Reduce Stress, Reduce Anxiety: Peace – Full Plate

REDUCE STRESS, REDUCE ANXIETY

Achieving Peace with a Full Plate

One Bite at a Time.

Many of us believe that our stress and anxiety is the result of having too many projects or tasks on our plate and trying to do too much.  Yet, we feel so peaceful, when are focused on just one task and our expectation of ourselves is limited to the performance of that one task.  In this article I share some helpful ways to look at our plate of tasks, so that we can reduce stress, reduce anxiety and enjoy life, one bite at a time.

So how can we achieve that peace, when it seems our plate is full to it’s limit with tasks?

Consider that, it may not be what’s on our plate, but instead the fact that we are not present when tackling a task, expecting to and attempting to tackle multiple tasks at the same time, that is, biting more than we can chew.

It doesn’t matter how many projects or tasks we have on our plate, as long as we’re only doing one thing at a time, because we will always be only doing one thing at a time.  So long as we don’t let projects and tasks cut into or shorten any self time, kiddy time, family time, downtime, our time for replenishment, rejuvenation, recreation, and if we simply expect and do only one tasks at a time, we can achieve peace, even with a full plate.

Also, the expectation that we can multitask effectively needs to go down the garbage disposal.  Studies show that we are good at multitasking, because the brain can only consciously do, one task at any moment in time, and challenging the laws of nature seldom turn out well.  Have we been multitasking or have we simply been distracted?

Consider that, it is possible to experience peace and well-being, no matter how many tasks or projects are “on our plate,” so long as:

• we are grateful for the bites on our plate at any given moment
• we are aware that we can only take one bite at a time
• we consciously choose which bite we will take at any moment
• we choose the bite that feels right
• we take only one bite at a time
• we break-up a bite, when it prevents us from breathing easy
• we break-up larger bites into smaller, more manageable bites
• we share our least favorite bites, with someone who enjoys those bites
• we make each bite our exclusive task for that moment
• we are aware that conscious chewing adds pleasure and is good for us
• we actually consciously chew
• we don’t try to talk or do something else while chewing
• we savor the flavor
• we don’t rush to swallowing
• we have a well-balanced selection of bites, in quantities and varieties that serve us
• we listen to our heart when it tells us to transition to another bite
• we choose replenishing bites when needed to maintain a healthy mind and body
• we don’t let others persuade us to take bites that don’t feel right to us
• we are not afraid to purge any bite that does not serve us
• we take breaks on a regular basis
• we say “no” to others, when we are asked to take a portion off their plate that doesn’t feel right
• we assess how it is working for us and discard and add accordingly

If we simply do one tasks at a time and make sure we have quality self time, kiddy time, family time, replenishment, rejuvenation, recreation, our lives will be so much more peaceful and our body and mind will thank us for it, with well-being.