In our contemporary culture, we live in a constant state of overstimulation. All day, every day we are receiving tweets, texts, Instagrams, Facebook updates, emails, instant messages…and on and on…not to mention the background noise of old-fashioned media, like radio, TV, and even billboards along the highway. Information is constantly being hurled at us, so it’s hardly surprising that many of us feel stressed and anxious most of the time. We are on input overload since we are always “on” and processing a steady influx of information. And none of this is going away anytime soon. In fact, with new technology like Google Glass, we are going to be even more plugged in, more of the time. Our world may soon resemble that of Tom Cruise’s character, John Anderton, in the movie Minority Report, where we are continually fed customized advertising as we walk down the street. How to cope in such a stressful environment?!
Here are some tips that can help you carve out some quiet time. Even the most extroverted among us can benefit from a break from all the chatter. Easier said than done? Maybe. But here are some spaces in your day that might provide you a blissful moment of peace and quiet.
1) Try your daily commute in silence. Turn off the radio. Mute the phone. Take out the earbuds. Instead of having your focus divided, pay attention to the scene around you. The commute will be much less stressful if you take it as an opportunity to enjoy the things around you rather than stress about your day.
2) Take a walk at lunchtime. Rather than grabbing a quick bite at your desk. Get your lunch and head outside. Find a comfortable spot, then sit down and actually pay attention to what you’re eating. Enjoy your lunch instead of gulping it down between texts.
3) Designate an evening “time out.” After you’re home from all your daily activities and you’ve had your evening meal, take a break. Instead of turning on the TV, go outside and enjoy your neighborhood, take a relaxing walk, or simply sit quietly and relax, without giving a thought to what you “should” be doing.
4) Find time for meditation. Meditation can seem daunting at first because it’s so hard to shut down our active brains. Try it for 10-15 minutes at first to simply rest your mind and draw your attention to stillness. Burn some scented candles or incense and simply enjoy some unstructured time when you’re not focused on to-do lists, problems, and plans.
Any one of these activities can help you ease your stress and find a little peace in your day!
If you’d like to learn more about Meditation, join me for my Mindfulness and Meditation series, every Wednesday evening (6:30-8:00) from May 28th to June 18th. Follow this link for more information!
Here are some tips that can help you carve out some quiet time. Even the most extroverted among us can benefit from a break from all the chatter. Easier said than done? Maybe. But here are some spaces in your day that might provide you a blissful moment of peace and quiet.
1) Try your daily commute in silence. Turn off the radio. Mute the phone. Take out the earbuds. Instead of having your focus divided, pay attention to the scene around you. The commute will be much less stressful if you take it as an opportunity to enjoy the things around you rather than stress about your day.
2) Take a walk at lunchtime. Rather than grabbing a quick bite at your desk. Get your lunch and head outside. Find a comfortable spot, then sit down and actually pay attention to what you’re eating. Enjoy your lunch instead of gulping it down between texts.
3) Designate an evening “time out.” After you’re home from all your daily activities and you’ve had your evening meal, take a break. Instead of turning on the TV, go outside and enjoy your neighborhood, take a relaxing walk, or simply sit quietly and relax, without giving a thought to what you “should” be doing.
4) Find time for meditation. Meditation can seem daunting at first because it’s so hard to shut down our active brains. Try it for 10-15 minutes at first to simply rest your mind and draw your attention to stillness. Burn some scented candles or incense and simply enjoy some unstructured time when you’re not focused on to-do lists, problems, and plans.
Any one of these activities can help you ease your stress and find a little peace in your day!
If you’d like to learn more about Meditation, join me for my Mindfulness and Meditation series, every Wednesday evening (6:30-8:00) from May 28th to June 18th. Follow this link for more information!
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