This is Week Two of the MOT4U Challenge, devised to help keep you running at peak performance in the face of challenging times in general practice. The weekly challenge offers some brief exercises to take part in, and a short video to watch, all focused on your supporting your wellbeing and resilience.
Follow and comment #mot4uchallenge on Twitter
Let us know your thoughts and feedback after working through the exercises and watching the video.
Presented by Sheela Hobden of Bluegreen Coaching, with Management in Practice.
The MOT4U Challenge is running for four weeks during February.
STEP 1
A quick exercise to prepare
Using the same technique we learned in Week One, prepare with 7/11 breathing:
- Breathe in for 7 seconds
- Pause
- Breathe out for 11 seconds
- Repeat 3 times for a ‘mindful minute’.
Check out why this works here.
This is one of the best “quick fixes” I know for reducing anxiety and tension. One thing we can control is our breathing, so if nothing else, one thing is back in our control.
STEP 2
This week’s theme: Windscreen and windows
This part of the MOT4U Challenge is all about looking at things from different perspectives.
Consider this question: How many perspectives can you see right now?
People who are able to take more things ‘in their stride’ are those who are able to see things from different perspectives and are open to new ways of doing things.
Being able to see different perspectives gives us more choices and increases our sense of control because it gives us more options on how to handle given situations.
STEP 3
Something to watch
Watch this short video from Sheela Hobden for more thoughts on this theme.
STEP 4
Here are some suggested activities for you to try – depending on how much time you have, and how much you want to explore:
Some questions to mull over
- What difference would a new perspective have on a challenge playing on your mind right now?
- Thinking of interactions with people, how many different perspectives could there be to consider, in a typical day for you?
Things to try
Try this short drawing exercise
Imagine you are inside a car, looking out. Draw out the all the ‘car views’ on a piece of A4 paper:Windscreen, rear view and wing mirrors, side windows.
Take a challenge that is on your mind at the moment, and for each of the views (through the different mirrors) write in another idea or perspective (however crazy these may seem to you).
Want to take part in the MOT4U photo challenge?
If you’d like to take part, use your smartphone to take, and if you use Twitter, post a picture of something from a different perspective to ‘normal’. It can be anything that catches your eye. Include the tag #mot4uchallenge
Or take a different route home from work, or on your daily walk today, and pay attention to the different things you see and hear.
Something to read
Are you aware that research suggests that daily mental exercises can fundamentally affect brain function? Read more about it here.
