Whole Life Makeover: 15 ways to be good to yourself

8. What areas of your life could you ask others for help with? Who could you ask favours of? Who could you request help from? Ask two people to help you with life or work projects.

9. What do you need, expect and feel right now? Who needs to know this about you? Express this to people who you want and need to share this with.

10. What do you need to say no to? Who do you need to set boundaries with? Say no or set boundaries with people in your work or life.

11. What positive affirmations or intentions could you practice today that would help you?
Examples of affirmations:
• I support myself during adverse circumstances.
• I have pride in my past performance and a positive expectation of the future.
Examples of intentions:
• I am a leader in situations.
• I draw from resources around and within me.

12. How can I reframe circumstances that seem to be blocking or limiting me? We often argue with others in adverse circumstances and neglect to argue with ourselves when our self-talk is not supportive. Spending 30 minutes to reframe and rethink a negative thought pattern is time very well spent.

13. What would be an adventure for you? Take some time and do it. Stretching our risk muscles helps bring new life and energy into our world.

14. How could you give yourself some much-needed time out? Examples:
• Hide under the covers (you may want to screen calls, watch TV, eat some junk food, banish guilt, lights scented candles, or read a novel)
• Grant yourself a spa day in your own home (do whatever you like and take as much time as you would like to luxuriate in things you enjoy doing in your own home)

15. How could you be more childlike? Practice some childlike pastimes to give yourself new energy and motivation. Examples are:
• walking in the rain
• blowing bubbles
• smelling flowers,
• building sand castles
• watching the moon and stars come out
• saying hello to everyone
• going barefoot
• singing in the shower
• having a merry heart
• reading children's books
• watching children's movies
• acting silly
• getting new sneakers
• holding hands
• flying kites
• looking at the sky
• drawing and painting
• staying innocent
• saying no
• saying yes
• asking lots of questions
• feeling happy
• feeling mad
• making faces in the mirror
• making new rules
• daydreaming
• playing with toys
• having pillow fights
• learning new stuff
• getting excited about everything
• being a clown
• finding how things work
• making up new languages
• telling stories
• making friends with other kids on the block
• anything else that brings more happiness, relaxation, self-esteem, courage, balance, spontaneity or life energy to you.

Life coach Mary-Ann Owens is one of the experts helping former Olympic luge athlete Kathy Salmon Farstad regain control over her work, personal and physical life through healthier living. She is the founding president of the Calgary chapter of the International Coach Federation and a coaching skills instructor at the University of Calgary. Owens works with business leaders as well as individuals who want to make changes in their professional lives. She has taught stress management as both a career counnsellor and a coach. Owens has an MBA in human-resources management, and her specialty is in personal development and management.