LIVING WELLNESS
Are you too busy being busy?
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his time of year is usually one of transition. A changing season, and with it a change of pace, children settling back into school, work shifting up a gear and a renewed focus on routine. It feels like there’s a lot to organize, to complete and to juggle, and things just can’t wait. Add to that the election, the disastrous effects of climate change and extreme weather in our communities, the ongoing (seemingly never-ending) COVID roller coaster, and the various crises in other parts of the world. It’s not surprising so many of us are feeling overwhelmed by events, changing circumstances and a constant stream of new information.
Slow down to speed up! agenda and judging others who don’t engage in the same way.
Setting up to fail
exhausted than effective, so urgency can in fact set us up for failure. It’s also not good for our health. In this "fight or flight" mode, the stress hormones of cortisol and adrenaline kick in. These can inhibit our ability to think clearly, to focus and maintain a balanced perspective. We may overlook, or even ignore, stress signals from our body that Here are five simple things we can are indicating we need to step back or step out. In an effort to feel do to achieve more ease. better and find some comfort in the discomfort, we distract ourselves 1. Notice when we are not at ease: by seeking reward or pleasure when the pace at which we are living our life is not serving us well, elsewhere. or when the things that are most consuming our time and energy Is your fix friend or foe? What are your coping strategies? are not the important things, i.e. In what ways do you distract whatever gives our life meaning and yourself when feeling overwhelmed? joy or adds value.
In addition to the external environment of urgency, there’s also our internal sense of urgency. Many of us have become addicted to being busy. We pride ourselves on the number of tasks we can juggle and frequently set ourselves unrealistic goals for the time available. Being busy can make us feel important and valued. It can fuel our selfesteem. If we’re not constantly doing something, taking control or fighting for a cause, it can feel like we’re not contributing, or being a good person. It doesn’t help that our culture and society reward us for getting things These times of uncertainty, done. We are praised for being change and crisis seem to demand driven, resilient and strong. Social media, junk food, sugar, 2. Set clearer boundaries on our our immediate attention and In truth, urgency and speed don’t alcohol, Netflix…? Or meditation, time. That may mean saying “no” response. Everything can feel urgent, so we get busy doing, taking serve us well. When we are always prayer, exercise, fresh air, self-care…? or “not now” to some requests that don’t feel right for us or don’t serve action, working hard, pushing our in a hurried rush, we end up more us well. It may mean looking at our Urgency destroys While it’s possible to work from decisions and choices and asking this place of urgency and rush, it’s ourselves if they are aligned to our not sustainable over time. It’s tiring, values – the things and people who for us and others around us, at matter most. Clear boundaries work and at home. We can become require us to know, and stick to, anxious, impatient and judgmental. what’s OK for us and what’s not OK. We may be busy but, we may not be 3. Stop multi-tasking and become productive or doing our best work. selective with our attention. Research shows it take more time to Ease creates When we work from a place of multitask – i.e. constantly switch our ease, in mind and body, even amidst attention between tasks. It’s better the busyness, we are more creative, to plan one task and concentrate calm, clear-headed and balanced. until it’s done. We make better quality decisions and recognize opportunities. As we 4. Breathe deeply from the belly relax, we are better able to problem (rather than the chest). Push the belly out on the inhale and in on the solve and work through our issues. exhale. Do this for three minutes, It is possible to operate in a four times a day. dynamic, fast-paced environment and be at ease because ease comes 5. Drink plenty of water. We can’t think clearly when we are defrom within. hydrated.
Slow down to speed up
Paradoxically, if we want to speed up, we need to slow down. If we want to do more, we need to focus on less.
As we transition into fall, what one small thing would allow you to bring more ease into your life?
Hazel Morley has worked as a trainer, facilitator and coach for more than 25 years, in England and after immigrating to Canada in 2009. After her own personal health crisis, she shifted gears to focus on strategies for enjoying optimal health. CANADIANIMMIGRANT.CA |
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