Many of us, myself included, don’t seem to live in the present anymore. That’s because we never fully engage in a given moment because we’re always in a hurry to move on to something else.
We live in a state of constant overdrive, careening about with pulse-racing dimension. We have a restless energy bubbling inside us, making it difficult to pull the plug and just vegetate.
Consequently, we skim along the surface of life. We exist in the topsoil of life and never seem to have the time to get to the root of the matter. I guess we’re all prisoners of our hyperkinetic existence.
There is a scalding sadness to being perpetually under the gun. Our never-ending mythic adventures have us in dire need of a mental relief convoy.
People with busy, stressful lives have the ingrained mindset that they must conquer the day. Indeed, a little bit of stress is actually good for you. That adrenaline rush can power you through a long day at work, boost your workouts and more.
But unrelenting stress does a number on us. While it may feel good to conquer the day, in the end it just simply feels better – and is more beneficial to your health – to relax.
Some would argue that stress is our biggest health concern, given that it has been linked to many other complications, from heart problems to dementia.
Relaxation counters the damage stress inflicts on our bodies.
The laundry list of relaxation’s health benefits is eye-popping in dimension.
Relaxing protects your heart, lowers your risk of catching a cold, boosts your memory, lowers your stroke risk, keeps you safe from depression, keeps you slim (stress is a notorious culprit in reducing our resistance to caloric-infested comfort food) and enhances your libido.
Do yourself a huge favor. Push the pause button on your life from time to time. Enjoy your family. Experience some serious jubilation. Savor some serious reflection. Watch the leaves fall or squirrels scurry up trees. Meditate. Stand on your head. Do whatever restores your body and renews your spirit.
We discipline young children with time outs. But for adults who try to jam 36 hours into every day, time outs soothe the mind, body and soul. You’d be surprised how the occasional break from the daily helter-skelter grind recharges you.
A healthier you then can hit the fast-forward button on life with replenished gusto.
