Resourcing the Revolution

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Rebel Yogi Roundup: Volume VII

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This spring and summer have been big for Rebel Yogi.

Since the last roundup post, this happened:

And if you could see behind the scenes right now, oh the things I have up my sleeve for the fall!

But until I can spill the beans about what’s next, here’s some of your favorite shares to tide you over, curated from my reading over the past few months.

Why You Should Ditch Your Work-Life Balance

It’s the new American Dream — one day the stars will align and your life will be in perfect balance, with enough time to do everything you want and still make enough money to live comfortably. Gary and Jay at The ONE Thing remind us that while we may never attain that “perfect” balance, it’s okay to shift around and aim for what they call “counter-balance”.

Whatever you’re doing, be fully present. This is the secret of counter-balance: bringing our full attention to the effort at hand.”

The 7 Behaviors That Help Us Thrive in Chaotic Times

The folks at Steady Ground have put together a list of behaviors that will help you keep up with your worldchanging work, in a way that won’t burn you out.

When we’re in bad shape, our power is diminished — we’re less creative, more reactive, and less able to plan strategically. If we intend to stay active and effective in the world, we have a responsibility to tend to our spirits.”

The Brain Literally Starts Eating Itself When It Doesn’t Get Enough Sleep

Um… wha?! This post had me seriously reconsidering my priorities, and putting sleep back up near the top. I don’t want my brain turning into a cannibalistic zombie, and I’m sure you don’t either. Eww…

Think of it like the garbage being cleared out while you’re asleep, versus someone coming into your house after several sleepless nights and indiscriminately tossing out your television, fridge, and family dog.”

80% of Top Business Leaders Meditate

According to Tim Ferriss, the number one common thread top performers had in comparison to most other people… is that more than 80% of them were using some form of daily meditation practice to get better results in business.

I find that meditation is very very helpful for avoiding anxiety and it’s the reset button for the rest of the day… it’s basically a warm bath for your brain.”

That’s it for this round. To stay in the loop and not miss out on any of the awesomeness headed your way this fall, sign up for the Rebel Yogi mailing list (at the top of your screen or in the right sidebar) or “like” the Rebel Yogi Facebook page.

And let me know how you think the series is going — anything you’d like to see more of, less of? Or if you’ve read anything recently that should go into the next roundup, send it along!

Until next time…

You Are a Unicorn, So Start Sleeping Like One

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How often do you wake up tired?

Or drift off while you’re supposed to be working… or even driving? Maybe it’s falling asleep in meetings, or not feeling up for doing anything other than slumping on the couch and watching Netflix at the end of your day.

Whatever’s going on, chances are that you’re not getting enough sleep.

But how much is enough? Read enough research, and you’ll realize that everyone is giving you different advice. Even places like the National Sleep Foundation and the Mayo Clinic give different numbers. So what are you – not a sleep scientist – supposed to do? How do you know what’s right for you?

Like a lot of my recommendations, it all comes down to what feels good for you. As you’re experimenting with making the most of your badass self, add sleep to the things you pay attention to. You might be surprised what you find.

You’re a unicorn, baby. Don’t forget that. 😉

But number of hours aside, maybe you’re not sure exactly why sleep is important. Can’t you just skip a few hours of sleep and make up for it later?

The answer is you can, but it’s not a great idea. Here’s why.

The ABCs of getting your Zzz’s

There are a ton of posts written about sleep. How much to get. How to optimize your sleep. Why it’s important.

But for my money, James Clear has written one of the definitive posts about getting better sleep. Rather than add to the noise, I’ll point you to his in-depth reference instead. I’ve read it several times (at least), and every time I find something new. It’s good. Go read it.

And the New York Times wrote a great article that’s all about sleep. They cover some different aspects of sleep, including ways to reset your own internal clock — with a little work, you may just be able to become a morning person.

But what if you don’t have time to implement all those changes?

Make technology your bitch

If you’re going to do one single thing, I’d recommend trying to get to bed and wake up at the same times every day.

I know. An entrepreneur’s schedule is anything but regular, and sometimes that just isn’t going to happen. So my next suggestion is to step away from technology at least a couple of hours before bed.

…

Yeah, yeah. I’ll wait until you’re done laughing.

Also low on the “likelihood of things entrepreneurs will do” scale is staying away from screens. I get it. I’ve been there, and I still struggle with this one. But to compensate for my late-night screen abuse, I’ve devised ways to make technology work for me.

To start, install something like f.lux on your computer. I’ve been using this handy (and free) software for years now, and it really helps to make late night time on my laptop more tolerable. And recently, computer and smartphone manufacturers have gotten in on the game and created things like Night Shift for iPhone and Mac, and Dark Mode for Windows.

Whatever you choose, use something to help minimize your nighttime blue light screen exposure. Your sleep will thank you.

