Do you think that the price we pay for the complexity of life is too high?
By Willowlady
@Willowlady (10658)
United States
April 5, 2007 7:26pm CST
Most of us could use some help managing our busy, often-hectic lives. If your stress levels are rising and your to-do lists are getting longer and longer, here are some sweet and simple tips can help you to take a deep breath. Serenity can blossom in you when you feel more relaxed, one of the hallmarks of real inner beauty or handsomeness.
Try to do only what you are doing, be only where you are! Even if you don’t meditate, you can practice this as it is one of meditation’s most valuable lessons.
Keep idle or downtime sacred and do not feel guilty about it
Find some quiet time to think . . . about where you are in life, about your goals, any disappointments, and so on. Although it requires thought insight can be very curative and energizing.
Be sure to not do any exercising too close to bedtime. It can be too stimulating and interfere with your ability to fall sleep
Try a glass of arm milk is a natural tranquilizer since the calcium can help you relax. Try a glass at night before you go to bed
This one is almost a requirement! Take a Sunday afternoon nap
Drop any overtime and out of any one committee that you are on or evening meeting and dedicate that time to family activities
Take a five minute break to relax your back, neck, and facial muscles.
Stop and think about what you enjoy that’s readily accessible.
Remember: you just might have more control over your time than you think and this could help you to enter into spring with a new zest for life.
6 people like this
9 responses
@steelmoggy (410)
•
7 Apr 07
Excellent advice there - one of the best things I ever started doing was to take regular, afternoon naps. Half of the time we get ourselves too tired to think straight, or too wired and stressed to think calmly.
I too meditate every day - either at home or in Church.
One thing I would add is to write yourself a personal mission statement - a statement of what matters to you, a list to help provide the moral and ethical compass guiding your life. I did this a few years ago and it's helped me a lot. I keep a copy with me and when I encounter a new and potentially stressful situation I get the statement out and think about how the problem is answered by my Misison Statement.
Doing this helps me look at the problem with a clear eye - the statement is all about principles, and was written in calm, quiet, surroundings. It's not driven by what needs doing now, but by what I should be doing.
I've found it an amazingly useful thing to have. I occasionally 'tweak' it a little - I recently realised that a couple of things in my Statement were actually saying them same thing in different ways - but it's a valuable thing to have.
2 people like this
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
8 Apr 07
I can appreciate this response on a couple of levels. Honored for you to share it here and I thank you for responding to this discussion.
1 person likes this
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
8 Apr 07
Am so glad I could offer you something. I hope for balance in your life. The support in this discussion is urging me on to post more new stuff. Thanks so much for responding.
1 person likes this
@dana234 (2114)
• Spain
7 Apr 07
Some very helpful tips, willowlady. I never exercise before bedtime, I do a bit of Yoga instead. It relaxes the mind and body and helps to combat insomnia.
Thanks for the reminder of calcium as a natural tranquilizer. I will drink a glass of soy milk (allergic to lactose) before I go to bed.
A very good discussion.
+++
Dana
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
6 Apr 07
These are really great exercises to use. It is amazing to see how we are all about the NOW in life and very little take time to relax. Usually even when we go on vacation it's rush here rush there and we come back more exhausted than when we left. I hope when I have children that we have family game nights, and family dinners. I think all these things and more are so important - especially these days.
1 person likes this
@AskAlly (3625)
• Canada
7 Apr 07
Truer words were never spoken Willowlady. I think that if we set different priorities in our lives, say like family first, we would truly benefit. Sharing the days experiences and doing activities together is great carefree time for the whole family.
For myself I like to take my dogs and go for a long horseback ride. That's my alone time.
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
6 Apr 07
This is some wonderful advice. I think we all are over stressed these days. Life seems to be so hectic these days and gettting worse. Taking some time to relax and enjoy life seems to be harder and harder.
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
6 Apr 07
Thank you for being the first to welcome me back to posting discussions. I have been avoiding it since censorship was so bad recently. It seemed right to post this discussion first since I also need this advice. Thanks for responding.
1 person likes this
@margieanneart (26423)
• United States
8 Apr 07
You always have such wisdom to share with us all. Thank you for your caring and thoughtful ways. You got another + rating sugar. Have a great day.
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
8 Apr 07
You are welcome my friend, appreciate the rating greatly since I am a 9. All help is welcome. Thanks for responding.
@bluewings (3857)
•
6 Apr 07
Thanks for the tips,Willowlady! I try to avoid exercising before I go to sleep for the reasons you mentioned.I used to meditate at one point ,but haven't done that since years.It would be nice to have some quiet moments everyday for introspection and where I am going.I'd definitely try out your suggestions.
@Melody1 (967)
• India
7 Apr 07
Golden advice willowlady.Would try to follow atleast a few of them.Easily accessibe recreation is one of them.Also is dedicating time to family activities.Thanks
