Adulting sometimes makes one feel like a hamster in an endlessly spinning wheel or a model who trips and falls on the catwalk but is told to, “GO! GO! GO!”. It’s that point in life where most people are afraid to slip up or slow down. The closest we had to “respite” was when the pandemic hit and we were all forced to slow down for a bit while we juggled anxiety, job loss, the new realities that accompanied the pandemic, baking recipes and a million TikTok challenges. But like BTS said, “Life goes on.” And life has gone on. As a collective, we have picked ourselves up, adapted and moved on.
The effect of pushing yourself for an extended period without taking time to pause and relax, however, is stress. Stress levels have been reported to be at an unprecedented high and it evidences itself in unhappiness, burn out, reduced productivity and even depression. This means that several adults are walking around with immense mental illnesses without realizing it.
Breathe in. Breathe Out. Relax.
The most effective way to deal with stress is by relaxing. It’s that simple. Relaxation has been known to lead to a decrease in cortisol, the stress hormone, and aid the secretion of feel-good hormones such as dopamine, serotonin and endorphins.
Many think and act like relaxation is a luxury – but it’s not. Our bodies and mind benefit a great deal from actively being present to experience rest or simple fun activities. So taking long baths, sleeping, meditating, working out, traveling, watching movies, discovering and reading poetry, meditating, going to a concert, learning a new skill or conquering the phase 10 game by mastering the phase 10 rules are not a waste of time.
Relaxation has been shown to be beneficial because it improves the overall mental health - more specifically, concentration, cognition, the mood, creativity, decision-making and productivity.
It is important to note that relaxation is not the same as indulgence. And indulgence isn’t a bad thing if done occasionally and in moderation. The problem, however, is that it is often done to overcompensate for working for long hours, abstaining from an unhealthy habit, food or substance or as a response to stress. So choosing to relax as soon as you need to would do you a lot of good.
Do things that make you happy and take your mind off the things that trigger stress and anxiety. Permit yourself to enjoy the simple things. It’s up to you to determine the relaxing activity you would like to enjoy but do so responsibly.
Pause. Unplug.
The two major causes of anxiety and stress for many are work and information. The sensory overload that accompanies both requires that you actively disconnect from them for at least two weeks yearly.
Unfortunately, in a culture that favors and breeds workaholics, many adults are usually unable to completely unplug or go off work. They would be caught sending, checking and responding to emails when they are supposed to be on vacation or granted time off. This is an extremely unhealthy habit capable of causing or compounding mental fatigue that harms the brain.
It is crucial that you internalize your dispensability. The work you do isn’t about you and can continue efficiently in your absence. There are several other people that are able to do it better than you. Your customers or clients are able to find a replacement while you are unavailable.
It’s also vital that you see yourself as a full person outside of the work you do. Many have blurred the lines between their personal and professional lives; between who they are and what they do to the point that they now feel that those two are inextricably tied. Many even think their value is dependent on what they do. This view is both limiting and unfair to you. Spend the time you have to unplug to learn a bit more about yourself and discover what matters to you outside of work.
Beyond staying away from work, you can while unplugging, avoid social media and television. These are time consumers for many and primary sources of triggering information. Spend that time instead trying to understand other people and cultures. Experience life, rather than watch it from a screen. Eat your meals a little slower. Connect with old friends. Try writing.
This might seem like a wild idea, especially for an adult trying to get ahead or who has been convinced by every motivational speaker to “keep going” or even funnier, that they would “rest when they die”. But we’ve seen consistently, and even analyzed above, that rest is fuel for work. We can not give our best when we are exhausted, overwhelmed and anxious.
As the earth keeps revolving around the Sun without stopping and as life keeps going, do your best to take charge of what you can – your life. As you do that, be sure to prioritize your health.