Stress.
In a prior life, let’s call it pre-pandemic, many would be hard pressed not to have heard the words ‘I’m so stressed,’ uttered from the mouth of you or someone that you know as you/they went about the daily business of ticking tasks off the ‘to-do’ list and fulfilling obligations and commitments.
Life could get busy right?
Then the world as we knew it changed, we were presented with different challenges as many of us were now required to take on new roles and adapt to change such as working/schooling from home, physically distancing from friends and family, trying to make sense of it all whilst simultaneously scouring empty shelves for hand sanitiser and loo roll!
That’s the thing about life, whether it was in the so called ‘normal’ or the ‘new normal,’ it always has and always will present hurdles to maintaining our equilibrium and keeping our centre, as different challenges (some stranger than others), come knocking at our door!
Of course life has changed immensely for many people over the last few months, for anyone who has struggled or been deeply affected by anything that may have happened as a result of the unprecedented circumstances, may you discover what will best support you in this moment.
This post is for you if you’ve managed to make it this far relatively unscathed and are open to taking some simple steps that may make your life a little less ‘stressy’ and a lot more calm, whatever the future holds. They’re so simple that you can commit today to begin cultivating some new habits to combat stress and build greater equilibrium in your life.
Hands up if you’re one of the many who doesn’t take regular breaks in the day?
Pushing through to get whatever needs to be completed, completed and then wondering why you feel depleted!!! Do yourself a favour and give yourself permission to take a break, before you reach breaking point.
When you take that break, make it a mindful one! Next time you stop to make a drink, practice really engaging all of your senses in the process. Try smelling the coffee, listen to the sound of the teaspoon, look at the pattern the milk makes as it starts to blend, notice how the warmth of the cup transfers to your hand…..you get the idea!
2. NOTICE YOUR SURROUNDINGS
Wherever you are, whether that be working in a space at home, walking outside, or in the socially distanced supermarket queue…… stop and notice your surroundings. As you pause, look around you and pay attention to where you are, invite your senses to delight in colours, sounds and scents. Of course, if you can get outside and pay attention to your surroundings there, even better!
Even if you can’t go outside, the moment of awareness brought about by noticing what’s around you will still support the cultivation of a greater sense of presence in your life.
3. TAKE IN THE GOOD
With so many things demanding our attention and ‘needing to get done,’ it can be tempting to get busy and bury our heads in the trenches until we reach the finishing line. Whilst clearly there is a need to be able to focus, a life focused on tasks and tasks alone, can lead to feelings of overwhelm and narrow our experience of the breadth and variety of life that keeps our mind, body and spirit in harmony. A balanced life which contains enough stress to get us up and out of bed in the morning and also contains moments of joy, juiciness and peace builds resilience and consistent levels of energy.
The Psychologist Dr Rick Hanson writes frequently about the benefits of ‘taking in the good,’ which can be described as the practice of actively seeking out little gems to treasure throughout the day! This could be the smile that the sales assistant gave you that made your shopping experience that little bit more enjoyable, the fluffy clouds you were mesmerised by when you popped outside and cast your eyes up to the sky or the moment you were driving along and your favourite song played on the radio! Really lean into these moments, absorb the feelings and sensations that arise from the ‘good stuff’ you encounter.
Certainly there is nothing to lose from engaging with a little treasure hunt action – enjoy your findings and feel free to share what you notice in the comments, it may help others to fill their own personal treasure chest too!
The Midlife Mash Up 