Do you always feel stressed or anxious rushing from one thing to another? Do you need to simplify your life?
And did you know that we can have clutter mentally and emotionally, not just physically?
This month we are talking about how simplification of your life actually is necessary for a healthy life and how to do that. No matter your age, if you currently have health issues or not, we all need to simplify.
But why?
In a word. Stress. A complicated, rushed, excessively busy and cluttered life can cause real health disorders and medical conditions like high blood pressure, heart problems, digestive issues like Irritable Bowel Syndrome, autoimmune issues like hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, weight issues, and cognitive disorders.
The symptoms may be:
Fatigue, brain fog, obesity, panic attacks, cravings for sugar and processed carbs, pain especially in the head, neck, and shoulders, stomach cramps, diarrhea, constipation, insomnia, depression, anxiety, and addictions.
And all this affects your job, relationships, purpose, productivity, happiness and joy.
If you don’t have any current health issues, then you really want to get a handle on stress and simplify your life. But if you do have chronic health issues, then simplification is an important tool to be used in your care plan.
Why now? This isn’t spring, Leah, when we usually think of spring cleaning or even the New Year.
Right. But it’s late summer.
So simplification now can help as we are going into fall with school beginning again and even busier lifestyles for many, teachers and employees returning to their jobs, the approaching holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Often when we think of clutter, we think of physical clutter around our homes or at work on our desks. But it’s not just physical clutter.
It’s taking a look at your lifestyle and attitude, anything that causes stress and anxiety physically or psychologically is something that we need to eliminate for our long-term health and the health of our loved ones who want us to be around for a while plus those we are setting an example to, like children or grandchildren.
Well, if we know how stress and busyness and a complicated life affects us, then why aren’t we helping ourselves. In other words, what are barriers to simplification?
- We don’t feel lovable or worthy if… we aren’t always on the go, doing, accomplishing, joining every club and organization possible, or enrolling our children in every sports activity or event or club possible. Now even though they may be “good” things like church events or sports etc., if it all causes us stress and anxiety and our kids/grandkids, then how is that good? Or helpful? Or promoting a healthy lifestyle. The hamster cage is just that – for hamsters/animals, not people. Even the Lord rested one day a week, right, so He was showing us that resting and relaxing are necessary for our body.
- Consumption addiction – It’s what mental health workers refer to as the addiction of owning an excessive amount of things. It makes us feel in control, more powerful than someone else, because we have the latest and best _______. Because we think we “need” it when there’s a true difference between “need” and “desire/want.” Our modern culture and advertising promotes this attitude and encourages us to buy this, buy more, you need it, etc.
- We are worried about what others think – What will our family, spouse, children, close friends say if we aren’t so busy or participating like they are? They won’t understand. We won’t be friends with them anymore. My child will get mad at me, etc. You’ve got to decide what’s most important to you and your family? If you’re the adult and they’re still under 18 and live as a dependent on you, then you still can make the choice. But unfortunately, many allow their kids to rule the house. You just have to come to the realization that the crazy hamster wheel is ultimately affecting your physical and mental health, And decide that you’re ready to make a change. But some people aren’t ready. And that might be you.
- We don’t know how to simplify and make it stick. This is when you’ve decided you need to make a change, but you’re not sure how to really do it. Read on.
Here are a few practical ways to simplify:
*Make a list of your activities and prioritize everything you have to do. Then say no to the ones that no longer serve a purpose in your life. Saying no to the good so you can say yes to the better is a motto to help you. You can even post this around your house, in your car, bathroom mirror, etc. to give you permission to say no. I once had a client who learned to do this. It freed her time so she felt a sense of relief, less stress, and actually had time for friends and activities that meant something to her.
*Don’t try to do it all. You are not superwoman or superman. Delegate tasks at home and at work (if you work with others). Ask for help. With chores, meal prep, cooking. My kids loved when it was their day to decide on the meal, plan, and cook. Sure it was a bit more work at first, but I can happily say both can cook now and I know they won’t go hungry. Plus, if they don’t like what I’ve cooked for the night, I am not a short order cook. They know how to cook and can do so.
*Eliminate the myth of perfection. For yourself and others. Remember last week we talked about perfectionism and how it can affect your health. So eliminate that thought pattern. You don’t have to have your life totally simplified by next week!
*Simplifying your life begins with the thought pattern that you are in charge of your schedule, the material things in your life, and what you allow into your mind. Your mind is a big one we will dig into more next week.
So make some simple changes this week. Just pick one to do today and do it each day this week. Re-evaluate next weekend to see how it helped. Did you feel less weary and happier? Less stressed?
Then, that’s a win-win!
Leah Cheshire is a national board certified health and wellness coach as well as a speech-language pathologist. She has been in the medical profession for 30 years. Currently working as a health and wellness coach, she primarily works with women who have fatigue, brain fog, weight issues, and autoimmune and digestive symptoms. You can set up a free consult here to see if you’d be a good fit to work together.
