VIREO Life

When you push through to do everything, at the same level, all the time - you WILL get exhausted.

Not “you might get a little tired sometimes”.

You will deplete your energy.

When your company, your department, your team tries to do everything, at the same level, all of the time - “something” will break.

The “something” that usually breaks?

The team.

And then friction, disengagement, turnover increases.

The fix?

Know what season you are in.

Know what season your company is in.

And give the majority of your energy to what that season is asking of you.

Create before you consume.
Make before you manage.

What would your life look like this week if you lived this?

Before you consume the news, or even your favorite podcast, you create one idea for a challenge you are facing.

Before you open your laptop and manage your email, you make one next step toward your highest priority.

In EP 200, John Michael Morgan shared how he lives with a Makers Mindset.

This means he’s not running around trying to fix everything and everyone’s latest crisis.

He’s focused on Making something.

The example he gave was pretty eye-opening.
And possibly risky if someone has a scarcity mindset.

He scheduled in 30 minutes to be creative - to water color paint.
A client messaged him with an urgent “Got a minute”?

If you’re living in the Management Mindset, you set aside the creative recharge you need and try to fix stuff.

But John lives out of a Maker’s Mindset. He said “No, I’m already booked.”

And went outside to paint.

Which meant - he was mentally refueled for his next client calls on the schedule.

This week commit to Make before you Manage.

This is my fail-safe to snap me into deep focus.
Fast.

I have tested other ways to get focused.

But this one works consistently.

When I have energy - but my focus is scattered.

It’s also tried-and-true when afternoon brain fog hits and I need to feel mentally sharp again.

The basics?

2 minutes - Get your heart rate up.
2 minutes - Stretch with slow deep breaths.
1 minute - Visualize. What you are about to accomplish. Why it matters.

That’s it.

Try this for yourself this week.

5 minutes.

And you are set for deep focus.

Take advantage of your natural energy boost in spring and summer!

Right now is THE time to rebuild your wellness routines.

Because your brain naturally has more motivation and energy with the longer daylight hours.

If you “fell off” some goal you set for yourself this year, this is the easiest time to get back into it.

You’ve got this!

What is the coolest thing your identity can do for you?

Give you Energy!
And direct your Energy!

What an insight to have in the 200th (YES! 200th!) episode of Real Wellness.

If you see yourself as someone who eats brain-boosting meals, then your energy is going to go to make that happen.

If you see yourself as a “golfer” or “walker” or “tennis player” or “weight lifter”, then your energy is go there.

On a deeper level, if you see yourself as calm or stressed, generally happy or usually frustrated, then no matter what is going on in life, your energy level is going to follow that.

If you are not doing what you want, look first at your identity.
If your energy is not what you want, look first at your identity.

Thank you, John Michael Morgan, for celebrating with me 200 Real Wellness episodes!

My challenge to myself and every person who listens:
What identity do you want to be “lived-out” 6 months from now.

Start building it today.

How do you want your brain to respond when hard things happen?

Do you want to think confused?
Or clear?

Do you want to recover slow?
Or fast?

Research shows regular movement (a.k.a. “exercise”) improves your brain’s resilience to pressure.

Which means you get to respond the way you want.

You may have started moving more so your body gets strong.

But maybe the bigger reason is for your mind to be strong.

Movement is literally training your brain for leadership, focus, and life.

When you burn out, all of the impact you are creating?
It STOPS.

What a joy to be with the change-makers in this conference!

Excited that I got to set them for lasting impact.

We spent the morning talking about eliminating burnout in their teams.

And the afternoon? All about them, as leaders, making sure their energy is 10x’d to reach their goals.

Thank you, Community Foundation, for inviting me.