Relax your way to better sleep

And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Yoga Nidra.

Yes, you hear me talk about this practice all the time. And maybe you’re starting to think that it’s too good to be true. Well, you’re wrong. 😉

Yoga Nidra is one of my absolute all-time favorite practices because of all the amazing benefits it brings. Even if you’ve had a super stressful day, taking 20 minutes to wind down can make all the difference between laying in bed with your brain going full speed, and being able to fall asleep more quickly.

Even better news, you can snag a Yoga Nidra recording (with some pretty snazzy background music) from yours truly. You’re welcome!

From Zombie Zero to Sleep Hero

Now you know why sleep is so important, and how to make the most of however many hours you’re logging.

Taking the time to optimize your sleep can be the difference between wandering through your day like a zombie, and crushing whatever world-changing project you’re currently working on. Isn’t your hustle worth a little optimizing between the sheets?

How often do you sacrifice sleep for putting in a few more hours of work, or stay up late even though you know you’ll regret it in the morning? Leave a comment, and let’s work together on getting your Zzz’s back on track!

Rebel Yogi Roundup: Volume VI

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If you’re like any of the entrepreneurs I know, the beginning of 2017 has been like someone poured rocket fuel into your business engine tanks.

Projects catching on, taking off, and generally flinging you forward — ready or not.

And because I know what this “hold on for dear life until the ride slows down” pace does to your schedule (and desire to even think about looking at your computer for one more second if it’s not work-related)…

I’ve done you a favor and gathered together some of my favorite posts from the past 2 months.

Let’s dig in!

Rhythm of Breathing Affects Memory and Fear

This post dives into some pretty cool stuff that goes on in your body and brain related to your patterns of inhalation and exhalation. And how cool is it that you can tap into this through your yoga practice?

Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered for the first time that the rhythm of breathing creates electrical activity in the human brain that enhances emotional judgments and memory recall.”

Tell Yourself You Like Your Workout, You’ll Do It More

This New York Magazine “Science of Us” post shows that you can manipulate yourself into thinking you actually like to exercise. So say it with me – “I love ____.” [insert whatever kind of movement you’d like to do more of]

The better you feel about something, the more likely you are to do it. Attitude begets behavior.”

Lack of Sleep Turning You Into a Pissed Off 2-Year Old? I HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS.

As you might guess, the #ladyboss behind The Middle Finger Project isn’t afraid to tell it like it is. In this post on lack of sleep, Ash is both hilarious — and totally on point…

And we all know this. It’s not like the act of sleeping is some ancient hidden secret. But none of us really take it seriously because the benefits of getting a good night’s sleep don’t come printing out of your earlobe every morning like a receipt for a parking meter…”

Why the Left Brain/Right Brain Divide is Bullshit

The folks at FutureCrunch are pretty awesome. And they think that science has a PR problem. In this post, they look at why our current ideas about right brain / left brain… well, they’re not everything we might believe.

You are not a label. Your brain is not a computer. It has an amazing ability to reorganize itself by forming new connections between its different components, allowing you to continually learn new things and modify your behavior. It is the most complex organism we know of in existence, and gives you a deep wellspring for scientific thought, wild bursts of creativity, abstract reasoning, and astounding acts of love and kindness.”

So there you have it.

A little bit of cursing. Some good neuroscience. And a few fun posts to read during your down time…

Haha. Just kidding. I mean, during your time you specifically blocked off for reading and learning. Yeah. That’s it.

Now it’s your turn. Let me know what you think of the series — anything you’d like to see more of, less of? And if you’ve read anything recently that should go into the next roundup, send it my way!

Until next time…

Rebel Yogi Roundup: Volume IV

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The last time the roundup came around, it was still thoroughly (and sweatily) summer.

What a difference a couple of months can make!

And yes, I enjoy making up words.

As the east coast experiences a soggy, cool fall morning…

Here’s the best (and most hilarious) of what I’ve read over the past few weeks.

How to Be Perfectly Unhappy

This comic from the Oatmeal is fantastic. It may make you have all the feels. If you’re like me, it may even inspire you to write an entire post based on its premise.

I’m not happy because our definition of happy isn’t very good. It’s a monochromatic word used to describe a rich, painful spectrum of human feeling.”

9 Reasons Why You Should Practice Yoga

From the obvious reasons (lower stress and get more flexible) to the not so obvious (have better sex and smell better), this article breaks down 9 good reasons that yoga isn’t just for chicks.

Contrary to what you might think, [yoga is] not just a sport for sexy ladies. And we have tons of reasons why you should be doing it—other than picking up women.”

stillness-within

10 Reasons You Should Never Start a Yoga Practice

Wait. Wasn’t the last article I shared reasons TO do yoga? And now I’m sharing a link that says you shouldn’t? What’s up with that? Read this one in the spirit of good fun.

