My plan for this post was to follow up on some of the thoughts and experiences from taking a personal mental health day. “My Day Off – Part 2” is what I was going to call it.
However, with the horrific events in Buffalo, NY (10 people killed in a supermarket) and then in Uvalde, Texas (19 children and two adults killed), my thoughts regarding personal balance were hijacked by the pain and senselessness of these tragedies.
But, every time I’ve applied a strategy toward living a more balanced life, I find that the strategy is also useful in helping me to cope with stressful events.
So, here are the other lessons I took from my mid-week day off, and how I’ve been applying them to cope with the tragedies of the last couple of weeks.
Strategies for Balance and Coping with Stress
1. You don’t need to spend the same amount of time in every area of your life to reap its benefits.
I call this the Principle of Equal Influence.
This principle says that there are some areas of your life where you only need to spend a few minutes per day, as opposed to hours, to successfully balance that domain of your Wheel.
Lately, when I spend time in silence, I try and send out positive energy – thoughts of strength, resilience, and comfort – toward those family members and loved ones who are hurting from these tragedies.
Although I might only spend several minutes doing this activity, it helps fulfill the Spiritual domain of my Wheel for the entire week.
2. Now and then, you’ll need support from others to adjust your Wheel.
My wife and I wanted to make sure we made the most of our day off. But, with our kids in school, we needed to make sure they were picked up, fed, and safe.
My in-laws did us a huge favour by picking up the kids from school and spending the rest of the evening with them so that Sabrina and I had a couple of extra hours by ourselves.
The lesson here is that when you are trying to live a more balanced life, you’ll need the support of others from time to time. Receiving support from others is especially important when dealing with difficult life circumstances.
3. Disconnecting from electronic devices can help with your mental health.
I saved this tip for last because it was the most significant discovery I made (or rediscovered) on my day off.
Of all the different experiences I had that day, shutting off my cell phone had the most significant impact on my ability to relax and rejuvenate.
Shutting off my phone forced me to be more present and appreciative of where I was in the moment. It also brought a sense of peace to my mind.
I think it’s important to follow the news, to inform yourself of what is happening globally and in your community. But if you are feeling overwhelmed by the news, disconnect from your devices for a while. You have the power to decide how much information to consume. Be judicious.
Summary
When you’re looking to bring your life back into balance, you don’t need to spend a lot of time in each area to positively impact your emotions – the core of your Wheel. Sometimes, just a few minutes a day on one of your PROMISE domains can be enough for the whole week.
And while you’re thinking of how you can adjust a domain in your life, see if there’s someone who can help you in this process. Then, offer your services when they’re looking to address one of the domains in their life.
Finally, work on disconnecting – or withdrawing – from your electronic devices every once in a while. Disconnecting from the outside can help you to reconnect with what’s on the inside.
Richard
If you enjoyed this post, then pick up my new book, The Promise Wheel: Psychology For Growth and a Balanced Life. I provide dozens of strategies and insights on how to improve your health, relationships, and career so that you can achieve personal balance, feel less stressed, and have fun again.