Stress has become commonplace in our households over the past month or so, even for those who typically function in a relaxed manner. When life sends us into a whirlwind, how do you deal with those aggravations? There is a myriad of ways—both good and bad.
People with addictive-ridden lifestyles often use substances to “cope” with stressful situations they’ve encountered. But there are other—healthier—ways to cope with stress.
Maybe you’re normally a busy parent like me, and there never seems to be enough time in the day to get everything done! I’m forever multi-tasking so I don’t waste a minute. When we were in pre-coronavirus days I often ordered diapers on a phone app. while sitting in the school pick-up lane. I would check email while waiting in any line, and make my grocery list while waiting at the doctor’s office.
Sure, multi-tasking like this is efficient, but the lack of downtime lends itself to a very frazzled feeling by the end of the day. Can you relate to this kind of crazy-busy routine throughout your days?
The busyness mindset (that we soon will return to) can cause us to be so consumed with doing that we don’t leave ourselves time to just be still.
Consider this option for future frantic days
Mindfulness is a way to slow down the daily race and get out of the “autopilot” mode in which we often find ourselves. Mindful living is being talked about more often these days, but many people still don’t have a clear picture of what it is or how to utilize it.
Jon Kabat-Zinn, Professor Emeritus of Medicine and creator of the Stress Reduction Clinic and Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, defines mindfulness as “paying attention with purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally.” In a nutshell, it means taking time away from doing for more being.
We can think of mindfulness as stillness. We see this mentioned throughout the Bible. Some of my favorite scriptures refer to this kind of quietness in human nature as well as the outdoors, such as: “Be still and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10) and “He leads me beside still waters” (Ps. 23:2). These verses remind us there is value in stillness and in productivity.
Mindful stillness and meditation aren’t easy in our fast-paced culture. It takes practice and intentionality to make this a personal habit. Some ways I like to do this include turning off the radio in my car while driving, or repeating a calming word such as “peace,” or taking a short break from my work to focus on slower breathing. It’s also helpful for me to meditate on one specific Bible verse as I go through my day.
Are any of these lifestyle changes possible for you to fit into your day? Many times, it is a sacrifice to take time out of your normal schedule to focus on just being, but you will find it enhances your routine of doing just as much!