Breaking The Chains: The Power Of Releasing Your Past

As important as the past is for learning lessons and remembering successes, it's equally important that you don't let the past keep you chained there. 

 

Like the stereotypical high school jock who perpetually lives in the past because those were the best days of his life. Or the woman who can't build healthy relationships because never recovered from her college boyfriend's infidelity. 

 

The negative parts of our past have a way of clinging on, wrapping its tendrils around you and despite your attempts at remaining in the present, the chains of the past remain wrapped tight. You carry the weight of those chains into every experience, and whether it's negative or positive, it has a powerful impact on your present life. There can be great power in releasing your past and breaking those chains. 

 

Moving On

 

One of the greatest challenges people face is breaking free from the chains of their past. It could be a past mistake, a stinging heartbreak, or trauma from a difficult experience; all of your life experiences impact your emotional and mental well-being. 

 

Dwelling on the past, however, will only keep you anchored to a period of time that you should have left behind. That time no longer exists, yet it's rooting you there and preventing you from living in the here and now. 

 

The first step to breaking those chains is acknowledging your past and accepting it. It's an essential part of the process, you have to confront the unresolved emotions and pain that you've buried deep, which will require self-reflection and a whole lot of courage. By facing your past head-on, you remove the power it holds over your present moment and the future. 

 

Forgiveness is another step necessary to break those chains. Whether it's forgiving yourself or someone else, a lot of people hold onto grudges over things that happened. It's important to remember that forgiveness doesn't mean that you forget what happened. 

 

If someone hurt you or wronged you, forgiving them isn't forgetting the harm they caused you. It doesn't mean making up and being friends either. It's a conscious decision to let go of the painful emotions that have lingered since the experience. Forgiveness isn't for them, it's for you. 

 

The Power 

 

Perhaps one of the most vital aspects of breaking free from the past's chains is self-compassion. 

 

Self-compassion simply means that you treat yourself with the same understanding and kindness you extend to your closest friends. You treat them with care, and you offer them a gentle response, but you are your own worst enemy – your harshest critic. You hold yourself to an impossible standard and when you slip up, you give yourself merry hell. Self-compassion provides a nurturing environment to foster healing and growth. 

 

Mindfulness is another powerful tool for breaking the chains of your past. 

 

Mindfulness is all about focusing on the present moment, observing your thoughts without judgment, and acknowledging your feelings without opinion. Mindfulness practices like deep breathing, meditation, and body scanning help you develop the ability to let go of the past, dismiss intrusive thoughts, and focus on the beauty of the moment. 

 

An essential part of personal development as a whole, and particularly breaking chains, is setting boundaries. Boundaries protect you from negative behaviors, and repeating patterns, and help you use your time and energy more wisely. Boundaries help you create space for change and growth. 

 

Final Thoughts 

 

While the process of breaking the chains of your past can be difficult, it is possible. Above, you have a step-by-step process to do just that. It will take some time, but if you're committed to the process, you will need a combination of self-awareness and forgiveness, self-compassion, and mindfulness, as well as boundary-setting. 

 

Work on establishing a forward-focused mindset because this journey will require resilience and dedication. In return, you will benefit on a profound level. Your life will be free from the burdens of the past and filled with an endless number of possibilities. As you let go of the past, you open yourself to growth, healing, and the recognition of your potential. 

 

Time Management And Self-Care: Balancing Work And Wellbeing

Life can be quite hectic at times, and while juggling numerous priorities, you may forget your personal well-being. It can be difficult to manage work and have a personal life; worse, your health can be adversely affected.

 

On the other hand, when you make yourself a priority by practicing self-care, coping with challenges is easier, stress is reduced, and overwhelming emotions can be managed better.

 

Taking care of yourself is known as self-care, or consistently improving and maintaining our own physical and mental health. Time management, a key component of self-care, gives you control over how you spend your time. Self-care reduces stress and the risk of disease and boosts your sense of well-being. You can learn how to make self-care a beneficial, lifelong habit.

 

What are the Benefits of Self-Care?

Self-care is essential in numerous ways. In addition to better physical health and mental health, self-care:

 

• Reduces stress and anxiety

• Prevents burnout

• Promotes happier relationships

• Increases productivity

• Improves sleep

 

Strategies for Self-Care

The following are tips for making yourself a priority while honing your time management skills.

