TIME TO BREATHE
– By Calah Brooks
M y neighbour Gerald has been in a go-go state of mind for
the past few months, preparing and then finally moving in to
a new living space. He told me once the move happened, his
busy-ness would subside and he looked forward to slowing
down. However, now that he is in the new building, he says
he’s “never been busier, there are so many things to do, daily
activities, and it’s overwhelming!”
We’re told that the busy bee gets the nectar and that when
you want something done, to ask a busy person – but is
there a point when we max out our to-do lists and affect our
quality of life?
“It is important to involve yourself in activities to stay
connected to other people and explore new areas,” says
Catherine Bakker, Burlington Personal and Marriage
Counsellor. However, she cautions that “anxiety can result if
you’re overwhelmed with routines like work and commitments,
and not setting aside enough down time to read and/or reflect.”
“You can’t live a positive life
with a negative mind.”
“A lot of people like to garden and do their hobbies, but
activities can become all-consuming and they forget to take
time for self,” says Catherine. “It’s important to not overbook
and have ‘ME-time’ through the week.”
The busy-ness can become the fast-food that feeds your life.
Convenience has replaced nutrition, normalizing our visits
to fast-food drive-through at the expense of slow cooked and
natural ingredients. The same way that junk food makes you
crave it, being busy increases your need for being busier and
can make you feel anxious if your schedule isn’t jam-packed
(no pun intended)!
Mary Bridgemen shared she was glad that she had taken the
day off, when her grandson had dropped in unannounced to
introduce his new girlfriend. “I was happy to be home and
check her out,” she laughed. When we’re too busy, we miss out
on the spontaneity, the surprise visits. When your calendar
is too full there isn’t time for spontaneity and you can begin
relating to people in terms of the “value” of the time you
“spend” with the other individual. Often times, spontaneity
in a relationship is the spice that makes the connection, and
an unexpected memory.
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We don’t see the warning signs that we need to get off the
busy ride and slow down, allowing ourselves TIME. Catherine
recommends structuring your time for work and for staying
involved with friends and family, while ensuring that you add
me-time in your weekly plans.
Mindfulness is available to us in every moment, whether
through meditation or mindful moment practices, like taking
a few minutes in your day to pause and breathe deeply. Self-
care by taking a restful bath, going for a leisurely walk, or in
the form of a natural therapy like Reiki, can allow for me-time
and result in improved health.•
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