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"The best gift you can give others

is a healthy, energized, and focused self."

-Bill Hybels

 

 

 

 

 

Many people give half-hearted effort to their work and then relax by watching mindless TV. High performers develop a healthy rhythm of intense effort (energy expenditure) and deep renewal (energy recovery). They give concentrated and focused effort to the job at hand and then strategically disengage by choosing activities that are replenishing.

The SPICE Model

Spiritual

Choose activities that breathe life into your soul. This could be reading inspirational literature, praying, meditating, yoga, taking a walk in nature. I have established a morning routine of making a cup of coffee, reading the Bible or something else inspirational then spending some time in prayer and reflection. This takes about 20 minutes and has become a very enjoyable part of my day. I make it a point not to check email, surf the Internet or read the paper before I do this.

Physical

This involves exercise, nutrition and an appropriate amount of sleep. To put this into perspective, if you exercise for 30 minutes a day, that is 2% of the day. But it makes the other 98% of the day better. When you exercise you look better, feel better, focus better, and you are more energized and healthy. The is a big return for such a small investment of time.

Intellectual

Decide to tackle something new. This could be non-fiction reading, learning a new language or software program, taking up a musical instrument, or going back to school. There is bad stress (distress) and good stress (eustress). Eustress is healthy stress. It comes from strategically challenging ourselves. Stretch yourself intellectually. The mind is like a muscle, it becomes stronger with use.

Creative

It is important that you partake in healthy hobbies and passions. This is highly personal and the examples are plentiful: cooking, gardening, photography, motorcycles, horses, painting, drawing or going to concerts.

Emotional

Maintaining close family ties and solid friendships are essential to a strong life. Helpful practices include date night with spouse or significant other, playing board games with your kids, girls or guys night out and being involved in community or small groups from church. Relationships are the most important area of our lives. There is no true success apart from right relationships with those important to us.