It is so easy for daily habits to become not daily but every other day then every week then every other week until we stop doing them altogether.

Can you relate?

We are used to multi-tasking and get loads done in a very short amount of time that is why we are so successful. 

And the reason why we are so successful is due to our daily habits that we have practiced over the years and learnt consciously that they help us to be SO productive. And then these habits become unconscious and natural and feel like breathing.

The Importance of Flexibility in Habits

For some of us a daily habit may be exercise, going for that run or walk in the morning. Until something happens that means we cannot do that run and then that disturbs our FLOW. Not going for that daily run or walk in the morning really affects our productivity. We are moody or snappy with our team when usually we are very patient.

Of course we don’t attribute that moodiness or snappiness to not having the daily walk and usually don’t realise why we are moody.

That’s is why although I have daily habits and weekly habits, I am not a fan of making them non negotiable.

If there is one day in the week when we don’t do the daily walk or the daily meditation or the daily journaling in my book that is ok.

I have since 2003 had a date Saturday when I rest. Most Saturdays I am at home. I slow down. Or if I am not at home….I don’t push myself.

I find as High Performers and High Achievers and especially in the last few years where nearly everything is counted, measured and quantified, to have a day 24 hours or even 12 hours where you rest at home, have a lie in, don’t spend time on digital devices, connect to family and connect to yourself and connect to nature is a necessity.

I find this push we all have in this digital age to count our steps, to record our meals, calories sucks the JOY out of life.

Don’t you?

The Power of a Day Off

As Workaholics which many of us are….especially as we like to constantly work on ourselves and are probably personal development addicts, it really is HEALING and FREEING and leads to a fulfilled life…. having a day off from the daily habit whether that is the walk or exercise or daily journaling.

Having a day off actually nurtures the work life balance that many of us are seeking. Having a day off helps us transform from the human doings we have been most of our lives and in that ok past week to becoming the human beings we yearn to be. Most of us long to be present to the moment. To enjoy what we have right now. 

Yet It is hard for us to do this.

Meditation: A Key Daily Habit

One daily habit I find I do even on my day off and I think you will find it extremely helpful to help you connect to yourself is meditate. And by daily meditation I actually mean sit in silence in a comfortable position on the floor or on the bed, close my eyes and let the thoughts and feelings come and go. I usually record what I heard, saw, felt, smelt and tasted in that minute in a notebook or in my head. However if I don’t feel like journaling about it straight away, say  on my day off, I do it the following day.

I have been undertaking a daily meditation which really is sitting in silence  for a minute since when I was twenty three years old. I am now nearly 55 years old. 

 I have been journaling since I was a teenager. I find both these daily habits have really grounded me and help me to connect to myself and to God

Both these habits CENTRE me. 

The Challenge of Burnout Among High Achievers

The days I have missed doing them I find I become a human doing. Whilst I am a recovered workaholic, the days that I have not sat in silence for a minute, I can see myself slipping in having such a fast paced life that by the end of the day but definitely by the end of the week I feel burnt out.

Now most of us know the statistics that High Performers and High Achievers are more prone to burnout. As Leaders in our industries we know burnout is common and especially amongst entrepreneurs, we know it is very common.

I used to think only social workers were prone to burnout until I became an entrepreneur.

Unfortunately burnout is not talked about enough. And if it is, not honestly.

So to sum up if you take any message away about a daily habit that will help you as a High Performer, this is the sole message I want you to take away and that is to sit in silence for a minute every day.

A minute is not a long time. I know though for most High Performers and High Achievers who are so obsessed to getting things done…. because you have so many responsibilities and feel responsible for so many things and individuals….you feel you cannot take that minute off.

Taking that minute off feels like a LUXURY.

However I would encourage you to try this for a week. To sit in silence for a minute every day.

Then increase the minute to two minutes the following week and then the week after to three minutes until after 15 weeks, you are sitting in silence for fifteen minutes.

I promise you, that you will really feel the benefits of doing this simple exercise every day.

The benefits are usually psychological, emotional, mental, spiritual and physical.

Your breathing will become less strained.

Your sleep will become easier.

Your body will become more relaxed.

Your moods will become easier and not so changeable.

Your vision for the future will become clearer.

Your relationships will become less strained.

Encouraging Daily Meditation

Sitting in silence which I call meditation is an exercise, I guide clients on when they embark on the Spiritual Alchemy Quest. However I guide clients on this even if they choose not to embark on my Signature program but work with me on a shorter coaching program.

I have taught this technique for free as part of my three S’s course online which I hope to be sharing in an upcoming newsletter.

I have found as The Muslim Alchemist which I am that doing this exercise myself for over three decades has helped me to uncover some emotional and spiritual and psychological GOLD that I had repressed for many years. As The Muslim Alchemist, I have also found in guiding high performers and high achievers to face thoughts and feelings that they have buried for many years sometimes decades, this simple exercise combined with a few others has helped them process some very traumatic experiences.

Trauma though is complex at times and needs careful handling.

Not all traumatic experiences can be faced alone.

Trauma has many layers and is usually held in the body.

I have found that when my clients embark on the personal alchemy journey and really MULL about what they really want, and practice this simple meditation technique that helps them see, taste, feel, smell and hear feelings and thoughts that were previously so difficult and heavy.

And although at first these feelings and thoughts taste, feel, smell, hear etc as shit.

It is precisely the shit that gradually… or FAST depending on the pace the client wants to transform or as some say transmute into GOLD.

The shit makes the flowers grow. And 

Facing up to the shit yes this leads to a fulfilled LIFE.

So why don’t you try out this simple daily habit of sitting in silence for a minute every day.

It doesn’t cost anything.

Only one minute of your time.

You can do it in the comfort of your own home, car or office.

And if you do try it and you find it helps you, I really would love you to share it with me how this simple daily habit actually did.

One word of advice: when you try it, stick to it even if you find it hard. Let the thoughts come and go.

I know there is nothing to chant.

It is therefore a good fit for anyone even if you are not religious or spiritual.

You don’t have to be Muslim to practice this exercise.

Yes although I am the Muslim Alchemist I don’t exclusively work with Muslims

As long as you are a High Performer or High Achiever, you can do this exercise.

My mission is to serve you.

If you can lead your life without getting burnt out, then I would have done what I was put on this earth.

To beat burnout.

And with that simple statement it is over and out from me.

P.S did you know I hosted a whole Online summit called Beat Burn Out?