{"id":2435,"date":"2017-11-14T00:02:22","date_gmt":"2017-11-13T13:32:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adelaideprivatewealth.com.au\/uncategorised\/4-simple-ways-to-conquer-stress-and-increase-productivity-2\/"},"modified":"2017-11-14T00:02:22","modified_gmt":"2017-11-13T13:32:22","slug":"4-simple-ways-to-conquer-stress-and-increase-productivity-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adelaideprivatewealth.com.au\/4-simple-ways-to-conquer-stress-and-increase-productivity-2\/","title":{"rendered":"4 simple ways to conquer stress AND increase productivity"},"content":{"rendered":"
Our busy lifestyles often mean high levels of stress impacting productivity and health. Research shows practising mindfulness can reverse these effects for improved efficiency and well-being.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n How many times a week\u00a0do you feel\u00a0stressed\u00a0or overwhelmed? Be honest!<\/p>\n If you\u2019re a busy professional, or a struggling solopreneur like me, I imagine not long goes by before you realise\u00a0things have crept up on you.\u00a0 When you actually stop for a moment\u00a0you realise\u00a0you\u2019re feeling \u2026\u00a0a tad swamped<\/em>.<\/p>\n Growing demands of everyday life mean we are increasingly feeling overloaded. Without\u00a0sufficient\u00a0self-care strategies\u00a0such overload causes\u00a0harmful stress\u00a0levels,\u00a0negatively affecting\u00a0our physical and mental health.<\/p>\n Research is now telling us one of the most effective ways to keep stress under control is daily mindfulness practice. Not only does mindfulness reduce stress, it has a myriad of other benefits too.\u00a0 Improved focus, awareness, productivity, effectiveness, better health, and it\u2019s even anti-aging (who doesn\u2019t want this!).<\/p>\n “When we withhold our full attention, we decrease efficiency and increase likelihood of mistakes and misunderstandings.”<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Mindfulness originates from Buddhist traditions, but exists in various forms within many cultures. Put simply,\u00a0mindfulness\u00a0is \u2018training our attention\u2019<\/strong>:\u00a0the practice of\u00a0awareness, focus, and presence.<\/p>\n When we withhold our full attention, we decrease\u00a0efficiency and increase likelihood of\u00a0mistakes and misunderstandings. The most challenging part is our mind is wired for distraction.\u00a0 We ruminate\u00a0over past events, worry\u00a0about the future, and daydream\u00a0about other times and places. If we allow our minds to get away from us, it can be bad for our health \u2013 literally!<\/p>\n Ruminating leads to\u00a0depression.\u00a0 Worrying causes\u00a0anxiety.\u00a0 Imagining a \u201cbetter<\/em>\u201d reality only\u00a0provides a superficial and temporary state\u00a0of mind, detracting from achieving a stable and healthy existence right now.<\/p>\n Allowing our mind to run riot can leave us overthinking and catastrophising, often making\u00a0ourselves sick over things beyond our control. These \u2018unmindful\u2019 states cause us stress.\u00a0 Our bodies\u00a0react\u00a0to \u2018perceived\u2019 threats with a stress response\u00a0causing unnecessary\u00a0damage.<\/p>\n Over time this contributes to mental and physical health issues, like:<\/p>\n depression and anxiety,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n high blood pressure,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n accelerated aging,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n immune dysfunction, and<\/p>\n<\/li>\n heart disease.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n But there is good news! You can reverse these effects and prevent further strain\u00a0on your body by living \u2018mindfully\u2019. Research shows many\u00a0health benefits from regular mindfulness practice, including:<\/p>\n reduced stress and anxiety<\/p>\n<\/li>\n better sleep<\/p>\n<\/li>\n improved pain management<\/p>\n<\/li>\n decreased negative mood<\/p>\n<\/li>\n enhanced emotional regulation<\/p>\n<\/li>\n decelerated aging.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Your undivided attention\u00a0= better\u00a0everything!<\/p>\n Mindfulness facilitates\u00a0improved learning, mindset, communication, parenting, partnering, performance, leadership, health, and resilience. What\u2019s not to love here?!<\/p>\n You can be mindful\u00a0in a\u00a0number of ways, so it\u2019s easy to find something that works for you. Whether it\u2019s formal meditation practices, observing mindful moments, implementing mindful work practices, or other mindful activities.<\/p>\n One thing at a time<\/strong>: break the habit of multi-tasking. Research says the brain is a \u2018serial processor\u2019 =\u00a0one thing before\u00a0another,\u00a0making multi-tasking ineffective as each task receives\u00a0diminished\u00a0attention.\u00a0 Yes, even\u00a0hands-free and driving!<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Daily mindfulness practice<\/strong>: start\u00a0with a 1 minute breathing meditation, a 5-minute body scan, and work up to longer meditations.\u00a0 Take\u00a0a tai chi or yoga class.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Become aware\u00a0of mindful moments throughout your day<\/strong>: notice\u00a0a flower (scent, colour, shape), the sun (its warmth on your skin, brightness, energy), water (sound\u00a0it makes as it flows, light glistening on the surface), walking (your breathing, the feeling\/movement of your body), birds (watch\u00a0and listen),\u00a0fresh bread (smell, texture, taste \u2013\u00a0a personal favourite). It can be anything! Just be observant and fully present for that brief moment.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Implement mindful work practices:<\/strong>\u00a0turn off alerts on your phone \/ PC so you can work undistracted. Where possible, finish one task before starting another.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n Like any\u00a0new habit, time and practice improves all. Go easy on yourself\u00a0while you find your groove. Part of mindful\u00a0living is practicing self-compassion\u00a0and acceptance. Observe your thoughts and feelings without judgement, practice acceptance\u00a0and letting go.\u00a0 Persevere. The benefits will come.<\/p>\n The ultimate aim = less stress + more life.<\/p>\n What are you giving\u00a0mindful attention to next?\u00a0 Choose wisely \u2013 live mindfully!\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Source:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n This article by Bree Somer<\/a>\u00a0is reproduced with the permission of Flying Solo – Australia’s micro business community<\/a>.\u00a0Find out more and join over 100k others<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Important:<\/strong><\/span> Any links have been provided with permission for information purposes only and will take you to external websites, which are not connected to our company in any way. Note: Our company does not endorse and is not responsible for the accuracy of the contents\/information contained within the linked site(s) accessible from this page.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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4 ways to live\u00a0mindfully<\/h3>\n
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