There’s no doubt that when you return from holidays, you come back with that magical feeling that gets the Mojo fired up, and you’re feeling good. I’m sure everybody can relate to that wonderful feeling. You’ve had maybe two or three weeks away from the everyday and you come home feeling a million dollars. Sometimes you’re tanned, you’re definitely relaxed, and you’re focussed without a care in the world. However, within a few days of being back at work, the roof caves in and you’re back to feeling exactly how you did before you went away. At this point you think – “Who stole my Mojo?”
Why can’t we always feel as if we have our Mojo going the way we do when we get back from a holiday? Why is it that we need to have two or three weeks away from the everyday in order to feel human again and get our Mojo back?
Here are a couple of strategies that I’ve seen employed by people who in my opinion have their Mojo working:
- Start the weekend early. I once worked with a guy who went into work an hour or two early on Fridays and consequently left an hour or two early in the afternoon. During the summer this let him spend a good hour to an hour and a half on the beach, which in his mind made him feel like he was having a three day weekend.Pick something you love doing and get to it early on a Friday afternoon. Ideally get to it before the sun goes down. Whether its catching up with a friend for a drink, seeing a movie, going shopping, or sitting in the park reading a book, when you do something that you love on a Friday afternoon, it certainly makes you feel like you’ve got an early start on the weekend. Try and do something that happens outdoors in the sunlight and fresh air, but is also something you feel passionate about.
- Dedicate some time for reading on the weekend. It’s common to hear people return from holidays discussing a book or two they have read while they’ve been away. However, once they fall back into the routine of their normal working week, the reading seems to go out the door along with their Mojo. So, this weekend grab a freshly brewed coffee or a pot of tea, find a tree and relax and immerse yourself in a book.It’s amazing how having an hour or two on the couch indulging in a good book can make you feel like new. This ?me time’ is essential not only for relaxation but also for the stimulation it gives your creative mind. A great book is certainly a way of getting not only your spirit back, but also giving your Mojo an opportunity to work its magic.
- Take a nap. One thing that happens when we’re on holidays is that we take time to rest at any time of the day. Why is that? Because we can! When we’re on holidays we don’t feel guilty about having a snooze. So why should a normal week be any different?My suggestion is to not only get a good night’s sleep a few nights a week – that is, be in bed by 8.30 or 9 o’clock in the evening, but also on the weekend try to catch a nap in the afternoon. It does wonders for your body, your spirit and your clarity of thought. It also makes you feel as if your weekend is a short holiday. When not on holiday, we tend to fall back into the routine of the working week and conform to what the rest of society thinks should be done on a weekend. An afternoon nap is a chance to recharge the batteries, catch up on some of the sleep and rest you may have missed during the week and it also gets your Mojo fired up for the rest of the weekend, setting you up for a great week ahead. It really is a wonderful indulgence that makes you look and feel terrific!
- Eat well. There’s been a lot said in magazines, books and newspapers about diet, but it’s amazing how few of us are taking heed. When we return from holidays we generally look and feel terrific. Why is that? We’re rested, we’re relaxed, and in some cases we’ve actually done the right thing with our diet. This not only builds your immune system, but it increases your clarity of thought and boosts your spirit, giving you more energy to do the things you want to do. It brings back your Mojo.It’s not about diets so much as changing the way that you eat. Cut back on carbs, fat, sugar, alcohol and junk food. This will give you a lot more energy and once again you’ll feel like you’re on holidays. I’m sure at one time or another you’ve had a morning where you’ve left the house with a spring in your step and a glint in your eye and you just know your Mojo is working. Guaranteed, you can trace that back to the rest that you’ve had, what you’ve done to stimulate your mind, and the food you’ve eaten. When these three pieces are aligned, that’s when you’re Mojo works, which also means you don’t have to go on holidays to feel like your Mojo is intact.
- Meet new people. When we’re on holidays and feel relaxed we seem to be more comfortable meeting and talking to new people. So, whether it’s at a bar, on the beach or at a party, why not try to make a point of shaking hands with new people?Sometimes an interesting conversation where you just relax and learn something new can leave you with a whole new approach to both your own world and the world around you. It could be a compliment from a stranger or even an invigorating discussion that leaves you feeling great. You may have recently thought about taking up a new sport or hobby or changing the direction of your life. You’d be surprised at how talking to new people can bring these things into your world and make them a reality. Once you have a goal in mind the laws of attraction seem to bring the right people to you at the right time in order to help you achieve your goals. You’d be amazed at what happens when you put your thoughts out there!
- New scenery. When you are on holidays your senses are constantly stimulated by your new environment. Holidays break up your routine and you’re happy to experience a new schedule, new scenery, different people and activities. Why not play foreigner in your own town? Take the long way home today and explore the back streets of your neighbourhood or city. Better yet, put on your walking shoes and walk the neighbouring suburbs or some different parts of your city. I love watching the sun set, and quite often seek out different parts of the city I’m visiting to watch the sunset in that environment.How can you not feel as if you’re on holidays when you’re in a different environment, with different scenery, experiencing the spirit of a great sunrise or sunset? Why not rise a bit earlier than usual and watch the sun come up from a good vantage point in your city? Go to a different place for lunch, order something you’ve never had before, or take your lunch to a different corner of the local park near your office. Borrow some CDs from a friend, or channel flick on your radio at work for some new sounds. On the weekend take a drive over a bridge, or go for a picnic to a place you’ve never been to before. Being in holiday mode could be as simple as going to a different beach or running on a different track to the one you would normally navigate. This will certainly help to spark the spirit of your Mojo, and you never know who you might meet along the way!
- Do that thing you’ve always wanted to do – today. When you’re on holidays you’re more likely to try scuba diving or parasailing, climb a mountain, take a foreign cooking class or even try belly dancing. Why wait till you’re halfway around the world to achieve one of these goals? Nothing gets your Mojo going more than stretching yourself into unchartered territory. This weekend seize the day and take on one of those things you’ve always wanted to do. I guarantee that on Monday morning you’ll feel your Mojo working. Sure, you may need to make a few calls, do some research or book ahead, but the internet or your local telephone directory will easily take you towards your goal of a salsa class, sky dive or swimming with dolphins. Keep in mind that the things you’ve always wanted to do need not necessarily stretch you too far. It could even be as simple as going to a restaurant you’ve always wanted to go for lunch. The important thing is to not wait to do things you’ve always wanted to – do them now, as there may not be a tomorrow.
So now you have some pointers you can use to make the most out every day and to get away from the every day. Why wait for holidays to feel relaxed, less stressed, clear headed, stimulated, and to get your Mojo working? Start today to take on one of these strategies and watch your Mojo take off!
Gary is Australia’s new pioneer in thinking. As a best selling author Gary has published three books – The Keys to Creativity in 2006, Who Stole My Mojo? in 2008 and most recently, What Made You Think of That?
Gary is a keynote speaker whose topics include the thinking behind creativity, innovation, marketing, brand and performance. In 2002 he opened Australia’s first ever creative thinking venue at Fox Studios in Sydney called the Ideas Vault, which is used by some of the countries biggest corporations for creative thinking, meetings, seminars and training sessions.
Gary is the co-founder of one of Australia’s leading cycling foundations, the Tour de Cure, which raises money in an effort to cure cancer. The Tour de Cure has now raised $2 million dollars in donations and millions in publicity since its inception in 2007. Gary has also founded the Day of Inspiration, a corporate fundraising annual event, which gathers together keynote speakers, entertainers and performers at the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney for a one day event in front of a corporate crowd to raise awareness and funds towards the curing of cancer.