It will ruin chili cheese fries.”

The Surprising Truth About Creating Sustainable Watershed Solutions

Okay, okay. So maybe this one is cheating a little bit, since I wrote it. But hey — guest post for the awesome folks over at the Center for Watershed Protection. Because the people saving the world sometimes need to be reminded to take care of themselves.

You work hard to create a sustainable planet. But it’s just as important to create a sustainable life for you, so that you can continue to do your world changing work!.”

gold-nuggets

So there you have it. Some of my favorite things from the past couple of months!

I’d love to hear what you think of the series — anything you’d like to see more of, less of— or, if you’ve read anything recently that should go into the next roundup!

Until next time…

Rebel Yogi Roundup: Volume III

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How is it August already?

While the summer has sped by, there has been no shortage of great content. And since the summer months are made for fun and relaxation, this month’s roundup includes some fun and hilarious stories from around the web.

Here’s the best of the best, curated from my reading over the past few weeks.

The Surprising Benefit of Being Bad at Yoga

In this hilarious and poignant post, a yoga overachiever goes from trying too hard to be perfect to feeling comfortable in her own body.

I was struggling so much that all I could focus on was the truly important stuff. And being perfect simply wasn’t important.”

6 Scientifically Proven Benefits Of Mindfulness And Meditation

It seems like meditation is all the rage these days. And with more and more scientific data backing up the claims, it’s for a good reason.

We now have the ability to do the one thing that was never possible before—see how these practices change the wiring and the makeup of our brains.”

tension-relaxation

5 Signs it’s Time to Do Less

Marc takes a look at our culture’s tendency to do more, more, more. Contrary to popular belief, more does not necessarily make us happier.

Most of us have a tendency to do as much as we possibly can – cramming every waking minute with events, extravagances, tasks and obligations. We think doing more will get us more satisfaction, success, etc.  When oftentimes the exact opposite is true.”

I Switched to a Standing Desk, So Now You Should, Too

In this hilarious, satirical look at the standing desk craze, Tom lays out the facts he believes about standing… at least until the next WebMD article comes out.

Sitting… looks ridiculous and shameful—like you’re afraid to admit exactly how tall you are—and is terrible for you. The human body simply wasn’t meant to be folded up for long stretches, like a sad pretzel. It was meant to be held ramrod-straight at all times, like a noble pretzel stick.”

whole-world

From the science behind mindfulness to a couple of reminders to do less (and take ourselves less seriously), this month’s roundup was a lot of fun to put together.

Let me know what you think of the series — anything you’d like to see more of, less of— or, if you’ve read anything recently that should go into the next roundup!

Until next month…

Rebel Yogi Roundup: Volume II

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Another month has come and gone.

Which means: a TON of new content has been posted to the intarwebs.

Which likely means that you’re still feeling overwhelmed about the sheer volume of possible reading material, and not quite sure what’s worth reading (and what’s a total waste of your time).

So, from the Rebel Yogi reading vaults, here are 4 of my favorite posts that I read this month.

Enjoy!

How to Get Unstuck in Life by Simply Making a Next Move — Any Next Move

In this fantastic post from Jeff Goins, he reminds us that most of the decisions we make in life aren’t going to change much at all. So rather than spending all your time trying to decide, your decision should be to ACT. Then, you can change things based on how that choice affected you.

One of the reasons we struggle to make better decisions is because we keep getting distracted with new things. Giving yourself a break from the noise will help you tune into the choices you need to make.”

6 Things To Tell Yourself When You Are Emotionally Wiped Out

Stephen writes this post specifically about emotional crashes, but there’s some good life lessons in it for all of us. Giving yourself permission to be in the moment, to feel what you’re feeling, and to give yourself a break: that’s something we can all use.

You don’t have all the answers to all the problems and it’s time you stopped acting like you did. You aren’t a made of steel. You are a human with feelings and a breaking point. Stop and give yourself a break, before you break.”

burnout-rocket-fuel

4 Questions to Ask When You’re Feeling Exhausted

Laurie prompts us to ask ourselves questions about what’s at the heart of our exhaustion, and to focus on how we can be radically honest with ourselves about our lives — both the things that are working, and the things that aren’t.

The cure for exhaustion is not necessarily rest. The cure for exhaustion is wholeheartedness.” – David Whyte

Why Living As a Goat Can Clear Your Mind

And now for something a little lighter… as you head into your week, take a look at how a different perspective can make all the difference.

knowlege-zen

Getting unstuck, learning to be okay when things aren’t all roses and rainbows, and a little bit of fun as a goat…

As we roll into the early days of summer, let’s all take the opportunity to let a little more sunshine into our lives.

Let me know what you think of the series — anything you’d like to see more of, less of— or, if you’ve read anything recently that should go into the next roundup!

Until next month…