For several years, when someone asked me how I had been, my first response was “busy.” It was true – I was running from thing to thing, and never seemed to be able to catch up with everything or everyone. Sometimes the thought of escaping “stress” was inconceivable.
Do you feel like this sometimes? (or all of the time??)
One day the thought popped into my head, I don’t want to be “busy.” I want to be present. I want to be happy. I want to be vibrant. I want to be a friend. I want to be silly. I want to be joyful. I want to live my life, NOT run through my life.
How can this be done when it seems like making it though a day is enough to sap all of your energy? Keep reading for some key strategies and insights…
1. Be quiet.
Life can be so noisy. We have gotten so used to background noise that we don’t even notice it any more. However, what matters is that our brain notices it. Although our conscious mind recognizes constant noise as “normal,” (aka that’s the 1,000th time I heard that commercial, my phone just rang for the 50th time, etc) and dismisses it, our unconscious mind is continually stimulated by each and every noise, screening the incoming auditory stimulation for new or alarming sounds. It is through this process that our brains are being overstimulated, which inhibits our ability to turn our brains “off” and actually relax.
Try this: take 10-15 minutes each day to seek out silence. This could be first thing in the morning, right before bed, on an afternoon walk, or even stepping into a church on your way home from work. I personally feel so rejuvenated when I spend a few minutes inside of an empty, calm, peaceful sanctuary.
2. Reserve one day for rest.
The human body is not designed to work continuously, although judging by the pace of American society, we seem to think otherwise. Mentally and physically, it is so important to take ONE day to re-start, re-set, and calm down. I find it so much easier to be productive during the rest of the week and I feel more prepared to deal with life’s little challenges once I have had a day of rest (aka: the Sabbath!) My husband and I intentionally leave Sundays for what we call “Blake-y” time. We enjoy going to church, hanging around the house, taking walks around the neighborhood, eating a Sunday brunch, catching up with family, and ending the weekend with “wine & cheese” (although that often turns into craft beer and hummus).
Try this: do what you enjoy. If possible, try not to work (and that includes cleaning, errands, and emails!) Make sure you do it with the people you love. As I always say, Primary Food includes: Relationships, Spirituality, Physical Activity, and Career. Get your dose of the 1st three of these each week!
3. Clear some space.
Let me give you an example. When I walk into my home office, one corner has had piles and boxes on the floor for at least a year. I took an hour to clean out, reorganize, recycle, and vacuum the corner. As you walk into the room now, there is bright, clean, empty space – and even a few new inspirational decorations! I made a point of walking past this corner almost 20 times last night and each time it put a smile on my face. Remember how the subconscious mind gets overwhelmed filtering through all the unnecessary sounds? Your subconscious mind gets overwhelmed by looking at piles of stuff every day, even if it’s been there for 5 years!
Try this: Pick one area of your home. Is your hallway piling up with items? Do you have piles of mail on the kitchen counter? Is the pantry or coat closet ready to tumble down? Clean it out, organize, donate or get rid of all of the items. Clean the area. Step back and admire the cleanliness. Every time you walk past it, you will feel refreshed and happier. Once you start cleaning up those spaces, you’ll probably be motivated to see what other areas of your home can be brightened up! Less clutter = less stress.
4. Practice saying “no.”
Anyone who has known me for a while knows that I used to be incapable of implementing this piece of advice (Yes, Mary, you were right 😉 ) It’s hard to decline a request for help or a fun social invite. However, in order to break free from the rat race, you need to set priorities – and stick to them. Just like an oxygen mask in an airplane must be applied to yourself before helping someone else, if you are exhausted, frustrated, and worn out, you’re not going to be helpful or fun to be around anyway! My mom always reminds me, “you can’t burn the candle at both ends.” I am sick and tired of hearing it, but I’d like to think that I finally put it into practice (with occasional motherly reminders.)
Try this: Be intentional about having “me-time.” You don’t have to attend every work function, happy hour, fundraiser, charity event, or soccer game. Give your self time to slow down so that you can be your BEST self for the events you do attend!
5. Get your “Superfoods.”
In a previous blog post, I discussed the power of the 5 Unexpected Superfoods: Sunlight, Oxygen, Water, Touch, and Love. These five elements cannot be emphasized enough. Each of these “Superfoods” are critical to sustaining human life, yet are often overlooked amidst the stress of daily life.
Try this: Read through my post and make a point of getting your daily value of each this week!
6. Exercise.
Physical activity releases endorphins, improves circulation to your brain and extremities, improves every aspect of health, and releases tension and built-up stress! Varying your routine is beneficial, as it allows each part of your body to reap the benefits. (Ex: cardio for your heart, weight training for improved bone density, stretching for your muscles)
Try this: Go for a long walk or jog, try a new outdoor sport, get a bike, buy some dumbbells – it doesn’t have to be a pricey gym membership! For those of you in the Columbia area, I offer monthly SoulCore classes at Our Lady of the Hills Catholic church. Click here for more information. If you are not local, SoulCore classes are offered throughout the country and are available online too (www.SoulCore.com)! Let me know if you are interested!
