I can give you a quick tip that should quickly make you be more mindful and feel less stressed. It is free and requires nothing other than a simple action. Interested? Then read on.
I often get asked by people – particularly at parties – whether there’s a theme or common issue that I keep coming across. The answer is yes.
Clients often feel stressed, overwhelmed and overworked. Sometimes they’re all but burned-out. They can’t concentrate or relax. Often they can’t sleep properly.
It turns out that most also have apps such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter etc on their phone with notifications turned on. Their phone is constantly pinging and buzzing. They are always being pulled away from the present to check on what is going on somewhere else. And this is on top of the email notifications…
At this point I ask them to do a little experiment – turn ALL notifications off for one week and observe how they feel. At this point most look terrified and clutch their phones to their chests protectively. Some refuse. But a gentle enquiry into the effect that the notifications have on them usually does the trick. Typical responses: “They worry me” or “It makes my head hurt” or even “I feel like people are persecuting me.”
Once clients take their own experience on board and switch off they start seeing benefits quickly. Many even go further and take some of the apps off their phone, limiting their checking to set hours. Of course this is unlikely to be a complete cure, but is a solid stepping stone to a mindful life.
So try switching off – you’ll almost certainly find that it switches you on to what’s going on here and now. What have you got to lose?
Photo credit: Thom, Unsplash
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