It is one of the most common conundrums of the modern age. How can it be that despite all the life simplifying technology and time saving devices we have access to, our lives are more hectic than ever and time is in short supply? The raw fact is that with all this technology at our finger tips, we are all working at a much faster pace. We feel that we can cram more work into our day. The question we need to ask is, does this equal a wellness mindset?
Wellness Mindset does not equal non-stop work:
We thought it was bad, pre-Covid 19 when some of us would find ourselves unable to switch off from work because anything that wasn’t quite completed in the office could always be worked on at home.Fast forward to this Covid era that we are all now trying to navigate, people who are able to work from home are finding that they are working longer hours as work and home are pretty much one and the same. This doesn’t sound healthy to me.
It may seem like an ideal solution at the time but at some point, we’ll come to the realisation that we are on this never ending hamster wheel, which we simply can’t get off.
Now we women are famous for being skilled multi-taskers but there is only so much you can do all at once, especially if you are a perfectionist like me and want to do it well. So it really is a question of stopping, taking stock of life and getting back to basics.
Making the cut:
Take a long hard look at your life. Your habits, possessions or people that you have been hanging out with or hanging onto for years. Ask yourself, how would life be if I were to give them up? Streamlining your life means letting go of things such as problems, people, possessions, habits and routines to which you have become attached but really do not serve you. This is a slow process. Be gentle with yourself. Start with writing down everything that drags you down. This list should include negative thoughts and feelings. Categorised this list into sections such as ‘unwanted items’ or ‘habits you could change’ and choose to tackle one of the sections which you are sure will end in a positive outcome. The outcome should be a positive one which will hopefully spur you on to tackle other sections of your life in an equally positive way. Be consistent in your attempt to reduce the things that drag you down.
Get rid of mental clutter:
This comprises of mainly information overload, aspirations and being busy. They are all exhausting. With all the knowledge we acquire, our aspirations grow but we give ourselves a hard time when aspirations aren’t met; besides, sometimes, we are too busy to meet them all. Just stop right there. Stop living in the future. This is not to say that we can’t have ambitions but don’t stress yourself out about achieving something, which you obviously need more time to get to grips with. Work towards what you want, but stop and smell the roses too; enjoy the delights of the present moment.
Get rid of emotional clutter:
Don’t hold yourself to social obligations because you feel you ‘should’ or because you ‘like being needed’. Don’t kid yourself that people can’t live without you. Prioritise social engagements. Those that eat into your leisure time, without giving you the slightest bit of pleasure, should be discarded.
Get rid of physical clutter:
Piles of stuff uses up a lot of energy just looking at it. Trying not to notice all the clutter around you is exhausting. First step: Identify everything you don’t want. Pack it all away in boxes and bin liners. Second step: Either sell it, give it away, donate to charity or dump it. If you‘re not sure, store away for three months. If you’ve not had use for it or even thought about it, in that time. Dump it. It will make you feel so much better.
Other ways to achieve wellness mindset:
- Reduce the hours you spend watching TV and playing on the internet (and that includes your phone or iPad).
- I can’t imagine anyone who buys the newspaper, these days. What’s the point. The end result is more rubbish and negative thoughts. Instead, what I do is scan the headlines, online and focus on news which makes you feel good.
- Be selective about what you choose to focus your energy on in life. There are so many potential distractions.
- Make time for loved ones and have fun.