 

Nutrition, Exercise, and Sleep

The foundation for self-care is to eat healthy foods, exercise daily, and get sufficient quality sleep. 

 

A healthy diet includes a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, non-fat or low-fat dairy, nuts, lean meats, and healthy fats. Avoid processed foods and too much salt.

 

Regular exercise will give you more energy and lift your mood. Aim to get at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily, such as taking a brisk walk, playing a sport, or bicycling.

 

Quality sleep supports and maintains your brain function and physical health. It reduces the risk of chronic health issues and affects how you think and react. Seven hours of uninterrupted sleep is recommended for adults. However, due to sleep pattern changes, older adults may need more sleep. As we age, we take longer to fall asleep, sleep more lightly and may wake up several times at night.

 

Morning Routine

A morning routine entails doing the same tasks in the same order daily. It will help you to prepare for your day, reduce stress, and put you in control of your time. Think about how much time you will devote to your routine and what you want to do during that time. 

For example, a person might have a 45-minute routine that consists of waking up, drinking cold water to boost metabolism, stretching to increase blood circulation, eating breakfast, reading the newspaper, and revisiting daily goals.

 

Handle Priority Tasks First

Focus your energy on the important tasks to reduce stress and prevent feeling overwhelmed. The key is to identify and prioritize your work the evening before. The Eisenhower Matrix is an effective tool for planning and prioritizing your tasks. First, make a list of the tasks that you are responsible for. Next, categorize each task as follows.

 

• Important and Urgent, “Do”: These are the highest priority tasks to be completed first. 

• Important but not Urgent, “Schedule”: These tasks are important, but schedule them for a later date or time. 

• Not important but Urgent, “Delegate”: These are tasks you can assign to someone else.

• Not important and not Urgent, “Eliminate”: Delete these tasks from your list.

 

Conclusion

 

Finding balance in life can be difficult, but it is essential for your health. The practice of self-care, including time management, helps you be your best while allowing you to control your time. The preceding strategies for self-care will make you stronger physically and mentally, promoting balance between your career and your well-being.

 

References

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7799745/

 

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/basics/healthy-diets/hlv-20049477

 

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/expert-answers/exercise/faq-20057916

 

https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep/why-sleep-important

 

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/how-many-hours-of-sleep-are-enough/faq-20057898

 

https://www.lifehack.org/876079/prioritization-matrix

 

The Role Of Mentorship In Personal And Professional Development

Whether you're trying to develop on a personal level or a professional level, there is value in embracing the guidance of a mentor. If you think back to your past, you can probably point to several people with more experience who confidently walked through life and made you feel more confident when they patted you on the back, whether it was a teacher or a manager early in your career. 

 

Finding the right mentor will allow you to build a dynamic partnership, one that goes much further than simply teaching skills. It gives you access to wisdom, encourages mutual growth, and as a result, there is a shared experience between two people walking similar paths. Playing the mentor role is just as important to the personal and professional development journey. 

 

Today, we'll focus on the role it plays in the life of the mentee. 

 

The Transfer of Skills and Knowledge

 

The first and most obvious point of mentorship is the exchange of skills and knowledge. A mentor is generally someone much further in their field than the mentee, which means they can provide insights the mentee hasn't had a chance to gather through real-world experience. 

 

Similarly, this exchange of knowledge puts skill development on an accelerant because not only can a mentor teach the mentee new skills, but the wisdom they impart helps the mentee put it all to work to tackle obstacles and challenges with an informed, strategic approach. 

 

The Thread of Wisdom

 

If you are relying on a professional mentor, this person can serve as a compass. They can provide guidance as you navigate the industry, leverage their experience to offer helpful advice on your options, and highlight your skills and opportunities. This is ideal for anyone looking to advance their career, but it also helps foster a sense of purpose and direction, which is directly beneficial to your personal life. 

 

Emotional Support and Growth 

 

Mentorship goes beyond the professional. A mentor can also help nurture emotional well-being and personal growth. Part of the role of the mentor is that the relationship creates a safe space for open and honest communication. This space allows you to discuss your fears, dreams, and challenges. That emotional support will help you in every aspect of life, not just your professional one. 

