We all are so busy all the time. When someone asks us how we are doing, we either say, “I’m fine” or, “I’m so busy!”
But what does busy really mean? Have you ever stopped to think about why you are so busy, or how being busy is affecting your life?
In society, we idolize busyness. If we aren’t busy, then we are considered lazy. Free time? Who has time for that! We schedule our days so that they are jam-packed and overwhelming.
But again, is this busyness contributing to a happy life? I would argue that being busy all the time is not contributing to your happiness and health. When we are constantly running from one thing to the next without ever letting ourselves have a few moments of down time, our body suffers.
How? Chronically high stress levels.
It may not seem like you’re stressed (or maybe it does!), but either way, leading a super busy lifestyle without taking time to decompress each day makes the body think it’s under duress.
How does the body respond? By secreting cortisol, the stress hormone. Yes, cortisol can be a good thing, but when our cortisol is chronically elevated, our body bears the consequences. We begin to suffer from inflammation, headaches, insomnia...the list goes on and on.
But with school and jobs and family, how can we simplify our busy lifestyles?
It all starts with prioritizing our time effectively. This means scheduling five minutes every day to decompress and unwind. Just five minutes! You can do this at any time during the day: when you wake up, when you go to bed, right before lunch…the possibilities are endless!
Personally, I take this time before bed. I read a prayer meditation and journal about my thoughts and my day. I find that it helps me reflect about what happened to me and lets me set my goals for the next day.
Take a look at your lifestyle: how busy are you? Is it true and productive busyness? Could you use a dose of simplicity in your life? Make it a priority in the New Year to evaluate how busy you truly are and don't be afraid to make a change if one is needed!