One of the greatest secrets of octogenarians who are still active in the business world is this: “Never retire. If you do, then most certainly you will deteriorate.”
How is this even possible? Truth be told, people who are naturally driven do not know the meaning of relaxing. They derive their strength and vitality from their highly motivated minds plus that regular flow of adrenaline running through their veins. It is what keeps them going. Their bodies have been so used to a steady supply of good stress hormones which guarantees their energy levels — physically and mentally. Yes, this approach works for some people. But others who are into their late ‘60s to early ‘70s wish they knew how to retire gracefully.
Slowing down
Now here is something interesting. Welcome to The World Institute of Slowness (www.theworldinstituteofslowness) founded by Geir Berthelsen. Here, they have another kind of mindset: Slowing down is good for you. But there is a formula to this which guarantees success.
1 Do not hurry. Being in this state guarantees making mistakes along the way. When you are hurrying, your stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline kick in. If their levels reach too high, then you will begin to feel uneasiness, weakness, palpitations and exhaustion. Take your time.
- Daydreaming is good for you. Most of the time our minds are so focused on a task that it does not know anything else but to be determined, maybe even fixated on the job at hand. Let your mind lose on the playground of creativity by doing nothing. Simply, let go. Allow your mind to wander aimlessly and freely. It’s called going easy on your brain power.
- Respect the work-life balance. In short, when it’s time to work then do so. But do not allow it to cross over the boundary of your relaxation time. Therefore, do not take any work to your house.
You will not be able to unwind when you should.
- Go to sleep. It is a major pillar of wellness. Good, quality sleep is what you need in order to regenerate while you are in bed. Value your sleep. Try to go to bed early and regularly.
- Try not to overload yourself. Even while at home, multi-tasking could be tempting. But in the end, it will only be detrimental to your health. Focus on one task at a time. Multi-tasking could lead to accidents.
- Keep a diary. Writing down your thoughts organizes you. It is good therapy for the brain.
- Learn to disengage and disconnect. Oftentimes, we get gadget overload along with over-exposure to electro-magnetic radiation. Give it a rest. Besides, gadgets heat up. This means that they too need to rest. So why shouldn’t you?
- Say no to distractions. That’s right. Sometimes it is difficult to shut out the noise of the world. But you can make an effort. Take a step back and value some silence.
- Slow down in everything you do. If you talk fast, try speaking in a calmer and steadier pace. Your heart will thank you for it. If you walk fast, start by taking longer but easier strides. And if you are a fast eater, take time to chew your food. This contributes to better digestion.
- Respect time. It will fly by you so fast. You cannot hold it back. So, give every second its proper place in your consciousness. Put it to good use.
Affirmation: “I am dancing to life’s music — slowly and surely.”
Love and Light.