Does anyone else feel like the lazy days of summer are so far gone that you can’t even remember the sweet smell of suntan lotion? Around here, our lives went from 0 to 60 in 8 seconds flat. School, homework, work, sports, and the general stuff of life have all of us running around most of our waking hours.

And in that spirit, this week I’m offering a friendly reminder that I have to force myself to do when things get hectic: TAKE A BREAK.

I can hear the chorus now, “Are you crazy? Who has time to take a break?” And my answer would be, “You do.” In fact, you must in order to save time later. When our bodies get too tired from constant running, there’s a whole list of negative health effects that you’ll eventually have to make time for. In fact, research shows that even one minute of concentrating on your breath and mentally letting go of all the stress works wonders to balance your body.

I’m sure you have a minute to spare in the mix of the everyday stuff. Sitting at your desk or waiting in the car, you can use those extra minutes to take a mini break. There’s no secret formula. Just pause, relax your face and shoulders, and take few deep breaths. Forget everything that’s on your plate if only for a minute.

Remember it’s the little things that add up to big changes. Take your break. You deserve it!

EXTRA-Ordinary Ideas:

Read It: I was reminded at book club last week that the essays of David Sedaris are a great and hysterically funny break from reality. One of my favorites is “The Learning Curve” in his book Me Talk Pretty One Day.

Do It: Take a mini break today, even if you feel like it’s impossible.

Think It: “Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.” L. Frank Baum

George Carlin, comic extraordinaire, once claimed that the meaning of life revolves around, “trying to find a place for your stuff.” His hilarious rant on society’s collective fascination with thinking about, keeping, and transporting our “stuff” is a great reminder of the odd (and funny) relationship we have with our things.

I realize I too have some quirks when it comes to my stuff. For instance, when I get ready for vacation, I give weeks of attention to what I’ll be taking with me – piling up and saving clothes, collecting just the right sunscreens, and even purchasing the travel size of everything, including specific snacks (Can anyone say Dark Chocolate Peanut M&M’s?) for the ride! I usually forget a thing or two, but for the most part I’m well prepared and ready to enjoy my holiday from life. The time I put into figuring out what to carry with me pays off in comfort during the journey.

Recently, I’ve decided to transfer this same philosophy to my daily life. You see, before I would haphazardly grab what I thought I needed for the day as I dashed out of the house. I would later find myself wishing for a variety of things I didn’t think to bring with me – a magazine for the wait, a bottle of water to wash down an Advil, and even sometimes just a pen! I’m sure some of you are always properly prepared, but for those of you like me I’m suggesting investing a few minutes each day this week to gather the right stuff before leaving the house. What things could you easily carry with you that could potentially offer you a little piece of comfort during the day? a diet Coke, a pad of paper, a book you might get a chance to start – The possibilities are endless. Using our own stuff to create a better daily experience doesn’t cost anything. The only thing we have to pay is attention. I’d love to hear about some of the things you carry with you that make your day delightful.

Extra-Ordinary Ideas:

Read It: TheDailyPlanner.com website. Look here to find all kinds of fun and funky ideas for how to organize and transport your stuff. I love the “Just In Case” tin box to hold all of those little “might have to have” items.

Do It: Watch George Carlin’s Stuff routine on You Tube. Beware: This one’s hilarious, but not intended for children.

Think It: “Life will always be to a large extent what we ourselves make it.” – Samuel Smiles

This week’s idea is a great way to get Unstuck. From projects as simple as cleaning out a closet to decisions as complicated as changing careers, all of us find ourselves unable to move forward at times. If you have the courage to try this idea, it may help you see your sticking point in a new way.

The technique is called freewriting*. And to complete it you need only three simple things:
ten minutes
an issue you are stuck on
and a way to write.

There are two simple rules:
You have to write for ten solid minutes with as little stopping time as possible.
You aren’t allowed to edit yourself in the process.

In other words, keep the pen or the typing fingers moving as quickly as you can — that way you’ll be less likely to break rule #2.

Here’s an example:
I’m just trying to figure out why I’ve been stuck when it comes to __________________. I don’t know what to write. I’ve never done this before. I think I’m stuck because ____________________. I wonder if I really want to ___________________. This exercise seems really stupid, but I’m going to write for 8 more minutes. (and on, and on)

You can insert obscenities and sarcastic remarks where necessary. I promise no one will read them, and I’ll never know. You don’t have to share your writing with anyone else or even save it for yourself. Hopefully, at the end of ten minutes you’ve emptied your brain of all the things that were keeping you stuck, and you’ve come up with your own next step. The writing is just a way to get you back in the flow of knowing what the next step should be.

This technique seems so simple that you can’t imagine how filling a page will help you improve your daily life, but if you give it a chance, I know it will. It has often worked for me and others that I know. It just may help you put the Extra in Ordinary!

