In considering how stressed you feel, one influencing factor is the degree of your synchrony with nature. Part of the cause of stress is getting out of harmony with your natural rhythmns. It is true that you have many things to do in any day. It is true also that how you manage your time, energy, and resources, is critical to your success and well being. However, it is easy to become obsessed with time management. You will benefit from reading the excerpt below from our recently published book ("I Can't Take It Anymore: How to Manage Stress So It Doesn't Manage You", Paul G. Longobardi, Ph.D., and Janice B. Longobardi, R.N., P.H.N.). The book is available at https://www.amazon.com/dp/1542458056 and if you want to read more about the book and authors you can do so at www.manageyourhealthandstress.com.
For now, see below for the excerpt from the chapter on managing your time and resources:
We are not speaking here of traditional time management with to-do lists and other tools. Rather, we are speaking of how we get ourselves into synchrony with nature. To do this, you must manage your time well each day, both for efficiency and for the synchronicity which leads to stress reduction. In doing so, it may be useful to recognize Deepak Chopra and Oprah Winfrey's meditation series where they cite Dr. Daniel Siegel's ways of using time to support our wellbeing and inner growth.
The seven ways they discuss are as follows:
1. Sleep time. Get a full night's restful sleep. More mistakes, accidents, and angry interpersonal exchanges occur for people who are fatigued. As attributed to famous football coach, Vince Lombardi, "Fatigue makes cowards of all of us."
2. Physical time. Take time to move and let your body be active. Our bodies are meant for movement. If you are feeling lethargic, inefficient, or are in "brain fog" over something, get up and take a short walk, at least. Better yet, develop a regular exercise regimen. Physical exercise is known to enhance feelings of wellbeing and good mental health.
3. Focus time. Be alone for a while to concentrate on what matters to you. In a world in which we are bombarded with information, cell phones, emails, etc., take the time to focus on a particular task. Stay with it until you have reached a break point. Resist the urge to be distracted by other tasks, people, or intrusions.
4. Time in. Take time for meditation, prayer, self-reflection, progressive muscle relaxation with imagery, and proper breathing as discussed in the next chapter. It will help you relax, achieve a more focused and centered inner state, and be more productive when you return to work activities.
5. Time out. Set aside time to simply be here and rest. Enough said about this one.
6. Play time. Set aside time to have fun and enjoy yourself. It is only too easy to become overinvolved with the tasks of living and fail to stop and enjoy your life. Even in small ways, whether it be to take a walk, enjoy a sunset, read part of a book, or whatever is enjoyable to you, make some time to enjoy each day. We have treated too many depressed patients who fail to do this step.
7. Connecting time. Set aside private time between you and those you love and for whom you care. It almost goes without saying that we are social beings. As such, the joy of enjoying the company of others with whom you are close improves physical and mental wellbeing.
So use these ideas and get more in harmony with nature and those around you. It will help you maintain your wellbeing with far less stress. Good luck on your journey. Remember that the book is available at https://www.amazon.com/dp/1542458056. If you would like to read more about the book and the authors, go to www.manageyourhealthandstress.com.
Dr. Paul Longobardi
For information on these and related topics, please see my website at www.successandmindset.com