pace for a few weeks based on stamina and feeling rather than a watch.
6. Incorporate an off-road trail run every two weeks to help strengthen ankles, hips and knees.

Authors
Craig Simmons and Scott Ford

 

 

3 Must-Have Health & Fitness Apps For The Busy Business Professional

BY AMBER MAC

It’s easy to get behind when you’re a busy executive. It’s also easy to get a big behind when you’re a busy executive. Yes, sitting at a desk all day, flying from city to city, and collapsing on the couch as soon as you get home from back-to-back meetings can all contribute to weight gain and a general feeling of unhealthiness. Oh, and let’s not forget the endless vending machine snacking and late work dinners out.

Fortunately, the very technology that is tethering us to our work can also help us to stay in shape. More than 40% of doctors believe that mobile health tech can reduce the number of office visits and more than 80% of doctors currently use smartphone and medical apps in their own practices, according to data released last month from Float Mobile Learning.

With more than 10,000 health care apps on the market distributing an endless amount of free or almost free information, it’s clear that smart working professionals should be in much better shape. After all, the most successful business people are often high achievers, constantly looking for better ways to improve their diets and enhance their exercise routines for more energy at the office. However, with so much time spent focusing on work and so little time to homing in on health, it’s tough to piece together the perfect mobile solution.

To make better food choices and to put physical activity back on top of your to-do list, here are three apps that can ensure you’re ahead on the fitness front.

LoseIt (iOS/Android – FREE)

Most nutritionists and personal trainers will tell you that tracking what you eat and how much you work out is one of the best ways to lose weight and stay healthy. Unfortunately, a paper-based food diary can be a cumbersome method to monitor every snack you have and every step you take. A better answer is LoseIt. This app makes it a cinch to record everything that goes in your mouth, without taking up too much time in your busy day. Just ate a handful of almonds? This mobile download will tell you that 10 of these tasty treats have 69 calories (and it will break down the carbohydrates, fiber, sugars, protein, and more). If you have a weight-loss goal, just enter that number into the app and LoseIt will calculate your daily caloric allowance. The more exercise you do (which you must also track), the more calories the app will “give” you back. If you want to share your LoseIt progress, you can output daily reports (or just keep all your great progress to yourself!).

Fooducate (iOS/Android – FREE)

It’s easy to make bad food decisions when you’re rushing around all day, trying to keep up with a nonstop schedule. Sometimes reaching for that Kashi Protein & Fiber Bar tin your desk might seem like a smart and healthy choice, but you may not know that the Chocolate Almond Toffee variety gets a “D” food grade. Based on the Fooducate app, this product has more than 20% of your daily saturated fat allowance (which, according to information also supplied in this tool, is responsible for bad cholesterol buildup). Instead of making poor food choices, use this app to automatically scan a barcode when you’re shopping for snacks or looking for lunchtime meals or simply do a product search from within the tool. Not only will the app give you the food information you’re searching for, it will also provide healthier recommendations so you can eat better when you’re on the run.

P90X (iPhone, $4.99)

If you’re looking for an intense way to get fit, the P90X exercise routine is getting a lot of mainstream buzz. This new app includes a day-by-day schedule for the popular 90-day home workout program. There are detailed photos and videos to show you how to do each exercise correctly, and a colourful journal to ensure you’re meeting your fitness and diet goals. While this program can be done at home or on the road, there is a significant time commitment of an hour per workout. For business professionals looking at something a little less intense, on the other end of the spectrum is the newly updated Lastics Office Stretch app (iOS/Android – 99 cents). This digital download, which also provides step-by-step videos, is ideal for anyone looking for two- to four-minute stretches that are easily done at the office. This is the perfect mobile companion for anyone who needs a short break from staring at a computer screen or who is stuck on conference calls all day.

[Image: Flickr user Séan Venn]

U.S. Obesity Higher Than Thought

2 April 2012 Last updated at 19:44 ETBy James Gallagher Health and science reporter, BBC News

How should obesity be calculated?

The obesity problem in the US may be much worse than previously thought, according to researchers. They said using the Body Mass Index or BMI to determine obesity was underestimating the issue.  Their study, published in the journal PLoS One, said up to 39% of people who were not currently classified as obese actually were.  The authors said “we may be much further behind than we thought” in tackling obesity.  BMI is a simple calculation which combines a person’s height and weight to give a score which can be used to diagnose obesity. Somebody with a BMI of 30 or more is classed as obese.  The US Centers for Disease Control says at least one in three Americans is obese.

Many more?

