It’s time for a show of hands. How many of you consider your life to be “busy” or perhaps “too busy?” Yep, pretty much what I imagined. Look all of those hands raised (and no it’s not a Jimmy Buffett concert either).
So if you raised your hand (again, I know you did, that little fly on the wall? He told me, serious) you are not alone. We are a busy society, living everyday with agendas piled high and to-do lists that we cannot possibly manage.
Busy lifestyles have become the norm, over extending ourselves in some way whether it is occasionally or most of the time. Now that our kids are back in school, we might be tempted to fill our increasingly crazy calendars with excess activities for the family. Don’t get me wrong, stimulation can be a good thing, as the alternative would be boredom. However, there is a fine line between being busy and productive, and losing your sanity. And then let’s also consider our kids into this delicate equation. Children today are inundated with invitations for play-dates, sports, after-school activities, music lessons and then some. This, on top of family obligations and mom and dad’s “crazy” schedules does not leave much time to do absolutely nothing.
Where does bike riding, playing in the backyard, coloring or reading a good book under a shade tree fit into this? Oftentimes, these activities get pushed to the side in order to meet the obligations of the day, but not without unfortunate consequences. According to a KidsPoll, conducted by kidshealth.org, almost all (90%) of the 882 girls and boys ages 9-13 who were surveyed reported feeling stressed due to being too busy….about half of the kids said they felt this way some of the time while 24% of these kids feel this way all of the time! And guess what else? 61% of kids wish they had….more free time.
Stress can have a serious impact on our health, causing our bodies to be in “fight or flight” mode which is the body’s natural response to events that make us feel threatened. This “stress response” can be beneficial in small doses, and can even save our lives in certain situations. However, when we are this constant state of “emergency,” the nervous system responds by releasing stress hormones called adrenaline and cortisol – making our hearts race and our blood pressure rise. So whether it is psychological stress or physical stress, our bodies react, causing us to potentially be in “this state” all the time. Chronic stress can have debilitating effects on our health.
So what can we do?
Slow. Down.
Though we cannot completely eliminate stress from our lives, there are several things we can do to reduce it, and control it’s effects. You are important. This is your life and only you have the ability to change things. It may be hard for some at first who are used to the fast-pace hustle and bustle, but slowing down slowly and deliberately can be freeing. You are worthy of just being YOU and rediscovering the joy of rest, relaxation and having fun! The following suggestions can have a profound effect on the unique you as an individual and positive effects on your children as well.
1. Yoga/Meditation/Breathing – Find a relaxation technique that works for you and use it. Whether it is at home, on your lunch hour or after work at the gym, there are many programs designed to help inspire you to relax and unwind…finding and honoring the unique you. Relaxation techniques are essential in creating inner peace and coping with life’s stressors. Embrace your inner calm.
2. Find Your Fun – Play!! This may be difficult for many of us who have forgotten how to play and laugh. Think about something you once enjoyed or perhaps and activity that you always wanted to try and just do it (Thanks Nike). There are many sports and leagues that adults can participate in with others such as volleyball, golf and tennis. Looking for something fun to do where you can be alone with your thoughts? Check out canoe rentals, kayaking, walking paths at your local parks, swimming laps or fishing.
3. Saying No – This is an area that many of us find most challenging. We must learn to put ourselves and our family’s needs first by rejecting offers that simply fill our time. Setting boundaries and refusing to “fill our calendars” daily is an important step in following our own personal journey. We must learn to recognize and distinguish between things that are actually beneficial to our lives and things that reflect our life desires while saying no to those things that we feel interfere with our purpose.
4. Schedule YOU time – This is essential and you are worth it! Do you feel selfish or undeserving of taking time to yourself? We all need to refuel our tanks and taking time for self reflection is a wonderful way to sort our thoughts, feelings and to honor our unique needs. Establishing a connection with your inner-self is vital in maintaining peace in our lives and peace in our relationships! Take time for yourself, relax to music, escape someplace quiet, whatever calms you and makes you smile.
5. Minimize Multi-tasking – We are a society in over-drive, constantly doing two things at once and maybe even three. Parents are coming home from work to make dinner while helping one child with homework and talking on the phone, and checking email and and and….the list goes on. Try instead focusing one the task at hand and you may find your stress level to decrease and your productivity to increase! Focusing on doing one thing and doing it well can help us slow down and enjoy life as it exists and as an added bonus? It can teach our kids to appreciate the here and now and to really live each moment to the best of our ability keeping it in line with our inner desires and life purpose.
The benefits of slowing down and relaxation can be life altering, giving us the gift of inner peace. Consciously choosing to focus on the task at hand, breathing slower, eating slower and walking slower can renew our appreciation for the world around us. We have one life to live and making ourselves and our family a priority can help keep us balanced and living our unique journey. It is vital for your well-being and those around you will love what they see – a happy healthy YOU! So go on now with your slow-moving self and put some pep back in your step!
Image Credits:
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I feel awful to admit it, but I feel like I’m being lazy if I sit still….now if I were being pampered with a massage or something, that’s a different story!
I know. My hubs says that it is not physically possible for me to sit and do nothing! I like being busy but I also know it’s important that i figure out how to relax – it’s a work in progress