 

Networking

 

What many people forget to consider about a mentor is the networking opportunities. Your mentor wants you to succeed because they are helping you develop to be your best. As an established person in the industry, they can introduce you to influential contacts, which is a great way to build your network and you never know when an opportunity will come your way thanks to one of those connections. 

 

Inspiration

 

When someone chooses a mentor, it's because it's a person they respect. They see their success, they see certain qualities in them, and they want to achieve the same. So, the relationship between the two isn't just about gaining wisdom or new skills, it's also about building a work ethic and establishing the qualities you want to attain, and so a mentor is an inspirational role model. Or, an aspirational one, depending on how you look at it. 

 

Final Thoughts

 

Ultimately, many people succeed without a mentor – but those people tend to deal with challenges and stresses they wouldn't have had to navigate alone had they reached out to someone with more experience and wisdom. 

 

If you aspire to greatness and you want to be the best version of yourself, then finding a mentor you look up to and respect is a great move for your professional and personal development. We're all students of the world, so why wouldn't you accept help from someone further into their journey? 

 

Lifelong Learning: Fueling Your Personal And Professional Growth

Life is about growth, and one aspect of both personal and professional growth is learning and it's a lifelong journey. This lifelong learning journey is necessary to unlock the growth you're looking to achieve in life, whether your focus is on your personal self or your professional self.

 

Lifelong learning delivers the ability to adapt and innovate, to create and thrive. Here, we focus on exploring just how significant lifelong learning is and how it impacts your development. 

 

Adaptability

 

If you want to adapt to this world, and you should because it's constantly changing, then lifelong learning is going to assist you in that endeavor. As every industry and structure rapidly evolves, you are better equipped to deal with it if you are constantly learning and improving your knowledge. You can embrace new skills, understand other points of view, and disseminate information, which makes you more relevant to the rapidly shifting industry or for other potential opportunities. 

 

Challenge Assumptions

 

Lifelong learning truly expands your horizons and when you expose yourself to new perspectives, cultures, and a range of diverse subjects, you are equipped to challenge assumptions and develop your intellectual curiosity beyond what most imagine. That sets you up nicely to develop yourself personally and professionally. 

 

Problem-Solving

 

Learning takes time and as a process, it requires you to deploy problem-solving skills and critical thinking. If you learn for a lifetime, you learn how to better analyze situations and view those situations from different perspectives. This gives you the tools you need to come up with creative solutions to a host of problems. It's an invaluable skill both professionally and personally. 

 

Development and Growth 

 

It's important to understand that learning is not confined to a formal setting, you don't need to be going to classes to learn. Lifelong learning encompasses creative pursuits, new hobbies, researching areas of interest, and any other activities that contribute to a well-rounded, more fulfilled life. Development goes far beyond "official" skills or "certified" talents. 

 

Advancement 

 

Professionally speaking, constant learning is a great way to advance. It turns you into an attractive, flexible prospect who has valuable transferrable skills. As every industry evolves, leaders will look to those who have worked on developing new skills and knowledge regularly. You turn yourself into a must-have asset and you're poised to adapt if the market changes or you need to pursue a different path. 

 

Mindset 

 

Lifelong learning also helps you develop a growth mindset, which will serve you well in an ever-evolving world, whether you want to climb the ladder in your current industry or recognize that it's time for a change. Or, whether you would like to pursue personal endeavors with more enthusiasm and recognize that you have some skill gaps – your mindset matters and a growth mindset can make all the difference. 

 

Technology & Networking

 

The digital world has made accessing information easier than ever, so you can use technology to your advantage in your journey to be a lifelong learner. You can seek out webinars, online courses, free eBooks, podcasts, and even blogs that cater to your specific interests or professional objectives. 

 

Those are also excellent opportunities for networking with like-minded people, and you shouldn't underestimate the power of those connections you make, whether you link online or off.

 

Examples Of Avenues Towards Lifelong Learning

 

• Traditional Education Institutions - Colleges, universities, and vocational schools.

• Online Courses 

• Personal Development Retreats: Participating in personal development retreats or workshops focused on topics like mindfulness, leadership, or personal growth can provide transformative learning experiences in a supportive environment.

