Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
The Christmas and holiday season are a wonderful time of the year. But with the joy comes the stress of the increased schedule at work and at home. Let’s face facts. If you feel pressured all the time you can’t enjoy your life. The world won’t change but you can adjust your thinking and activities to make life much easier and effect change around you.
Learn to say no. Don’t over crowd your schedule. When you learn to say no in particular situations you will understand it is easier to say no than to be overburdened with tasks that are pushing you over the edge. Saying no at the right time makes you a good friend, not only to other people, but to yourself as well. I am not suggesting that you say no to a suggestion or invitation just to be mean spirited. Rather, examine each event with an eye to how you will feel about it and if it is really something that you will enjoy doing.
Your life will not get simpler because you wish it. Instead you have to be willing to change and take action to make it simpler not more complicated. Over complication stresses you out and can make you unpleasant to be around. The best gift for those around you is a healthy you. Becoming unbalanced and negative helps no one, especially you.
Don’t convince yourself that you have a problem before you have it. In other words don’t go into the future living pain you don’t have to or that hasn’t happened. Ask yourself is there really pain coming or are you overcomplicating it and making it worse than it actually is.
Don’t drive yourself crazy trying to keep everyone happy around you. Remember that ultimately, each individual is responsible for their own happiness.
Be creative and realize you can do things differently and more efficiently.
Mind your own business. The Bible is clear that we should stay busy with our own hands. Take care of your own life and stop being nosy and digging for dirt in other people. You will find things that will make you unhappy and steal your peace. The majority of the time they will be things that have no positive impact on your life. Being a good friend doesn’t mean you substitute for a marriage, relationship or spiritual counselor. Let the experts do that. Listen briefly and nudge your friends in those directions. Wallowing in the misery with them will not make either of you happy.
Do the things you do best. Spend your time on the things you do well. If you are not doing what brings you joy then your level of frustration goes thru the roof. So many times there are people around you who can help you, but you have to be willing to understand that they are helping from a place of kindness and accept what they have to offer.
Prioritize and re-prioritize. Cut out the things that are not contributing to your advancement and take life one day at a time. Don’t live so far out in the future that the here and now is sacrificed for a fantasy perfect future.
Enjoy everyday God has given you and be thankful.
Some of my tricks to take back my life:
I don’t open junk mail. It goes immediately to the trash bin. Believe it or not opening unwanted mail and reading it takes time, not to mention you may buy something you don’t’ need on impulse. There is a reason so much junk mail clogs our mailboxes. It works!
Say good-bye to phone solicitors. Just because they call you it doesn’t mean you have to speak with them. Say no thank you and hang up. Get caller ID and don’t answer. You can also place your telephone number on the National Do Not Call Registry which will ultimately eliminate most of these calls. When they do call, simply tell them that you are registered and they will terminate the call abruptly.
Have someone clean your house or apartment if you can afford it. I downsized from a large home to a smaller condominium apartment that I could physically clean if necessary. However it isn’t the best use of my time or creativity so I use a reasonably priced cleaning service.
Do the three to six most important actions that must happen that day for your job and your personal life. You will be surprisingly more productive. Don’t fret the rest.
I say no when necessary. Don’t be a mindless people pleaser. You will quickly go into overwhelm mode and build up an unhealthy resentment. Imagine relationships where you have to always do what the other person wants you to do to get along with them. Exhausting!
Don’t go into the “I’ll do it all myself” mode. For example I can build a website, do some mediocre graphics, and figure out the plug-ins. But this wasn’t the answer to launching my Internet presence. The real answer was to find a web designer, artist, and virtual assistant to make it a reality otherwise I would still be talking about it instead of having one to share with you.
Be Blessed, Prosperous, and Stress Free!
©THJ & Associates, LLC 2008
Follow Us!