Managing A Busy Lifestyle
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), administered to high school and colleges students since the 1930s, shows a progressive rise in anxiety and depression.
Dr. Jean Twenge, a social psychologist at San Diego State University, analyzed data from the MMPI and gave her views on the situation: “I think the research tells us that modern life is not good for mental health.”
Life principles have shifted from intrinsic values to external ones such as status seeking, appearances, and monetary gain, says Dr. Twenge. If you feel that modern life has taken hold of you and you’ve lost all joy or are stuck in a rut, then follow these six steps to bring about positive change.
1. Eat healthy foods
If you want to live a prosperous and joyful life you need to start with the basics. Eating a well-balanced diet is the beginning of building a healthy attitude towards yourself and life in general. Eating well-balanced meals three times a day is essential for your overall well-being. This will ensure that your body and mind are healthy and give you enough energy to keep you motivated while you strive towards your goals.
2. Lifestyle fitness
When life becomes too hard or overwhelming, your risk of developing depression increases. Clenched teeth and stiff neck muscles are signs that your body is too tense from dealing with too much stress.
Regular exercising of any kind will set the milestone for bringing about significant changes in your life. Lifestyle fitness is proved to aid in dealing with major depression symptoms. So, whenever you find that you can find the energy to go for a walk, make sure to do so for your mental health and well-being.
3. Be in the present
A busy lifestyle can make the mind too focused on the future or keep it ruminating in the past. The forever-busy person has no time to be in the present. According to several studies, such mental habits can lead to great unhappiness. Do not let your life rush past by you.
Instead, develop a mindset that keeps you rooted in the present. Meditation techniques will help you relax and make you more aware of the present moment. This will also boost your concentration and increase gray matter levels as suggested by one study. A focused and relaxed mind will improve your mood and be sure to bring about success.
4. Bond with people
Dr. Jean Twenge believes that another reason why depression and anxiety are on the rise is that people today have become more isolated in comparison with previous generations. The family structure has drastically changed in the last 100 years, and this has affected all our social relationships.
People are too busy to find time for each other which leads to feelings of loneliness. Humans are social creatures, and we need healthy social connections to develop love and altruism, all important for leading a joyous and meaningful life.
5. Give meaning to your work
Daniel Pink published a book titled “Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us” in which he explains that money never was, and never will be, an excellent motivational means. Employees seem more motivated if they perceive their work as having a higher purpose.
Wrzesniewski, Ph.D., professor of management and organizational behavior at New York University conducted a study where she asked hospital maintenance employees what they thought of their job. Those who saw meaning and purpose in their work were much happier than those who did not. It is all a matter of perspective.
6. Change your mindset
A high number of people today take pride in being too busy without ever asking themselves what for? Jean Twenge, Ph.D. explains that generations in the past 50 years have been conditioned to think that they need to strive towards perfection and success.
This puts a lot of pressure on an individual, but achieving such goals does not guarantee happiness. The big job title and full bank account will not make your life any more meaningful unless you have developed the right mindset. It is not what happens to you that matters, but how you look at these things.
Conclusion:
Success and happiness go hand-in-hand, but both depend on your perception. Take these bits of advice as a rough guideline to bring changes to your life that will help you feel joyous while you manage your busy schedule.
Please share your thoughts and comments
How have these tips inspired you to create a healthy balance to your busy lifestyle? Please share with us in the comments below!
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Thanks so much, Meighan for sharing your insights with us! These steps are helpful for Mompreneurs who need to manage their busy lifestyles!
Meighan Sembrano is a health enthusiast and a passionate writer. Her primary expertise is in Beauty and Skin Care, but she has also published articles on Health and Fitness. Her sincerity and thoughtfulness resonate with readers, and her enthusiasm is contagious. You can follow Meighan on Twitter and Facebook.
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