• Explore Self-Help Avenues

• Community Education Programs

• Professional Development Workshops

• Conferences and Symposia

• Podcasts and Audiobooks

• Reading books on topics you have not been exposed to before

• Therapy – delve into and learn about yourself

• TED Talks and TED-Ed

• Self-Study and Research

• Language Learning Apps: Apps like Duolingo, Rosetta Stone, and Babbel 

• Online Forums and Communities

• Peer Learning Groups

• Volunteering and Internships

• Outdoor and Experiential Education - Participating in outdoor activities, such as hiking, camping, or gardening, can provide opportunities for experiential learning and personal growth.

• Exploring creative outlets like painting, writing, photography, or music allows you to express yourself while developing new skills and techniques.

• Cultural Immersion and Travel

• Online Learning Communities

• Continuing Education Programs

• Mentorship and Coaching: Seeking mentorship or coaching from experienced professionals in your field can provide valuable guidance, feedback, and support as you pursue your learning goals.

 

Final Thoughts

 

Learning is more than just a habit, it's a lifelong tradition and it's one that will empower you to think beyond yourself – it will force you to constantly evolve, adopt, and thrive no matter what life throws at you. It's a journey of constant learning that takes you further than you ever imagined and gives you a much deeper understanding of yourself, people, and the world. 

 

When you embrace lifelong learning, you position yourself in the role of a forever student, but that means you're constantly growing and finding new ways to contribute to your personal and professional life. 

 

Embracing Change: Letting Go To Welcome The New

We all have something we want to let go of, whether it be a harmful habit, physical item, or toxic viewpoint that keeps us tethered to where we are. However, despite wanting to let go, the reality is that embracing change can be hard to do. 

 

Oftentimes, the struggle to let go and embrace change has to do with not having control over the future - and that can be a really powerful fear. But the reality is that while we can make choices based on the best information we have at the time, life is always going to be in a state of flux. 

 

Whether the change is good or sad, practicing the art of letting go can help you to become more flexible and adaptable. It can also help us move forward if we’re still living in the past. Here’s some helpful information that can do just that. 

 

Why Do We Struggle With Change? 

 

Before we dive into all the ways you can start letting go, let’s first analyze why we’re so resistant to change in the first place. 

 

According to Katherine Cullen MFA, LCSW, in her article titled Why Is Change So Hard? published in Psychology Today, “We often find ourselves resisting change, perhaps because of the perceived risk or fear associated with it.” 

 

In her article, she refers to examples such as a chain smoker looking to quit the habit. First, is the acknowledgment of the act. in this case, the smoker realizes that they’re going through a lot of cigarettes per day. While this isn’t enough to prompt immediate action, it gets the gears turning. 

 

The next phase is contemplation, which is when the individual considers the pros and cons of letting go. In the case of a chain smoker, this could be comparing the benefits of quitting such as renewed lung tissue and lowering the risk of developing lung cancer, as well as the cons such as not knowing another way to relieve stress and being fearful of not having any other method of self-soothing. 

 

After weighing the pros and cons, most people will then make a detailed plan - i.e. choose a day to quit smoking and buy a yoga mat for stress relief or hard candy to suck on when they have a craving. Then, they go through with it. Getting to this point of action is hard, but maintaining the lifestyle is even harder because everything is outside of the person’s comfort zone. 

 

For a chain smoker, a watermelon-flavored hard candy is hardly going to be an adequate substitute for something they enjoy. And since lifestyle changes aren’t a linear process, any setbacks could lead to self-judgment and frustration, making embracing the new change all the more difficult. 

 

This cycle is why we’re so resistant to change. We’re often fearful of what lies on the other side of change. Though change isn’t always bad, it’s the what-ifs that we focus on. While the chain smoker giving up cigarettes is just one example, another might be an adult child having difficulty discarding their deceased mother’s clothing. 

 

While they may not necessarily need them, they’re scared of getting rid of them for the risk that they will one day change their mind, or that they will somehow be disappointing their loved ones. Fears like this lead to prolonged (and unnecessary) suffering. 

 

Parents with grown children may also suffer through the struggle to let go of their child’s bedroom or childhood effects, which can make it hard to embrace their child’s adulthood and the new dynamic shared between them. 

 

At the end of the day, the fear of letting go and embracing change often comes down to not knowing what to expect and the risk of having regrets about the decision to change later on, especially if it doesn’t pan out the way we want. 

