Resilience is about debits and credits –my smart wife reminded me of this at dinner the other night!  The more positive stuff going in (e.g. good sleep, nutritious food, water, purpose at work, quality family relationships, etc) helps us weather the times when we make debits (e.g. stress, setbacks, loss, fear, conflict, etc.).  So at this restorative time of year, how can we get the best bang for buck?  Try these:  

1. The average adult goes to their smart phone 44 times a day – about every 15 minutes!  Would it be too much to switch off the wifi between 9:00am-12:00pm, 12:30pm – 4:30pm and 6:30pm for the rest of the night?  If you’re really courageous, put the phone in a cupboard!  The less time on the smart phone the more refreshed we will be.  

2. With so much socializing at this time of year, it’s easy to get out of the exercise habit.  Some sort of exercise (ideally shared with a loved one) is a great way to recharge, stimulate endorphins and come back feeling better.    

3. New experiences are like turbo chargers.  New experiences (e.g. locations, foods, environments, people, languages, etc…) cause us to be highly present.  Our minds don’t wonder and invent silly stories when they are absorbed in the moment.  Change things up these holidays and see how refreshed you become.

4. At the risk of sounding like a wouzer or hypocrite, booze in moderation!