Happiful March 2020

get your power back. Lifestyle
changes and maintenance –
regular movement, healthy eating
and time for yourself – are key in
looking after both your physical
and mental health, and we know
that. However, there are some
tricks you may not know that can
jump-start the ignition. Small
changes you can make to feel
powerful, whether it’s planning
your week ahead, or sneaking
into a room five minutes before
a meeting to flex your favourite
power pose. Ready?
1 RECOGNISE THE PROBLEM
If there’s something specific
grinding your gears, acknowledge
it. Are you feeling overwhelmed by
your ever-growing to-do list? Have
you got a month full of social plans,
but really, all you want is a night
in your pyjamas and a takeaway
pizza? Has a loved one or colleague
annoyed you, and you can’t seem to
get it out of your head?
Whatever it is that’s winding
you up, acknowledge it. Shout it
from the rooftops. Get in your car
and scream. Let out a loud sigh,
dropping your shoulders as you
release the breath. Sometimes, it’s
letting go of your frustrations in a
physical way that can immediately
give you a sense of relief.
2 MAKE A LIST
Write down the things you need to
do – or think you need to do. If you
have a million things going round
in your head, you’re never going to
be able to focus and do them all to
your best ability. Write everything
down and then, be ruthless. What
do you absolutely need to do?
Mark the tasks. Next, mark the
jobs that are important, but not
urgent. Then, mark the things that
someone else can do, or are low
priority.
On a new piece of paper, write
the top three things you need
(and want) to get done. Forget all
the little jobs and things that are
holding you back. You now have
your list for the day (or week) – try
to stick to it. Giving yourself this
time to complete your priority
tasks will leave you feeling much
better – and totally in control.
3 GET DRESSED
When you’re feeling stressed, it
can take a lot of energy to actually
get out of bed and dressed. But
trust me, putting on your favourite
outfit – one that makes you feel
like you can do anything – is a
quick trick that can really put a
pep in your step.
When you’re wearing what makes
you feel good, you naturally hold
your head higher. And by being
open and standing tall, you allow
air into your lungs. You relax
your shoulders and float with
ease. Sometimes, it’s as simple as
pushing your shoulders back and
taking a deep breath.
4 TREAT YOURSELF
This may be as small as picking
up a coffee on the way to work,
or arranging a night out (or night
in) with your loved ones and a
delicious meal. It’s easy to get
bogged down with the negative
stuff and forget to spend time on
yourself.
A simple but effective change can
be your attitude. There’s nothing
wrong with throwing your hands
up and proclaiming, f**k it! Forget
Get in the stance
that for you,
reflects true
power, and soon
you’ll be oozing
strength and
confidence
those little worries that you can’t
do anything about. Often in the
grand scheme of things, they
don’t matter. Book some time
away. Take a day off to do what
you want. Leave the guilt behind.
5 FIND YOUR POWER POSE
For an instant boost in energy,
confidence and power, you need
to find your power pose. Brought
to public attention by psychologist
Amy Cuddy, whose TedTalk has
now garnered more than 55
million views, power posing is a
technique in which you adopt a
stance you associate with power,
in the hope of “feeling and
behaving more assertively”.
It may sound silly, but for many
people, taking five minutes
before a big presentation to take
a deep breath, and stand in a
position that represents power,
can instantly lift your mood and
clear doubts. It doesn’t have to
be applied only at work either; if
you’re going on a date, or doing
something that makes you feel a
little nervous, channel your inner
power muse (think, what would
Beyoncé do?). Get in the stance
that for you, reflects true power,
and soon you’ll be oozing strength
and confidence, and going about
your day with ease.
March 2020 • happiful.com • 81