The last five or so years has brought about a revolution in the way society views mental health. We take care of our bodies, we should also take care of our brains. As Martha Stewart would say, "It's a good thing."
The difficulty arises, I believe, when there is so much emphasis all at once that instead of it being a "good thing" it becomes another task. The pressure of adding ANOTHER thing to the "to do" list that feels overly complicated and unrealistically time consuming. And if you don't get it checked off that list, it becomes a source of shame.
"What, you didn't spend 30 minutes in mindful meditation? What's wrong with you?" It's called a freaking LIFE!
On the flip side, taking a moment to calm the brain, focus on relaxation, contemplation, the spiritual, these are all good and important for us. If you don't you will eventually crack - or at least hit SERIOUS burnout. (just trust me here 😬)
So what's a a ridiculously busy American (because we're obsessed with "busy") to do? I go back to my journalism classes - KISS. Keep It Short and Simple. (or my version Keep it Simple and Stupid)
Where I worked previously there was a very stressed staff and as a result a huge focus on mindfulness. The HR department would send out suggested activities or have mindfulness moments in staff meetings. It drove me crazy and made my blood pressure go UP! Sitting and breathing and thinking made my anxiety worse. I need to move or have external stimuli if I'm doing that.
So here is what I decided to try:
First - It's all about YOU! I cannot emphasize this enough. What makes your brain relax? Meditation? Exercise? Walking? Talking to your best friend? Therapy? Music? Playing Music? Reading? Study? Shopping at Target? (I got you!) Do you need to hide from people or be around them to recharge? When do you feel the most refreshed? Is it something you can duplicate on a small scale? That's your activity.
Second - I WILL...... It's not, I will try - because trying is failing with flair and commitments to ourselves are important. Make an "I will" statement. I will spend 5 minutes everyday doing _______ without interruption. Keep it very short when you begin. The goal is to set yourself up for success and get a dopamine boost. (Mmmm, dopamine) If you can manage five minutes of YOU time then maybe you can find 10 or 20. But start small. I believe this is especially important for those of you with young children. That five minutes may be sitting in silence on the bathroom floor, and that's okay! At least you had that moment.
That's it! You can do it!
The reality is when we are burned out, tired out, and stressed out, we are not functional people. At least I know I am not. The time we take - call it Brain Time - to refresh and recharge makes us better partners, parents, employees, friends, just better humans.
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| Seriously, it's hilarious! |
It's just a thought....
Post Script: If you made it this far you may be wondering what I'm doing these days. Walking. I walk a one mile loop with the dog and then he is put back in the house and I walk a second mile alone. That is when I process, think, look inward. I figured out I can't do that if the dog is with me, so he gets a shorter walk. And we're both happy. 😁
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