Category: Corporate

The world is loud and busy. There isn’t enough time in each day for the things that need to be done, never mind adding elusive concepts like ‘spending quiet time’ to the mix.  And I know what you’re thinking ….I don’t have time for quiet time! What on earth could I gain by taking some quiet time?

Years of research by specialists in the field tell us that our bodies and minds can only go ‘full steam ahead’ for a certain amount of time. If you keep pushing 8 (9, 10, 11…) hours a day, the increase in time does not necessarily correlate to increased productivity. It does, however, correlate to increased stress levels, higher irritation, poor judgement and decision making and having to re-do and repair previous work, which leads to… you guessed it, more stress!

So this is a plea from Sensory Intelligence® Consulting – find a quiet space and spend some time alone, because it actually saves time. Like many things in life, it’s about quality, not quantity. Spending an hour of quiet time a week can save time later in the week. By taking time out of your busy life, you ensure that you are fully present when you re-engage. This means your family gets to spend better quality time with you, you are more productive at work and you get things done faster because you are less stressed.

So what do we mean by quiet time?

Quiet time looks different for everyone. The only criteria are that it’s a space with the least amount of stimulation (be that children, spouses, work, cellphone, traffic etc.) where you can just be and do nothing for a while. ‘Doing nothing’ might include sipping on a cup of tea in your garden, curling up on your couch on a rainy day, or simply finding a moment to sit uninterrupted in your car before the day starts.

Although you can define your own ‘quiet time’ and create your own ‘quiet space’, here are a few recommendations:

• Remove tech! No phones, laptops, iPods etc. in your quiet space.
• This is a solitary activity. No partners or children around. In fact, negotiate with your partner to take care of the children for your quiet time, which means they get alone-time with the children and you can swop when your partner needs his/her quiet time.
• It works best if there is a routine to it, for instance deciding that one hour every Saturday morning is yours. Or wake up 30 minutes earlier to spend some time alone before the day starts.
• Make it a priority. If you don’t carve out some quiet time and protect it, it will never happen.

We challenge you this week to take some quiet time and just see what you feel like afterwards. We guarantee it will make a difference in the quality of your life!

If you want to make your “quiet time” really meaningful and personal, complete the Sensory Matrix™ self-assessment to understand how to switch off your brain the best!

With love

Karlien and the Sensory Intelligence® Consulting Team

At the moment everyone – especially in Cape Town – is aware of the importance of saving water.  But this is no excuse to skip your 2 liters a day. At Sensory Intelligence® Consulting we are all too aware of today’s busy, on-the-go world.  Unfortunately our bodies often take a backseat and we neglect to take care of ourselves.

Here are 5 practical tips to start your wellness journey:

1. Buy a water bottle and keep it on your desk. This will remind you to keep hydrated and give you a reason to go browsing for a nice bottle. Pick something that reflects your style and personality – make drinking water fun!
2. If you don’t like plain water, zoosh it up! Some great water mixes are: strawberries and mint, lavender and lemon, watermelon and basil and mango and pineapple. Or be creative and make your own gorgeous water mix. You can even share your favourite water recipes with friends and colleagues.
3. Keep healthy snacks with you in your bag or at your desk at all times. Proteins like nuts are a great source of sustained energy and their crunchiness gives great self-regulation when we are stressed. Prevent getting “hangry” because your body will start to crave sugar and have you heading for the vending machine before you can say “chocolate”.
4. Make sure you eat a substantial breakfast. Most of us rush out of the house 5 minutes past our deadline. But skipping breakfast will catch up with you later in the day when your energy levels dip and can have you over-indulging at lunch or even dinner. Top entrepreneurs and CEO’s like Richard Branson eat a high-fibre meal every morning.
5. Plan ahead! Spend an hour over the weekend planning your meals. You can prepare ahead and freeze them, or simply write out a meal plan and do some shopping for the week. It will save time in the week and your body will thank you when it’s well-nourished and taken care of. A little planning goes a long way!

With these tips we aim to just re-focus on the core basics of health, namely drinking water and eating healthy.  After all, if you don’t take care of your body, where will you live?

Do you want to know more about your body and brain and what regulates you best? Your Sensory Matrix™ provides easy, practical and effective tips and tools to keep yourself calm, focused and working optimally.

By Karlien Terblanche