{"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":"
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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

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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