Things are so different here in China and yet there are so many things that we have in common. There were some common themes from my coaching sessions with the young Chinese women this week. I think we can all relate to them, so I thought I would share them along with some tips.
How do you balance a lot of pressure and feeling tired from too much studying and work?
-Focus on staying present. Focusing on the current task and shutting off that voice in your head that is worrying about the next task will relieve a lot of the pressure we put on ourselves and enable you to be more productive.
-Meditation or even just sitting quietly for a few minutes and closing your eyes for rest while taking in some deep breaths will renew your energy.
– It seems counterintuitive, if you are so busy that you have no extra time, but incorporating some type of exercise or play into your daily habits will enable you to be more productive when you are working. Basketball is very popular here in China.
– The little things that zap our time or energy add up. Keep organized by having a specific place for all of your things (keys, pens, bills, files, etc…) and then put your things in their “home spot” so that you never waste time looking for them. This also works for your laptop bag or purse; always put things in the same place.
– Set boundaries with your friends and family about how much time you have for them and then stick to them.
How can I get out of a bad mood quickly?
– Practicing gratitude works best for me. Think about the things that you are grateful for and what is going well to shift into a positive mood.
– Listen to your favorite up-beat music for a lift in your spirits.
– It is important to recognize that some emotions of sadness or upset need to be expressed and not denied. But if they are continuing or there are not good reasons for these emotions then use gratitude or music to banish them.
Also, some interesting notes from this week:
– Dinner for two at the local restaurant included a lot of food and two large beers, it only cost $3.60.
– Many of the Chinese people are tall.
– American Express travelers checks are not accepted everywhere. The local bank did not recognize my check. Plan to use your ATM card to get Chinese Yuan if you travel to China.
Do you find it surprising that we have these challenges in common with these young women that are on the other side of the globe? Please share your comments!
It certainly looks like you’ve been moving forward with your new adventure while I was moving (slowly) across the country!! Let me know when you are back home so I can hear more about your trip.
Thanks Tom, yes enjoying the adventure! I will give you a call when I am back in town and look forward to hearing the highlights of you cross-country ride!
Your tips on staying balanced are especially timely because yesterday was one of those days in my everyday life here in Austin that really tried to throw mine off- car trouble, new nanny is probably quitting after four days, health insurance snafus. I was particularly grateful I had swam that morning.
Thanks Claire – I’m glad the tips were timely and sorry to hear about the multiple challenges in one day! Good reasons to do that swimming first thing in the morning because it may be much more difficult to fit it in later. I appreciate your sharing, Paula