"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under the trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time."
J~ohn Lubbock

"Summer is the time when one sheds one's tensions with one's clothes, and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit. A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief that all's right with the world."
~Ada Louise Huxtable

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Summertime, and the livin' is easy. Really? Most people I know would sing that song as "Summertime, and the livin' is crazy!" Routines are disrupted as kids are out of school, family vacations are in the works, and there's far too much fun stuff to do to stay focused for long! Summer has the advantage of more sun, more fun activities, and more fresh food. Yet summer is a time that I see people become stressed and distracted because of the many activities competing for their time and attention. I still sometimes fall into the trap of looking at the list of summer concerts, exhibits, and community activities, thinking THIS is the year I'll find a way to fit it all in! Then somehow the next thing I know it's September and I wonder where the time went. Has that ever happened to you?!

Knowing how busy the summer always is, this is a great time of year to practice some energizing self- care so you have the energy and health to enjoy all those marvelous activities. Everyone I know keeps track of their money, and they don't let people just take it from them haphazardly. Yet when it comes to time and energy - the REAL stuff of life fulfillment - many people are careless. I know people who attend events because they feel obligated, even though they know they won't enjoy it. I know people who allow negative and draining people into their lives in the name of "friendship" or "family," and feel trapped in those situations. And I know people who race from one event or activity to another, not really enjoying any of them fully, and feeling exhausted at the end of the day. What's the Summertime Strategy to help you with this challenge? Charge up your "batteries" to enjoy your summer!

We all have different types of energy that combine to help us be at our best: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. One of the best books on how to manage these 4 types of energy is The Power of Full Engagement by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz. I have more resources about this subject in the Fanning the Flames section below. Think of these 4 types of energy like the battery in your car. If the battery becomes too drained, you can't get started! Conversely, when the battery is fully charged and ready to go, the car starts right up, even in the toughest of situations. Imagine waking each day "charged up" and ready to go in the morning. How great would that be?! It's all a matter of energy management.

To create your summertime strategy, always begin with managing your physical energy. Without it, you don't have the physical health and stamina to support the other types of energy. Charging up your "physical batteries" includes getting enough sleep (this is a big challenge in the summer, based on feedback from my clients), getting consistent exercise ("weekend warriors" who rest on the couch throughout the week don't qualify!), eating high-quality food to fuel all those activities, and recognizing your triggers for stress. Find ways to laugh - it's the fastest healthy energy jolt I know. And finally, notice where your energy goes, and figure out ways to keep it from "leaking" out of your life.

Next, be aware of how you're managing your mental energy. Our fast-paced demanding lifestyles are often too much for our brains to handle. We recognize that our bodies can't go forever without a rest, yet we don't offer the same grace to our brains! Charging up your "mental batteries" includes taking "time out" moments throughout the day to refocus. Use different senses or focus areas through the day. For example, if you've been writing a report or a newsletter for an hour (using memory and language centers in the brain), recharge by talking to a coworker about scheduling your project work together (using verbal and planning centers in the brain) or by taking a quick walk around the building to clear the mind entirely. Music can be rejuvinating, as can exercise. Rituals can also help with focus, creativity, or other mental processes. Elite tennis players with a "centering" ritual between points were more likely to win, all other factors being equal. Invent a mental recharge ritual that works for you and then put reminders in your environment to practice that ritual on a consistent basis.

People are often surprised when I mention focusing on emotional energy. By intentionally choosing your emotional states (rather than having emotions happen TO you), you can much more effectively manage energy. People who can manage their emotional states are more resilient and can connect with others more fully and effectively. People with strong emotional energy have greater self- confidence. For example, remember a time when you felt great, everything was going your way, and you were on a clear path. What kind of energy did you have then? What obstacles were you able to overcome? How could you recreate that same kind of energy and momentum right now? Other ways to charge your "emotional batteries" are to spend time with those you love, laugh, go to movies that allow you to fully experience and express emotions, be grateful, or remember a time that is special and cherish it.

Spiritual energy is the energy that comes from connection to a deeply held set of values and to a purpose beyond our self-interest. This is often referred to as "the human spirit" which allows you to put your life in proper perspective, to see a greater meaning, and to find ways to serve and connect in your world. Ways to recharge your "spiritual batteries" are meditation, prayer, being in nature, participating in spiritual rituals meaningful for you, or giving of yourself (such as volunteering). For some people "spiritual" means something associated with religion, and for others, "spiritual" is something entirely different. The real key with spiritual energy is to find your way that works best for you.

Make this a summer to remember by creating a Summertime Strategy. Be the very best person you can be in all that you do, by taking care of YOU and your four types of energy: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. What is YOUR Summertime Strategy?

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For more information about The Power of Full Engagement and managing your energy, visit The Google Book Search

A resource for combining emotional and physical is Laughter Yoga (no joke!).
Here's the website:
http://www.laughteryoga.org/
There are laughter clubs in 40 countries around the world. Check it out!

If you're looking for ways to explore different forms of spirituality,
www.Beliefnet.com is a great place to start. You can even take an assessment
to see what world religions most closely match YOUR beliefs. It's a non-
biased look at many religious and spiritual practices.