In general, our culture loves busyness and hustling. And while a strong work ethic is always essential, oftentimes we run the risk of burning out due to chronic fatigue and stress. Once in a while, we all need to take a moment to slow down, take a few deep breaths, and simply acknowledge the beauty of being alive and living in the present.
Yesterday, during my reading time, I was reminded of how powerful our breath is. People have endured enormous fear, trauma and pain by simply taking deep breaths and focusing on staying in the present rather than the past or future. Many firefighters, police officers, and military personnel use a breathing exercise known as a 4 by 4. They inhale for 4 seconds, hold it in for 4 seconds, and then exhale for 4 seconds. This calms down the body and helps the mind stay clear and panic-free. It reminds them that it is all going to be okay even if they face losing their lives. Their breath is enough to keep them able to do their jobs. It's amazing. We can all use this method to practice mindfulness, peace, and calmness despite how busy our daily schedules are. And if breathing exercises aren't your thing, there are some other options that work just as effectively.
Here are some other ideas:
1.) Make yourself a nice cup of coffee or tea (or whatever your favorite drink is) and just notice how it feels to take a sip and experience the drink with all 5 of your senses. We often tune out our senses while we do mundane tasks. Taking time to focus on how something looks, tastes, smells, feels, sounds like slows down our brains and we can find a little moment of quiet.
2.) Get moving. I find that a good workout clear my mind instantly. Whether it's a run around the neighborhood or a simple yoga class, it does wonders for my mind as well as my body. It's super hard to focus on a to-do list in my head when I am trying to follow a trainer's instructions. I mean, the objective of yoga is to connect with your breath and your body and practice single-tasking. And to be honest, I hate the idea of working out. I am definitely not a gym rat and I sometimes refer to shopping as my cardio. But the feeling i get during and after my workouts make getting out the door so worth it. So no excuses just find an activity you enjoy and go for it.
3.) Spend some time with your journal. I'm sure this one is on just about every article relating to stress reduction, but it's on there for a reason: It really does work. As much as I love talking with people and sharing my feelings with them, I often find that paper allows me to be more honest and transparent about what I am actually going through. We are all guilty of holding back from our loved ones because we think what we have to say may sound dumb, irrelevant, or otherwise not worthy of being said aloud. Writing allows us express just about everything. I also enjoy saving my completed journals and then looking back on them later. For me, my journal has helped me slow down and take time to connect with my emotions and thoughts when I'd otherwise be too busy.
Find what works best for you. Maybe there is another way you like to wind down and I encourage you to use it as much as possible. Single-tasking is not a bad phrase. It doesn't mean we are lazy, but actually the opposite. When we take time to slow down and focus, then we are less likely to get burned out and we then can work harder and be more productive. So my fellow busy bees, we're in this together. Produtive > Busy
Peace,
Chloe
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