Not Enough Time? Here’s One More Thing To Do….

We are stressed.  We are overworked.  We can’t possibly squeeze any more into our day.  We are at maximum capacity.  I know all of this, but I care about you so much that I’m going to ask you to do just one more thing…

Not just one more random thing.  I’m going to ask you to do something that may make a difference to your day.  Your sanity.  Your stress.

Yes, I’m going to suggest that the way to make more time is to add one more thing to your already hectic, busy life.  You may look at me like I’m a monster, you may have feelings of anger, even rage rise up.  You may want me to just shut my mouth…and shut it now.  But I am not going to do that.  Instead I’m going to tell you the ways this one thing (that may take you five to ten minutes a day) may be the best thing you ever decided to add to your schedule.  

So just sit back and quickly skim the following list…I will tell you what the one thing is at the end of the blog…I promise!

Adding this one thing to your day can help to…

-Reduce stress

-Reduce chronic pain

-Reduce some symptoms of depression

-Reduce insomnia

-Reduce emotional outbursts

-Increase awareness of the present moment

-Increase energy

-Increase gratitude

-Increase compassion to yourself and others

This list is far from complete but should suggest that what I’m about to reveal could have significant impacts to your health, well-being and lifestyle.  

The one thing that may produce these benefits is…

Adding a five to ten minute sitting mindfulness practice to your day.  

Mindfulness is simply bringing awareness to the present moment, without judgement.  What this could mean for your daily routine is that for five to ten minutes each day, you either sit in quiet focusing on your breath or the sounds you hear.  You could even do a guided mindfulness practice or listen to quiet, soothing music.  The main idea is that for five to ten minutes per day, you create space in your schedule for quiet, solitude and not doing.  Your mind may want to whisk you to planning mode, but every time you get swept away, come back to sitting and being right where you are.  This is it.  This is the thing.

Click here for more information about the benefits of mindfulness from Teaching Well.

Most actions can become habits if they are done for about 21 days.  So why not try it?  See if you can carve out a brief five to ten minutes in your day to try this one thing that could potentially change your life.  If you don’t know where you can possibly find time, check out this post for some more suggestions.  

So, I know I’m asking you to do one more thing, but I have complete confidence that this one thing will be so worth it-to your health, well-being, stress level and overall quality of life.

Try it and let me know how adding this one more thing has worked in your life.