Believe it or not, it is common for clients to post pone appointments claiming they “just can’t relax right now”. They’ll state that they’ve “got too much on their plate”…”can’t focus right now” or “don’t have time”.
You don’t have time, not to take time.
There are a couple of things at work here. Firstly, there is an assumption that stress is directly correlated with what needs to get done. AKA that the only way to feel less stressed out is to plow through the to do list; that what’s on your plate is what’s on your plate and their isn’t much you can do about it, so you might as well just suck it up.
The other underlying assumption is that taking the time to unwind and re-group is just another thing to add to the to do list.
Small shifts can have huge consequences
The truth is that feeling overwhelmed and stressed out is heavily influenced by everything from your brain chemistry, to your system of thought, your social landscape and your energy levels. Shifting any number of these factors, can quickly change your reality and allow you to engage from a place of calm ease rather than hurried dis-ease. When you take the time to support your physical, mental and emotional health, things get done better, more thoroughly and faster.
What is Stress?
The word stress has a bit of a bad rap. Stress is in reality a part of every moment of your life. It is what you experience as you adapt to ever changing psychological, physical and social landscapes. Its the increase in heart rate that comes from the heightened oxygen demand of going up stairs. It’s the mental energy needed to figure out the tip or talk with someone at a party. Stress is a fact of life.
It’s only when we resist what is, in favor of what could have been or become fearful of, or attached to, what might be, that stress turns into overwhelm and anxiety…AKA the feeling of being stressed-out. When we dwell in the future or past and neglect what is needed here and now, things start to fall apart.
The upside of being self-centered
You can only do what you can do…and the most important part of what you need to do, is take care of yourself. When you are not in a good place, everyone and everything around you suffers. Knowing when to slow down, get centered and nourish yourself allows you to do what you do more effectively…to everyone’s benefit. By taking care of your needs first you are actually supporting your co-workers, your partners and your kids. Looking out for number one allows you to make more money, be more helpful and share more resources.
Getting out of your own way
When you are feeling fatigued, conversations are more apt to be infused with irritability. If you eat crap, your brain does not have what it needs to focus on the task at hand. If you are stuck in stagnant thoughts about how screwed up it was yesterday or worrying about tomorrow, you are going to miss the opportunity that presents itself today.
Whenever you are consistently stressed-out… you are doing more harm than good. So when you notice yourself getting frantic and feeling overwhelmed stop and take even a small amount of time to relax into a more grounded way of being. It is the best investment you can make towards effectively getting to where you and your loved ones need to go.