The rest will follow.
The nostalgic lyrics of En Vogue’s upbeat anthem whirl through my head at the first thought of this decree. In fact, it’s rare a time you read a passage or catch a conversation that doesn’t flood your brain with memories, contemplation, or ideation. Such thoughts can be just what we need to brighten up our day or bring a little energy or innovation to our lives.
I loved that song, and furthermore, those divas were spot on with their catchy rhetoric. Nonetheless, there’s a bigger concern than the questioning stares from my cohorts as I awkwardly sway to the lyrics in my head (we’ve all been there)…
When does our mind ever get a break?
We are all acutely aware of when our bodies get tired. Our eyelids start to droop; our legs can no longer support us. We sleep or rest (when we can), and noticeably suffer in our thoughts and communications when we can’t. Just a few days without sleep and we can actually start hallucinating! Rest is essential to our survival, and without it, our bodily functions go into disrepair.
Photo by Dmitry Schemelev
It’s not just about our physical assets either; our minds are resting and restoring to allow our bodies to coordinate. We couldn’t process and store memories for example without REM, our dream stage of sleep.
You may be saying to yourself, “Well, I get my eight hours of sleep at night.” Congratulations…. seriously! You are a step ahead of most these days, on your way to overall health and wellness (if not, you should really make this a priority). However, you’re likely also saying, “Why am I still so stressed?!” While there are imperative physiological processes that occur during sleep, our minds also require rest during waking hours.
Fun fact: An article in Scientific American states that downtime replenishes the brain’s stores of attention and motivation, encourages productivity and creativity, and is essential to achieve our highest levels of performance and form stable memories in everyday life.
Unfortunately, as sleep deprivation and restlessness (or any other bad habit) becomes chronic, the negative effects increase while our awareness of the problem diminishes.
No longer are we talking about temporary mood swings or tired muscles. Our busy schedules, and consequently fatigued minds, are proving to increase our risk of long-term health effects… we’re talking diabetes, heart disease, and depression just to name a few.
We have become chronically busy.
If we aren’t running errands, running late, checking our emails, or checking off our never-ending to do lists, we are drumming up new ones. Gone are the youthful days of “frolicking”, “meandering”, or just fully “immersing” ourselves in the awe of all that is happening around us… freeing our minds!
No, by happenings I don’t mean the activities our kids are doing, or the annoying driver next to us on the way to work. I mean everything that is not about us…. the sun peaking through a cluster of branches, or the birds calling to each other as daylight settles. We are so busy thinking about ourselves, our thoughts, and our feelings about others, we don’t take the time to open our minds and connect with nature and the beauty that surrounds us.
Photo by Jan Huber
We are constantly distracted, and convince ourselves there’s never enough time in the day. Well, there never will be if we try to do everything. The more we buy, the more we have to organize and clean. The more we dress up our hair, nails, or belongings, the more upkeep that’s required. And the more we sign up for and say yes to, the less time we have for all of these things. There’s nothing wrong with doing any of that, but it’s all about balance.
Give yourself a break!
Press the internal pause button. We know that when we’re stuck on a problem or can’t focus, stepping away and coming back with a fresh set of eyes can help. Studies are finding that taking more frequent breaks at work actually increases productivity as well. So why do so many of us attribute taking a break to being lazy, weak, or a failure? In effect, it’s quite the opposite!
Give yourself the time to divert from your usual preoccupations, and just be in the moment. This act has proven to have lasting physical and mental health benefits. For those familiar with the increasingly popular buzzword, yes, we’re talking mindfulness.
Photo by Keegan Houser
You don’t have to change your personal beliefs, or start doing yoga and deep meditation to reap the benefits of this exceptional healing practice (although the latter gives an extra boost!). Mindfulness, while rooted in Buddhist philosophy, speaks to the masses.
It’s not a mere coincidence that centuries-old traditions such as this have creeped into modern society as of late. The fast-paced world we’ve created is filled with ever-increasing information, and we find ourselves more stressed and out of balance than ever.
Mindfulness practice has shown to relieve depression and anxiety, improve sleep, reduce blood pressure, and counteract many other chronic health conditions. It’s time we take some time back for ourselves.
“The mind is everything. What you think you become.”
Buddha
CARPE DIEM CONNECTION~ Take a breather... literally! Take a few moments to focus on your breath and relax your mind and body. Pay attention to the way your chest rises and falls, and count the seconds as the air enters and leaves your body. This is a great exercise to do right before a big presentation or other anxious event. You can try this as you unplug and go for a walk, or really just anytime to give your mind a rest. You can also try other techniques that fit right into your daily activities... Next time you're showering, watch the water as it bounces on the walls. When you pour your morning coffee, take a moment to smell the aroma and watch the steam rise from your cup. When you're washing the dishes, clear your mind as you follow the forming and popping of bubbles, and feel the warmth on your hands.
However you decide to practice mindfulness, take focus on the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and feelings around you. Your mind may wander, and that’s ok. Allow your thoughts to come and go without judgement, and slowly bring yourself back to the practice.
In addition to improved health, this process of acceptance will over time begin to boost your self esteem and assist you down the road in dealing with adversity. While you may not remember to practice every day, every bit helps. As they say, there’s no better time than the present, so start today and free your mind!
Jenni has a background in the arts and sciences, and has spent years exploring various forms of meditation, alternative medicines, and cultural symbolism. Jenni has been helping friends and neighbors to better align their living spaces with balance and harmony, and would love to help you too!
Learn more about Jenni on her full bio here, or connect with her via Facebook (jennifer.snow.58), Instagram (snowjs), or LinkedIn.
- Elevate Your Week! - April 16, 2021
- Breaking Barriers - April 8, 2021
- Elevate Your Week! - April 2, 2021