“When you’ve seen beyond yourself, then you may find, peace of mind is waiting there.” – George Harrison
If you’re distracted by all that’s going on in your life and yearn for a little respite, some peace of mind that you can bathe in, there’s one thing you can do, that each person can do: get outside yourself. It’s not as easy as it sounds. How do you get outside yourself, put some distance between you and your ever-present concerns? Here are five tips that may prove helpful:
1. Schedule some time for yourself that doesn’t involve work.
With so many people multi-tasking today, it’s a wonder there aren’t more accidents, missed appointments, botched assignments and burnt meals. The human mind cannot adequately focus on two things at once. This goes as much for driving and texting as it does anything else. Yet, far too many people think they’re more capable than the next guy, that they can do it all simultaneously.
Multi-tasking, besides being potentially hazardous to your health and the health of others around you, fills your head with too much information, leading to overload, stress, fatigue and a distinct sense of overwhelm.
The quick remedy is to pencil in some personal time to do what you want to do, if it doesn’t involve work. It doesn’t matter what you wind up doing, only that it is some activity that makes you feel good, removes you from all the responsibilities and tasks you’ve been overwhelmed by, and gives you the time you need to recharge and rejuvenate.
2. Learn to say no.
The word no is one of the most powerful in human language. Saying no frees you up to do other things, more meaningful things, tending to what’s on your agenda, not someone else’s. This is vitally important, since taking on too much at the request of others or imposing more work on yourself is guaranteed to backfire. For one thing, there are only so many hours in the day. Secondly, there’s a limit to how much you can do nonstop, both physically and mentally, not to mention emotionally.
By saying no, you’ll be establishing self-control and some necessary boundaries. If you desire peace of mind, get some backbone and find the courage to say no.
3. Don’t wait until the end of the day to do what needs to be done.
You know the feeling of rushing to cram tasks in as the day nears a close. Whether at work, home, school or elsewhere, when you put something off until the end of the day, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment, not to mention a sour look from the boss, loved one, teacher, family member or friend. Relieving some of the pressure you put on yourself must begin with tending to business in a timely manner. Whether it’s a work or school project or duties in the home, even social obligations you’ve accepted, putting off until later is not recommended. Get an early start on what you need to do. That way you won’t feel pressured and rushed. You’ll also be more inclined to feel good about taking some time for yourself after your work is done.
4. Put yourself in someone else’s shoes.
When you try to see life as someone else does, things look quite a bit different. You may come away from this exercise with a better appreciation of what you have in your own life to be grateful for. If you can provide some assistance to a person who needs it without being asked, this act of selflessness and generosity will add to your peace of mind.
5. Establish a network of faithful friends.
When you take the time to be with people you enjoy spending time with, life seems better. How simple a solution, yet it’s also too easy to say you don’t have the time for such interaction. Consider the benefits of being with good friends, as opposed to acquaintances. It’s less tumultuous, stressful and obligatory and more fun, genuine and restorative. What better way to find peace of mind than to establish a network of faithful friends — and then do things with them?
Source: psychcenteral