 

Tips for Letting Go and Embracing Change

 

Letting go can be hard as is, let alone when we’re also forced to embrace the unwanted change that comes with it. 

 

As in the example above, letting go of a loved one’s clothes or personal items has nothing to do with the love of the tangible items, but rather the fear that they’re going to forget their loved ones if they don’t have a physical memory attached to them. 

 

Regardless of what you’re struggling to let go of, here are some tips that can help you welcome change, even if it’s going to be a little difficult. 

 

Declutter

 

Like the example mentioned earlier, holding onto items for the fear that you’ll regret getting rid of them isn’t a good enough reason to keep them around. Clutter can lead to stress, anxiety, and in many cases, depression. 

 

Holding onto items that no longer serve you, even if they’re simply no longer your style, can keep you in the past and chain you there. If you’re interested in letting go, start small. Grab a trash bag and find 10 items you can throw away, like receipts, chipped mugs, or socks that have holes in them. With enough practice, you can work your way up from items that are damaged to those that have a mental chokehold on you. 

 

This is especially true if you’re holding onto clutter for sentimental reasons. While it’s okay to keep a few things, dedicating your home to people or lifestyles from the past can keep you tethered to a painful time in your life. Learning to let go can help you accept what happened and embrace your new life moving forward. 

 

Don’t Dismiss Your Fears

 

One way you can embrace change is by acknowledging that you don’t want to let certain things go, whether it’s a tangible item or not. 

 

The more you try to dismiss your feelings, and by proxy, your fears, the more likely they are to stay with you and affect your decisions. If you want to truly embrace change, then acknowledge that getting rid of your mother’s items, or your child’s baby clothes (for example) is hard. 

 

Then, go ahead and acknowledge your fears about getting rid of them. For example, getting rid of baby clothes could signify that the time of your life is over, and you’re scared of what comes next. 

 

Oftentimes, the difficulty of letting go is because we’re fearful of feeling sad, being alone, moving on, or feeling vulnerable. However, these are feelings shared among society. When you bring these fears to the surface, they not only no longer seem so scary, but you can now identify solutions. 

 

With the right support system, you can embrace your fears and still let go, knowing that it’s going to suck…and that’s okay. 

 

Listen to Your Inner Voice

 

At the end of the day, you’ll know when it’s time to get rid of something, or someone, or move on. These feelings are usually subtle; one day you just don’t feel the same way about it anymore. However, when you have that inkling, take notice. 

 

Your inner voice doubles as your voice of reason. Though you may be quick to ignore it or do the opposite, trust that when that little voice pops up telling you it’s time to let go, it’s because deep down, it’s what you know is best for you. 

 

Letting go and embracing change is all about the fear of not knowing what lies around the corner. You can make this change easier by trusting your gut and realizing that yes, change can be scary, but so can staying miserable where you are. 

 

How Can I Feel More Comfortable With Change?

Change can be difficult to deal with, mainly because it is uncomfortable. However, change is an essential part of life. If you can't deal with change, you will never move forward or grow as a person. Below are some ways to help yourself be more comfortable with any changes that are coming your way. 

 

Recognize When Change is Coming

 

Sometimes, change is so uncomfortable because you weren't expecting it. This is why you should do your best to recognize when change is coming and tell yourself in advance. For example, maybe your boss just put in her two weeks' notice. This means that there will be a new boss in two weeks, who will probably want to change a few things around the office. Let yourself know this and go over the scenario in your mind so the change won’t seem as shocking when it does come about. 

 

Write Down Your Fears

 

Change is also uncomfortable because it often digs up some of your deepest fears. Think about the above example. You could be worried that a new boss will demote or fire you. If this is the case, write these fears down. Writing your fears down, no matter what they are, will help you be less afraid and better prepared when (and if) you need to face them at some point. 

 

Ask For Help

 

Are you struggling with a certain change? Ask for help. This can be in the form of mental help from a health professional, or maybe even just asking if your friend will allow you to vent with them for a little bit. Everyone has gone through changes at some point in their life and knows how they are feeling. So know that you never have to face change alone.

 

Look For the Positives

 

All of this fear and discomfort comes from the negative side of change. Remember, change isn't negative. Change is actually positive. This means you need to do all that you can to see the positive side of change. So maybe your boss is leaving, but maybe this means you will finally get a promotion or that you will have a great time working for someone new. No matter the change in your life, there is always a positive side!

