Working Without Stress
Dear friends,
We all have a lot to do. Technology has made our lives massively more productive, but—as usual with advancements—there's usually a cost. In this case the cost is feeling like there is always an infinite amount to do. It can seem overwhelming at times. You cross something off the list, and two things get added. In our household we have a phrase “getting to white”, which refers to an empty inbox in our email programs. It’s kind of a unicorn, but I believe I have seen one from time to time (albeit far too rarely)!
As always, there are two components to this feeling of overwhelm: the external yes-it's-true lots and lots to do, and the internal, always-pushing, stressed out state. See if you can guess which one I am about to address. :-)
I shared an idea with someone recently and she said it has been very helpful, so I thought I'd share it here. That idea is to work as if you were "jazzing." You know how a sax player can seem kind of laid back on his heels as he wails away? Work like that! Lean back, even a little away from your laptop, and perhaps picture swaying your hips a bit, and feel like you are jazz music. Try it!
Our mind responds to our thoughts and our body. Picture yourself cool and back a little and see how that feels. Then—if you need to—set an alarm for every 15 minutes and get back to that space. The work will still be there, and you will find you are more effective, and make fewer mistakes if you are centered rather than leaning so far forward you are about to fall over. At the least you will feel a heck of a lot better at the end of the day. Do a 24-hour experiment and see what happens.
Blessings,
David G., manager
For the staff at East West