Give Yourself the Gift of Rejuvenation

Ahh, winter break. You’ve got some free time, and probably a to-do list a mile long. Set that list aside and focus on YOU. Here are a few ideas to inspire you as you head into 2019.

Practice being present

Mindfulness it’s a catch word these days, and with good reason. It’s a way of being in the world, the ability to pay attention to the present moment, the here and now. There’s a growing body of research pointing to the effectiveness of mindful practices on our ability— both adults and children—to pay better attention, make thoughtful decisions and calm ourselves down.

According to the Let’s Discover Kindness Teacher’s Edition, mindfulness “can help to promote increased emotional understanding and an inclination to act in a kind way. Judaism at its core is about being intentional and fully present in each moment, and as such, mindfulness is a powerful technique.”

There are myriad resources online to help you get started.

Unwrap your own personal gifts

There’s no time like the present to dedicate your time, energy, and resources to improving what you’re already good at. In her book, Oy Vey! Isn't a Strategy: 25 Solutions for Personal and Professional Success, author Deborah Grayson Riegel suggests that each of us “came into this world with a rainbow of natural colors that we once honored and delighted in before we were saddled with the responsibilities of adulthood. … Many of us don’t give ourselves the gift of time or attention to see who we are when we are at our best, using the strengths we were born with—or that we’ve developed over time.

Click here for an action planner from Oy Vey! Isn't a Strategy to help you identify your natural gifts and begin to honor your true self.   

For more of Deborah Grayson Riegel's insights and tips, visit the Oy Vey! Isn't a Strategy home page. 

Follow your curiosity

We spend so much time teaching others. But as Batsheva Frankel writes in The Jewish Educator’s Companion, “Find time to continue your own personal Jewish learning—an eternal and inspiring process. The more we stay connected to our passion, the more we have to give.”

Fill someone else’s bucket

Take a quiet moment to send a note of appreciation to a teacher or colleague thanking them for inspiring you or telling them what you admire about them. They’ll come back from break with a smile on their face.

 

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