 

Overall, change is a crucial part of life, but knowing this doesn't make it any less difficult to go through. When you are struggling to be comfortable with change, try preparing yourself in advance, writing down your fears, and asking for help if you need it. Don't forget to always look at the positive side of change so that you can forget the negatives. 

 

If You Want More Meaningful Relationships, Schedule Them

Do you have a day planner? Do you have a calendar or schedule where you plan out your activities? A lot of people plan their careers. They have a virtual or physical planner where they keep track of their work commitments. They take their job seriously and know that if they schedule their professional life, they can be more successful than if they take it as it comes.

 

Unfortunately, many people don't do that with their personal lives.

 

That's too bad. We've known for a long time that the human brain loves to be given marching orders. It was designed to respond favorably to order and habitual behavior. If you want deeper connections, you should schedule the experiences that build and maintain them.

 

Who Do You Want a More Meaningful Relationship With?

 

It's been proven that deep relationships make you less likely to develop disease or become sick. Your mind, body, and emotions benefit. The more people you truly understand on a deep level and connect with in a meaningful way, the happier and healthier you will be.

 

This means that when you connect with someone in a big way, you get a significant boost to your well-being. Who wouldn't like that in their lives? To experience all these wonderful benefits of a healthy social life, ask yourself who you can connect with on a deeper level.

 

Once you have that person in mind, sit down and ask yourself some questions. What do they like to do? What values are important to them? Do they like traveling or knitting, or reading? What vices do they have that they wish they could defeat? What are their big goals?

 

If you don't know the answers to these questions, or at least have some general idea of their response, what can you do to discover those answers? In many cases, it doesn't make sense to come out and ask big questions like this. You can spend more time with that person in experiences and activities they enjoy. This helps you indirectly learn that information.

 

Schedule time for those activities. Talk a lot, and listen. Remember your ultimate goal, to get to know the person better. Be flexible and understand that a deep connection might mean a relationship with someone that's unlike you in many ways. Opposites often attract. 

 

Keep these things in mind and schedule the time and emotional energy required to develop a deep and meaningful relationship. Offer a time and environment that's comfortable to them, be yourself, and do this regularly to form a strong, healthy connection.

 

How to Calm Your Racing Mind, Stop Stressing and Enjoy Life

That inner chatter never seems to stop. Speaking of your inner voice, why is it so negative most of the time? And when is stress going to take some time off? There isn't an area of your life where stress isn't a common companion. When will you ever be able to actually enjoy your life?

 

If you've had these thoughts, you definitely aren't alone. Modern-day life is crazy busy. There are digital distractions everywhere, and we voluntarily ask for more every time we pick up our phones. Between our jobs, family commitments, friends, and other constant influences in our lives, it seems we never have any time to call our own.

 

Good for you if you want to slow your life down from its usual warp speed. Unlike many people, you realize that modern life's constant go, go, go isn't necessarily beneficial. Here are a few ways to reduce the time urgency in your life so you enjoy more control, less stress, and more free time to do important things.

 

Plan for Pauses

 

When things are getting hectic, stop. Please don't make a quick decision before pausing to think about it. It would help if you also planned several pauses throughout your day.

 

These don't have to be long periods. The busiest schedules allow several 5 or 10-minute breaks so you can slow down, de-stress, and calm your mind.

 

Shhh!

 

We're referring to the need for a stress-free, quiet space so you can slow down your racing mind and enjoy some downtime.

 

Noise, chatter, music, and audible input from multiple sources can overpower your mind. It jacks up your stress system and can even harm your body. Locate a quiet and calm space with few distractions to spend time during the day. 

 

Visualize a Different Reality

 

If you can't physically remove yourself from a busy, fast-paced environment, take a mental trip instead. Close your eyes and clear your mind. Visualize a place you find peaceful and calming. Go there in your mind. Immerse yourself in this imaginary experience to quiet the modern world's distractions, noise, and constant demands.

 

Slowing down is not just about physical speed. It also involves your senses. Give your senses a rest occasionally and slow the flow of modern-day life. This gives you more time to de-stress and enjoy life rather than feeling like it's something you have to endure.