– BY GLEN STEVENS | 2023
Hello there, everyone!
Have you ever felt mentally drained midway through the day? Have you ever found difficulty concentrating due to stress over a looming deadline? If yes, then this discussion on "Mental Fitness" is going to be your new best friend!
What is Mental Fitness?
Mental fitness - it's not a term we hear every day, is it? But its importance should never be underestimated.
Just as you hit the gym to build physical muscles, mental fitness is about training your mental muscles to optimize your mental toughness.
This empowers you to handle the challenges you face on a daily basis with a positive mindset rather than getting all worked up and stressed out.
Think of it this way. As a business person, you need to be on your toes, ready to delve into complex issues every day. So much rides on you. That’s a lot of pressure. Imagine having a mental space that could handle this with as much ease as drinking a cup of coffee. That's mental fitness for you!
Why Building Mental Fitness is Important
In today's age of technological transformations and competitive workplaces, mental fitness is no longer a luxury – it’s a necessity. But why is that?
Firstly, mental fitness helps you manage your emotional energy more efficiently. You spend less time battling stress and frustration and more time being productive and innovative. Secondly, it enhances your ability to handle conflicts, increases self-confidence, improves resilience, and brings about a greater sense of happiness and satisfaction.
Still not convinced? Remember, as a business owner or leader, your work not only requires meticulous attention to detail but also calls for agile problem-solving skills, emotional intelligence, and impeccable focus. All of these get a whole lot better with strong mental fitness!
Three Tips to Build Your Own Mental Fitness
Tip 1: Identify Your Saboteurs:
Sounds intriguing? Well, it is! “Saboteurs" are those sneaky little negative voices in our head that say we're not good enough, that stress us out, and make us harder to work with and live with. You can take a free Saboteur assessment in five minutes and get a detailed report to help you understand which saboteurs bother you the most. I’d love to take 30 minutes and give you a personalized consult of your results. You can schedule that here.
Tip 2: Practice Sensory-Focused Breaks Each Day:
Set your alarm to take a 5-minute break every three hours. For the first 30 seconds of your break, close your eyes and focus all your attention on your breath. Notice the inhale and the exhale. If you take a drink, notice the temperature of the liquid as it passes through your lips onto your tongue. Then, take another 30 seconds to notice the ambient noises in the room. Really focus; what sounds can you notice that you weren’t hearing before? Sounds simple, right? That’s the point! Anyone can do this. I dare you to try it.
Tip 3: Generously Give Empathy:
Empathy is powerful. It comes in several forms: compassion, forgiveness, gratitude, even love. We all need more empathy. Your customers do. Your coworkers do. You do. So whenever you’re facing a huge challenge, ask yourself, “What’s the most compassionate thing I can say to myself right now?”
If you practice these three tips consistently for eight weeks, something amazing happens. You actually rewire your brain to serve you better! Go for it.
And remember, mental fitness is a lifelong journey, so be patient and kind to yourself along the way.
Meet The Author
Glen Stevens, aka The Mental Fitness Guy, is a dedicated Mental Fitness and Business Coach with a mission to empower small business leaders. With over 25 years of leadership experience and certifications as a Business Made Simple Coach and Mental Fitness Coach, Glen helps leaders strengthen their core mental muscles, enabling them to overcome obstacles and achieve exceptional results. Passionate about preventing burnout and fostering business growth, Glen guides his clients towards success, making a positive impact on their businesses and communities.