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To change our lives for the better, we are encouraged to develop good habits. But what benefit will we get if we get rid of the three harmful addictions?
The unpleasant truth: eating an apple a day, we will not negate the negative effects of smoking on our body. And arranging for an hourly workout on the weekend, we will not be able to compensate for the lack of movement on weekdays. We focus too much on bringing something good into our lives, but we need to act differently: start getting rid of the bad. Especially from that without which not one of our days can do.
Stop taking everything personally (even though it’s not easy)
Thanks to social networks, many of us (as well as our thoughts, the fruits of creativity and labor) are in plain sight today. This means that anyone can get acquainted with them, evaluate and condemn us. And for a few positive comments (or even for several tens or hundreds of laudatory reviews), there will definitely be at least one offensive, depreciating one.
If you are still a beginner in some business, such an assessment can make you doubt yourself and your abilities. Saying “don’t take everything personally – and generally don’t take everything too personally” is easier than done.
However, the reason for every venomous comment is not in you and not in the fact that you are doing something badly, but in the “internal war” waged by its author. Most likely it is a war with oneself. Those who are in harmony with their own “I” do not condemn others. So, other people’s words are nothing more than a projection of other people’s complexes, insults or internal state. As for us, in the long run, overreacting to criticism and condemnation is costly to the psyche.
What should we do if we are offended by someone’s words or behavior?
There are two options:
- Ask yourself why it hurts so much. Perhaps we are talking about some unresolved internal problems?
- Allow the speaker to do what he wants, “letting go in peace.” The moment you stop being emotionally involved in the situation, you will realize that your abuser is a frustrated and, perhaps, simply unhappy person.
Also, learn to distinguish between constructive criticism and nasty comments. Criticism can be helpful for your growth and development, but it’s hardly worth listening to someone who just wants to prick you more.
In the book “Unlimited” Jim Kwik cites interesting data: it turns out that today each of us consumes as much information in a day as the average person who lived in the XNUMXth century received in his entire life. According to Quick, it’s so difficult for us to keep close contact with family and friends, as well as concentrate on work, precisely because we are too attached to our gadgets.
And the main problem is that we really like being online and mindlessly flipping through the social media feed. This is because every time we update the feed or list of notifications, we experience a rush of dopamine and gradually become addicted to it.
Trust me, controlling your time on social media will really set you free. Having “disconnected” from the world, including the virtual one, you will finally be able to “connect” to yourself.
What can be done in practice?
- In your schedule for each day, leave at least half an hour to do what you really like, energizes you. It can be journaling, drawing, cooking, meditation, plant care, reading. These half an hour spent in silence, without gadgets, will help you get distracted from work tasks and reboot.
- Give up gadgets in moments of “downtime” – for example, when waiting for a bus or standing in line at the checkout. Breathe, look around.
- Turn off notifications on your phone so you won’t be tempted to look at it every now and then. Research shows that after we’ve been distracted by reading a notification (even if we haven’t unlocked the screen to do so!), it takes us more than 15 minutes to fully focus on a task again. Even the notification signal itself distracts us.
- Set time limits for using each social network (special applications will help to do this). It seems that reducing the time spent on social networks is too difficult. But it will free up a huge amount of resources, allow you to think more clearly and focus better on what really matters.
Stop neglecting normal sleep
It has long been proven that the quality of sleep affects the emotional state, mental and physical health, as well as productivity. But, even knowing this, we continue to lack sleep. Partly because self-proclaimed gurus tell us that the only way to do more is to sleep less. But it’s quite the opposite: adequate sleep is the key to productivity and a happy, healthy life.
What can be improved in the coming months?
- Start getting enough sleep – sleep for at least 8 hours, even if you are sure that 5-6 is enough for your body.
- In addition, sleep in darkness and silence, and not with parted curtains and the sound of a working TV. If there is no way to ensure complete darkness and silence, buy a sleep mask and earplugs – it’s cheap and effective.
- What you do right before you go to bed is also important. Avoid overeating and intense exercise. Opt for calming activities like meditation, yoga, reading, journaling. And, of course, avoid excessive lighting and gadgets.
As a result, you will become more energetic, creative and able to solve more complex problems. Together, breaking the three bad habits listed above will allow you to: become more aware, more productive, more deeply involved in relationships with loved ones and give them support. It will also have a significant impact on your health.
Ready to try?