There are many reasons to stay hydrated, wear light fabrics and limit time spent in the sun during the summer. Heat exhaustion can wring us out physically and cloud us mentally. We face a similar challenge in our personal and professional lives; the demands of a busy schedule and lifestyle often leave us with a fuzzy mindset that makes it difficult to think clearly and productively. When this happens, our efforts to project the business and professional presence we desire will fail.
To maintain a compelling presence that supports your personal brand and your goals, here are a few actions you can take to clear your head:
1. Incorporate a Rest Day – Designate a day of the week, or at least a portion of one to get started, as your personal Sabbath. This will take discipline, but just get started and watch the habit become a lifestyle.
2. Go on, Search for Beauty – Develop an eye for beauty – in flowers, animals, insects and yes, people – and appreciate the clarity that follows.
3. Develop, and Live By, Core Values – What matters most to you? What are you willing to give your life for? What do you most want remembered about you when you are gone? Find these answers! Be clear and unapologetic about them, and make them the foundation from which you build your life and personal brand.
4. Set Weekly Personal Development Goals – By serving as a touchstone on which we focus without distraction, goals that are specific and realistic help us stay on track and see when we are getting out of line. Having a friend or family member hold you accountable will help too.
These simple behavior modifications can help you improve your productivity, energy, and focus. A mind is a terrible thing to waste, so let’s not allow busy lives and cluttered minds to render us ineffective, instead of compelling, to the people we most need to influence. Thinking clearly is the surest path to the presence that helps turn our dreams into reality.