THE ONE MINUTE GENIUS By Jane Clapp
Before you go any further you’ll need this pick me up from Jane Clapp. Jane operates Urbanfitt Studio in Toronto, where women who run hard at life, get their energy burst. Jane formerly worked in labour relations and experienced the stress caused by the inherent flaws and slow pace of our system of justice. Conflict can harden the body and the soul. The solution, she says, is not systematic, it’s personal – Get out of your head and connect with your body. Her technique, the One Minute Genius, can be done anywhere anytime. It helps slow down the heart rate and improve decision making. Your life can change in a split second. Imagine what you can do with a minute!
Wonderwoman is a fictitious character.
Why is it that as women we expect ourselves to have the endurance of a superhero? As our own worst critics, we often find ourselves pushing so hard in many facets of our lives that instead of finding time to rest and recoup we need a sickness or major collapse to make taking care of ourselves a top priority.
| As our own worst critics, we often find ourselves pushing so hard in many facets of our lives that instead of finding time to rest and recoup we need a sickness or major collapse to make taking care of ourselves a top priority. |
Whether we’re stay at home moms, corporate execs, filmmakers, entrepreneurs or lawyers, we all know what it’s like to reach burn out.
Each occupation has its unique challenges. I’ve gotten to know the specific challenges female lawyers face having had many of you as clients in the past and present.
You might work at a firm that measures your value primarily based on billable hours. You deal with conflict in an adversarial system that is extremely slow to change. Even other successful senior female lawyers at your firm may shun your requests for flexible or reduced work schedules. Many of your male counterparts have partners or wives at home that often have less demanding jobs. And if you have a family, chances are you’re still saddled with more household responsibilities than your partner. Finding time for you and managing your own stress load may seem out of the question.
Perhaps I’m an eternal optimist or perhaps I’ve heard it all before from most of my over-achieving driven female clients in the past but I do believe there are many creative ways to help you find time to care for yourself. Here are some practical strategies you can try as soon as you finish reading this:
One Minute Genius – Stress is a killer. Left unchecked it can make us sick, miserable and depressed. Needless to say, excess stress leads to excess fat storage in our tummies. We’re not at our best when the stress monkey is on our backs. To calm our minds and access the wise woman we all have in us, all we have to do is simply focus on our breath for 60-seconds at our desks, in the washroom or discreetly in a meeting. Your life can change in one minute. Imagine what you can do with 60 seconds.
| Your life can change in one minute. Imagine what you can do with 60 seconds. |
Active sitting – I co-authored "Working on the Ball: A Simple Guide to Office Fitness" that takes readers through a full day of stretches and exercises to be performed at your desk using a stability ball as a chair. You can work your core and stack up billable hours at the same time simply by changing your regular desk chair for a stability ball.
Active commuting – Wherever possible build activity into your commute whether it’s walking to work or parking a little further away. Incremental exercise is just as good as a big chunk of exercise all at the same time.
Use your body – Take the stairs, go for a quick walk at lunch, run an errand by foot. Open your eyes to the many ways you can use your body to get around and you will become an active person without having to get to the gym.
| Use your body – Take the stairs, go for a quick walk at lunch, run an errand by foot. |
I know it’s not easy. If it was, I would be out of work. But you will quickly realize you’re not a superhero if you don’t take time to make sure you’re strong and healthy. If the outside world isn’t going to change, then it’s up to all of us to adapt ourselves in a positive way.
06.11.2007
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