Sometimes one must take a moment, for it is your right. This is what I recommend when I counsel my direct reports.
In the hustle and bustle of life, moments of clarity are necessary to help rejuvenate one toward their purpose. Life’s demands can sometimes get overwhelming. Parents dealing with busy schedules must not only care for their children at home but also face the challenges of school and daycare schedules. Social media influencers can get overwhelmed with the demands of sharing content with their followers while also growing their business. Single parents must be conscious of covering the roles of a mother and a father in their efforts of raising a child.
So, regardless of position, one can get overwhelmed by the demands that life presents. Therefore, taking a moment is imperative to regain and refocus energy toward meeting life’s demands.
What is taking a moment? Taking a moment is what I call “a time to relax, be thankful and enjoy the fruits of one’s labor.”
We all need it and should not think otherwise. I am reminded of the old proverb “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” which means with working all the time one has no opportunity to enjoy anything but is bored and boring.
I want to add that one can potentially be stressed from too much work. When all our energy is used for work and not on actions that we genuinely love we could eventually feel overwhelmed and stressed. Therefore, it is important to adopt strategies that help us release that pent-up energy.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major effect on the lives of many causing an increase in stress. In fact, the American Psychological Association reports that parents with children under 18 were more likely than parents without children to say that day-to-day decisions and major decisions were more stressful as compared to pre-pandemic.
Accepting that stress will be a part of our lives is a major step in the direction of healing. Whether now or later in life one is sure to encounter a life challenge that will cause a fight or flight reaction. It is here, where one must mentally decide what path to take. The choice can be stressful, but it does not have to be.
Adopting a plan to help manage stress is key and utilizing one or two strategies will make all the difference.
One such strategy is to take a moment to breathe and settle down. In most stressful situations there is a fight or flight reaction in which we want to either put up our dukes and fight or put on our running shoes and skedaddle. Mentally there is a buildup of tension or an emotional strain that gives way to this physical reaction. Controlled breathing techniques can help regulate heart rate and calm the mind from being overexcited.
I personally use this strategy. I also utilize a fitness tracker that is equipped with a 2-minute breathing drill to help me relax and refocus on what is important throughout the busy workday. It is all about taking a moment to settle down, refocus, and be thankful. The investment is well worth it, especially when compared to the rising cost of health care.
What strategy do you employ in your stress management plan? Comments welcomed.