Other ways of diagnosing obesity include looking at how much of the body is made up of fat. A fat percentage of 25% or more for men or 30% or more for women is the threshold for obesity.  One of the researchers Dr Eric Braverman said: “The Body Mass Index is an insensitive measure of obesity, prone to under-diagnosis, while direct fat measurements are superior because they show distribution of body fat.”  The team at the New York University School of Medicine and the Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, looked at records from 1,393 people who had both their BMI and body fat scores measured.  Their data showed that most of the time the two measures came to the same conclusion. However, they said 539 people in the study – or 39% – were not labelled obese according to BMI, but their fat percentage suggested they were.  They said the disparity was greatest in women and became worse when looking at older groups of women.  “Greater loss of muscle mass in women with age exacerbates the misclassification of BMI,” they said.  They propose changing the thresholds for obesity: “A more appropriate cut-point for obesity with BMI is 24 for females and 28 for males.”  A BMI of 24 is currently classed as a “normal” weight. “By our cut-offs, 64.1% or about 99.8 million American women are obese,” they said.

It is not the first time BMI has been questioned. A study by the University of Leicester said BMIs needed to be adjusted according to ethnicity.  Last year in the BBC’s Scrubbing Up column, nutrition expert Dr Margaret Ashwell advocated using waist-to-height ratio to determine obesity.  She said: “It is a real worry that using BMI alone for screening could miss people who are at risk from central obesity and might also be alarming those whose risk is not as great as it appears from their BMI.”

The Magic of Doing One Thing at a Time

Below is great article I saw in the Harvard Business Review about how the constant connection to technology effects your efficiency at work and in our personal lives.

The Magic of Doing One Thing at a Time

Written by Tony Schwartz

Tony Schwartz is the president and CEO of The Energy Project and the author of Be Excellent at Anything. Become a fan of The Energy Project on Facebook and connect with Tony at Twitter.com/TonySchwartz and Twitter.com/Energy_Project.

Why is it that between 25 and 50 per cent of people report feeling overwhelmed or burned out at work?

It’s not just the number of hours we’re working, but also the fact that we spend too many continuous hours juggling too many things at the same time.

What we’ve lost, above all, are stopping points, finish lines and boundaries. Technology has blurred them beyond recognition. Wherever we go, our work follows us, on our digital devices, ever insistent and intrusive. It’s like an itch we can’t resist scratching, even though scratching invariably makes it worse.

Tell the truth: Do you answer email during conference calls (and sometimes even during calls with one other person)? Do you bring your laptop to meetings and then pretend you’re taking notes while you surf the net? Do you eat lunch at your desk? Do you make calls while you’re driving, and even send the occasional text, even though you know you shouldn’t?

The biggest cost — assuming you don’t crash — is to your productivity. In part, that’s a simple consequence of splitting your attention, so that you’re partially engaged in multiple activities but rarely fully engaged in any one. In part, it’s because when you switch away from a primary task to do something else, you’re increasing the time it takes to finish that task by an average of 25 per cent.

But most insidiously, it’s because if you’re always doing something, you’re relentlessly burning down your available reservoir of energy over the course of every day, so you have less available with every passing hour.

I know this from my own experience. I get two to three times as much writing accomplished when I focus without interruption for a designated period of time and then take a real break, away from my desk. The best way for an organization to fuel higher productivity and more innovative thinking is to strongly encourage finite periods of absorbed focus, as well as shorter periods of real renewal.

If you’re a manager, here are three policies worth promoting:

1. Maintain meeting discipline. Schedule meetings for 45 minutes, rather than an hour or longer, so participants can stay focused, take time afterward to reflect on what’s been discussed, and recover before the next obligation. Start all meetings at a precise time, end at a precise time, and insist that all digital devices be turned off throughout the meeting.

2. Stop demanding or expecting instant responsiveness at every moment of the day. It forces your people into reactive mode, fractures their attention, and makes it difficult for them to sustain attention on their priorities. Let them turn off their email at certain times. If it’s urgent, you can call them — but that won’t happen very often.

3. Encourage renewal. Create at least one time during the day when you encourage your people to stop working and take a break. Offer a midafternoon class in yoga, or meditation, organize a group walk or workout, or consider creating a renewal room where people can relax, or take a nap.

It’s also up to individuals to set their own boundaries. Consider these three behaviors for yourself:

1. Do the most important thing first in the morning, preferably without interruption, for 60 to 90 minutes, with a clear start and stop time. If possible, work in a private space during this period, or with sound-reducing earphones. Finally, resist every impulse to distraction, knowing that you have a designated stopping point. The more absorbed you can get, the more productive you’ll be. When you’re done, take at least a few minutes to renew.

2. Establish regular, scheduled times to think more long term, creatively, or strategically. If you don’t, you’ll constantly succumb to the tyranny of the urgent. Also, find a different environment in which to do this activity — preferably one that’s relaxed and conducive to open-ended thinking.

3. Take real and regular vacations. Real means that when you’re off, you’re truly disconnecting from work. Regular means several times a year if possible, even if some are only two or three days added to a weekend. The research strongly suggests that you’ll be far healthier if you take all of your vacation time, and more productive overall.

A single principle lies at the heart of all these suggestions. When you’re engaged at work, fully engage, for defined periods of time. When you’re renewing, truly renew. Make waves. Stop living your life in the gray zone.