Interview With Suzanne Zoglio

Author: Alyice Edrich

Suzanne Zoglio wrote Recharge in Minutes: The Quick-Lift Way to Less Stress, More Success, and Renewed Energy for one reason: to give men and women back their lives. She has been all over the world teaching others how to release the stress that often makes them unproductive so they can find more energy to complete their tasks and live the lives they dream. She's stopped by to share some tips that will help you reenergize your lives…

In your book, you discuss the importance of writing out one’s dreams. Many people are dreamers. Some have even given themselves visuals as well as text in hopes of helping push them towards their dreams, but are unable to get from point A to point B. What tips can you offer dreamers, who are stuck in the dreaming mode, to help them turn those dreams into reality?

For less stress and more success with achieving dreams, I recommend "chunking" the change. Break the big dream into manageable steps and take one small step regularly—weekly or even daily.

For instance, one dream I had for many years was to go to La Scala, the opera house in Milan. That was going to take money, time, and a companion. I visited LaScala online, listened to Italian operas, talked to friends about visiting Milan, and finally, I met a friend who wanted to go to Milan's fashion district and we helped make each other's dream a reality. I'd go "shopping" for Armani if she'd go to the opera with me. I planned a great trip by researching "Milan, Armani style." It was at least a year in the planning, but every week I took one step related to the dream...and with each step came renewed energy, moving in the direction of my dream.

Stress among women seems to be at an all-time high. What contributes to stress in women and what is one of the best tips you can offer for alleviating that stress?

Women are often the caretakers of many: lovers, friends, children, aging parents. Women also, more often than men, want to please. You've probably heard Oprah refer to this as the "disease to please". It’s actually quite common.

Two quick tips that work with my coaching clients are:

Do one (1) thing just for you every single day.

Before you get out of bed, decide what that will be, and then do it. It might be as brief as leaving the office 15 minutes early so you can stop to pick up flowers, or as simple as calling a close friend while you're folding the laundry. It might mean going for walk at lunch or taking a 10-minute break to write all that you have accomplished today. It could even be writing the check to register for yoga, or arranging for a sitter so you can go out with the girls next Saturday. But do something you've been meaning to do—just for you.
Practice saying "Sorry, that won't work for me."

No excuses or apologies necessary. Just practice NOT taking on something you really don't want to do.

It has been said that simply slowing down long enough to actually experience life, instead of speeding past it, can alleviate a lot of stress. The problem is that we live in a fast-paced, have-to-have-it now society. How can one create a slower lifestyle and still meet all the demands life puts on us?

The trick is to take quick-lift breaks (10 minutes or less) several times a day (2-4) to build your resilience to the fast-pace instead of trying to slow the world down.

Life is not going to change, but YOU can take quick refueling breaks.

Deep breathing for 10 minutes can lower your blood pressure;
Visualizing yourself in the arms of someone strong can relieve anxiety;
Repeating an affirmation of your strengths can jumpstart a project;
Laughing for 5 minutes with a friend can revive a tired mind; and
Listing all that you are grateful for can lift you out of the stressful "poor me" place.

You don't have to wait for a week's vacation to relax. Take mini-vacations all day long, every day of the week and you will build stress-resistance.

Interview With Suzanne Zoglio

Author: Alyice Edrich

Stress among women seems to be at an all-time high. What contributes to stress in women and what is one of the best tips you can offer for alleviating that stress?

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