Whole Living Today

“Even the most relaxed and mindful person can feel stressed by the demands of everyday life: work deadlines, family pressures, personal commitments, and unexpected crises that seem to arise inevitable at the worst possible times. One solution is to excuse yourself from as many responsibilities as possible for twenty-four hours. Call it a “mental health” day or a “time out.” Make sure you don’t waste this mini-break, however. Advance planning will help you get the most out of your brief escape from the pressures of modern life. Some suggestions:

• Seek and enjoy silence and solitude. Spend time in nature, sit in meditation, take a walk, or indulge in a sauna or hot tub soak [or bath]. Resist the telephone, computer, and TV.
• Give time to what you love most: family, spouse, a hobby, exercise, or anything that give you pleasure and feels neglected.
• Do one thing at a time, and give it your undivided attention. Multitasking makes it hard to enjoy any of the several activities you are juggling. It also tends to drain energy and increase stress.
• Avoid some decisions. Let others decide what to eat, where to go, and how to interact. This is particularly important for those of us who ordinarily make lots of decisions.
• Avoid clocks and do something that’s so absorbing that you lose track of time.
• If you can’t sit still, get rid of clutter. Extra and unwanted things take up space and absorb our energy because they take time to organize and maintain. You’ll feel lighter if you get rid of only ten things you know you are unlikely to ever use again.
• Make a list of what’s important to you, then reflect on how many of these things you are actually getting at present. If you want more of life’s rewards, zero in on ways to get them.”

From: Stillness: Daily Gifts of Solitude by Richard Mahler

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