It’s 7pm – must be dog time on the beach!

This month I have been spending time at the Jersey Shore – some vacation time, some work time. Being at the beach has reminded me that the following wellness practices really do work:
1. Being near the ocean – something about the soothing sounds of the waves may be comparable to a meditative act that puts us in the present moment.
2. Spending time with a pet – may decrease levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, and the unconditional love of a pet may decrease feelings of stress.
3. Walking in nature – may increase our positive emotions and encourage a positive mindset.
4. Taking time away from work – has been shown to boost our productivity and performance when we return to our desks.
Yup! It’s working – putting aside my responsibilities to walk on the beach with my dog while listening to the waves and I feel more positive and better already! I would love to hear what is working for you this summer to alleviate stress and increase positive emotions.
#wellness #dogsonthebeach #wellnesspractices #decreasingstress
Gail
“I’m Gail Cummings, a business lawyer turned psychotherapist, coach, and speaker. I help lawyers be productive, develop business, advance their careers, and I work with law firms to develop their talent.”
Similar Posts
Inspiration Indeed!
I recently went to a concert of one of my favorite musicians: Keith Urban. At age 54, with more than 30 years in the music industry, he rocked a sold-out 25,000-person outdoor venue for 2+ hours on a Sunday evening in 90-degree heat. What an inspiration!
People Supporting People
We shouldn’t have to pretend that everything is okay when it isn’t.
One Heart at a Time
On a recent road trip, I stopped in Charlotte, North Carolina and discovered the city loves public art. It boasts over 60 murals, one of which caught my eye and my heart – the Confetti Hearts Wall Mural by artist Evelyn Hanson in the South End neighborhood.
A Formula for Success
As we enter this new year, the pandemic is still creating uncertainty in our personal and professional lives. That said, now is the most popular time to set goals and resolutions. In order to set ourselves up for success, we need to be thoughtful about what we want to accomplish.
Courage Under Pressure
Who among us hasn’t had a moment, a day or a week where we felt the pressure in our lives – professionally and personally – to “go out there” and do what is expected of us even when all we really wanted to do was get back under the covers?
A Gold Star Moment
As part of my goal to practice wellness during the work week, I committed to do a short mindfulness exercise. I downloaded a Mindfulness app and began using it for a 10-minute practice three times a week.