Top 5 Tips for a Stress Free Commute

Top 5 Tips for a Stress Free Commute

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Have you ever seen someone shout at a taxi driver or taxi thief? Have you ever bumped into people who stopped in front of you on the sidewalk? Have you ever had an umbrella nearly poke your eye out on a rainy day? High-density commutes during rush hour can be a stressful part of the day. They can also be a time to set a positive tone before you arrive at work or home.

How can you best respond to density and cultural differences? You can go inward and reserve your own energy for the most important things in your life. Why waste vital energy on the adrenalized reaction of frustration and anger? We have absolutely no control over traffic and commutes, but we do have control over how we respond to it.

Here are 5 tips to transform your stressful commute into one of curiosity, relaxation and humour.

Tip #1 Awe Your Attitude

Whether it is your temporary home as an expatriate or your permanent home as a local resident, Hong Kong’s density is intense. Love it with a sense of curiosity and awe. When you want to shout with frustration, replace it with, “Wow,” and thank the moment or person for making you pause long enough to notice the awe in AWEsome.

Tip#2 Zoom Out 

When you are standing on the MTR, and people bump up against you or squeeze your space, look up and look down the long stretch of the train. Do the same in traffic. Do this in the middle of the street. Look up and out. These cities are a work of art, and there is a collective experience to take part in and absorb.

Tip#3 Practice Compassion 

When you find yourself wrapped up in the hardship of your own long day, look around you and find someone who looks a little worse off. Take a moment to imagine the hard day he or she had. Breathe that in and breathe out the relief of their suffering. Continue this process with multiple people until you forget all about your own pain and are filled with gratitude.

Tip#4 Entertain Yourself

Bring good music and listen to the soundtrack of your life. Watch the commute scenes like an entertaining movie. Bop your head. Shake your hips. Dance in public. Find your laughter button and press it.

Tip#5 Go Zen

Use your commute to meditate. Count how many steps you take on a single inhale. Count them again on your exhale. If your walking rhythm gets interrupted, continue a count on your in breath and out breath. After the pause, resume counting your steps. Over time, grow the number count and elongate the breath. It will slow down your mind, calm the nerves and sharpen your performance at work or home.

Evening Rituals To Help You Sleep

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It’s no mystery that good sleep is priceless. What can be mysterious is how to find a natural antidote to insomnia when it arises. Many business professionals in Hong Kong and other big Asian cities suffer from jet lag and stress, a sure obstacle to deep sleep. Pharmaceutical options can be fast solutions, but they can also cause drowsiness the next day when you need a sharp mind for work.

A good night’s sleep begins with what you do before you sleep. A consistent routine can signal sleep to the body and daily ritual is a great way to communicate this. The ritual should be your own, but it is crucial that you do it every night. A consistent ritual trains the body to produce melatonin and prepare to sleep. Imagine life before electricity when our bodies were prepared by the setting of the sun.

We have to enact new ways of turning down the volume. Some well-known favorites are listed below. Choose one and try it for one week.

1) Electronic Bed Time 10:00pm: Turn off all electronic devices to enable your mind to turn off.

2) Warm Shower: Relax your tight muscles after a long day at work.

3) Hot Herbal Tea: The soothing aroma and warmth of a non-caffeinated tea will calm your mind and your body.

4) Reading for Pleasure: Choose something that relaxes your mind, instead of stimulates it.

5) Seated Meditation 10 minutes: Clear your mind from the noise of the day. Soften the senses by observing them. Prepare your body for a restful sleep.

How To Create An Environment That Enables Peak Performance

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There are two secrets to peak performance in work and health.

#1 Clear the surfaces and start at the beginning. 

Life’s greatest achievements are never about the final product or finish line. They are made possible by the small stuff that got us there.

In yoga, the most advanced poses are not possible unless you understand how to activate and use your foundation. It requires small alignment adjustments and micro movements to stack the skeleton and keep the body safe.

In work, a clear mind comes from clear surfaces. Your immediate working space reflects what’s happening in your mind and has a direct relationship with efficiency. It is not just about aesthetics or organization. When there is less, it creates a fertile environment for new ideas and synthesis.

#2 Get adequate rest. 

This may seem like an obvious component of your workout, but the importance of rest cannot be overstated. Do not do the same kind of exercise everyday. Rest your muscles and take days off.

Rest is undervalued in work. Overworking will not lead to higher efficiency. It can lead to burn out and adrenal fatigue that might produce symptoms, like brain fog, forgetfulness and difficulty waking up in the mornings. When we treat those symptoms with stimulants like coffee, we double the impact on our bodies and can create a cycle that is hard to get out of. Peak performance is about working smarter, not harder. Take 10-minute breaks 3 times a day. Walk outside. Find a corner to do stretches, lie down or meditate. It will change the quality of your work, and your energy levels will become more naturally elevated.

Top 5 Fitness Items For Your Luggage

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You don’t need fancy fitness attire or heavy equipment to have a good workout. Here are 5 items to put in your luggage to empower you to exercise anywhere.

1) Resistance Bands: These one-meter long rubber bands come in a variety of colors, each representing a different amount of resistance. They are often used in physiotherapy centers to aid in the redevelopment of muscles after an injury or surgery. As an addition to bodyweight exercises, resistance bands are a simple and efficient way to increase the intensity of your exercises.

2) Jump Rope: Skipping rope is a great cardiovascular exercise and will also train the muscles in your shoulders and lower legs. You can even skip rope in your hotel room – no shoes required. Just watch out for those ceiling lights.

3) Water Bottle: During exercise, it is recommended that you constantly rehydrate by drinking water. Bring an empty water bottle with you when you travel, and if it’s big enough  you can even use it to store your resistance band and hand towel.

4) Hand Towel: It’s not just for wiping sweat from your body. A towel can be used to help you stretch and to help you maintain proper body alignment as you perform bodyweight exercises.

5) Motivational Music: Find your “Eye of the Tiger” and get a groove on with some tunes to motivate you. Don’t worry about looking silly. When you’re in you’re exercising in your hotel room alone, no one will be watching.

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