Extra-Ordinary Ideas:

Read It: *Writing Without Teachers by Peter Elbow. Read this book for more information about freewriting and other writing techniques.

Do It: Use the freewriting technique at least once this week. It works for various segments of your daily life (work, home, parenting, relationships), and it’s only a ten-minute investment.

Think It: “I’ve always thought best when I wrote.” Toni Morrison

Several weeks ago, I had to get a filling replaced with a permanent crown. This particular filling had been hanging around since the early 80’s when silver fillings, among other things (like Jarts), were still safe. After 20 years of Swedish Fish and Bit O Honey, I guess the filling was ready to retire, and one day it just cracked.

I never willingly go sit in a chair where mere inches away they house needles that require the words “You may want to close your eyes”. But I visited the dentist, endured, and emerged with virtually a new tooth and the satisfaction that I had fixed a problem.

Two weeks post crown seating (that’s dental lingo), the tooth was still painful and the left side of my mouth hadn’t seen food in weeks. Previous dental experience, of which there is much, told me that I needed another appointment. Bracing myself for the worst . . . I entered the dentist office with sweaty palms and a rapid heartbeat.

First, the dentist had me bite down. Ouch. Pain! Next, she had me open. She got out the drill that makes the noise we all know by heart. My feet tensed. This was going to hurt. Whirr . . . Whirr. A mere 5 seconds later . . . “Ok, bite down again.” I bit gingerly. Nothing. I bit again a little harder. Nothing. No Pain. “It’s great,” I said, half amazed. “Good, all done,” she said. “Sometimes just a minor adjustment on the crown can make all the difference,” she said.

The only good thing about pain is that it reminds you how nice life is without it. I spent the rest of the day enjoying the lack of pain in my mouth and thinking about how something so small (and painless) could make such a big difference. I started thinking of other small adjustments that needed to be made in my life. I decided not to make them all at once, but rather to choose one, do it, and feel the satisfaction that came with doing it. What I did doesn’t matter. It’s too mundane to even mention, but I can guarantee I’ll make another small adjustment soon. The energy burst is worth it. Sometimes we overlook the benefit of making small corrections along the way. Or, we think there is so much to be done that doing something small won’t matter, so we choose to do nothing. I’ve learned differently.

So, my question for you is

What small adjustment can you make in your life this week that will make a big difference?

Let me know what worked for you!

EXTRA-Ordinary Ideas

Read It: For more about the benefits of making a small change, read this article.

Do It: Make that phone call you’ve been wanting to make. E-mail your college roommate. Go through your house for 5 minutes with a trash bag. Whatever you do, make it small!

Think It: “Life is a great bundle of little things.” Oliver Wendell Holmes

To follow is the world’s easiest question.

Do you want or need to do any of the following?

• reduce your stress
• lower your blood pressure
• elevate your mood
• boost your immune system
• improve your brain functioning
• protect your heart
• connect more with others
• foster instant relaxation
• feel good.

Hold on a minute, I think I just heard a resounding, “YES”. Oh, that was myself talking. If you’re emphatically nodding too, this week’s task is just for you, and it’s super easy. All you need to do is

LAUGH MORE.

Funny, giggle, ha-ha, hee-hee, that’s all there is to it. Find something funny to watch, read, look at or appreciate, and your body will thank you for it. And coming from a person who can mangle the punch line of the easiest of jokes, fear not, you don’t have to BE funny to appreciate humor. You just have to be tuned into the humor that’s all around you, and be willing to laugh.

Laughter increases creativity, productivity, and communication. I’m betting that we could all use more of these qualities in our daily lives. One of the easiest ways to get a little more laughter into your life is to spend some time with girlfriends. Women have an amazing ability to get together and LAUGH. Some of my biggest belly laughs have been in the company of girlfriends who are sharing the humorous side of everyday life. One gut busting belly laugh can do amazing things for your body and your attitude. So get laughing!

I’ve included a link here to make it easy. Hulu.com has thousands of funny clips of television shows and movies for free. So, what are you waiting for? Take a 5-minute laugh break now!

EXTRA-Ordinary Ideas:

Read It:
Anatomy of an Illness by Norman Cousins – The true story of the way laughter cured one man’s illness.

Naked by David Sedaris – Quick essays that will have you laughing out loud.

The Levity Effect by Adrian Gostick and Scott Christopher – A great read touting the positive effects of humor in business.

(see descriptions of these books in the sidebar to the right)

Do It:
Take a “Comedy Break” most days this week. Spend five minutes doing something that will make you laugh. If you have more time watch Here and Now, Ellen DeGeneres’ HBO comedy special on DVD. I laughed out loud until my stomach hurt.

Think It:
“The human race has only one really effective weapon and that is laughter.” Mark Twain