One of North America's leading experts on relationships and personal growth, author and motivational speaker Barbara De Angelis travels a whopping 60 to 70 times per year to places all over the continent to share her vitality, humour and insight with her audiences. I met her at a retreat hosted by Olay to launch their Regenerist skincare line at the Millcroft Inn in Alton, Ont. Here's how De Angelis copes with travel stress and maintains her positive outlook.
1. Create your own environment.
“I always carry special items that will help me feel at home when I go on a trip,” says Barbara. “The first thing I do when I get to my hotel room is put out photos of loved ones and spiritual teachers who inspire me. Then I put on my favourite uplifting CDs, light incense and make the space my sanctuary.”
2. Face your day like it's a normal day. “Sometimes my day can start at 4 a.m. -- say, when I'm scheduled to appear on a morning show -- so I might only get a few hours of sleep,” says Barbara. “I could go to bed early, but I'm a night person. Early nights are really hard for me, so I'll just go to bed at my usual time. I don't let disruptions to my routine faze me.”
3. Meditate.
“I've been meditating daily since I was 18,” says Barbara. “On particularly stressful days, meditating keeps me grounded and helps me avoid a total meltdown. I go deep inside my mind to a quiet place beyond my worries and beyond the noise to a place of stillness. Those precious moments of self-generated peace can make all the difference.”
4. Keep in touch with your “centering” person(s).
“Friends are wonderful because they have a more accurate sense of our emotional patterns and history than we have,” explains Barbara. “I'm very lucky in that my best friend, Amanda, lives in Australia and that she's a therapist. If I'm in need of support in a hotel somewhere and need to talk at 3 a.m., she's available when no-one else is because of the time difference.”
5. Treat yourself.
“We all need a little pampering now and then, especially when we get so busy,” says Barbara. “One of my favourite ways to relax is to get a Hot Stone Massage. Reflexology, a foot massage, or a nice, warm bath also works to help me release tension,” she says.
Barbara De Angelis is the author of What Women Want Men to Know. For more information on Barbara and her books, visit www.barbaradeangelis.com.
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