Nearly everyone you speak to at the moment is feeling tired, stressed, unwell, overwhelmed, overworked and troubled by issues whether they be work, health, relationship, family or friend related. Regardless of how hard they try, they can’t seem to make the leap forward. ¨
According to Elizabeth Jane, the hamster wheel feeling is alive and well at the moment and many people feel like they are stuck on it.
“If this is you, take heart that you don’t have to be always stuck in second gear. No matter what stage of life you are at, you can always change gears to feel better,” Jane said.
Author, artist and mindfulness keynote speaker, Elizabeth Jane, has experienced the pain of divorce and has now dedicated her life towards helping others heal from trauma and move on and find happiness in life.
Jane is a highly respected self-help expert who has navigated the self-improvement path with great success.
Her best-selling book, ‘Free and First – Unlocking Your Ultimate Life’, available on Amazon, is a part memoir, part self-help book that guides readers to process things that they may be struggling with and helps them break free of these constraints, so that they can look forward to a future without the weight of the past.
Living hard and fast lives
“Many of us live our lives in the fast lane, with our feet pressed down hard on the accelerator. We’re overscheduled, overworked, overstressed and overtired. We’re over stimulated and yet when we finally have the time to relax and unwind, instead of doing just that, we whip out our phones and start doom scrolling, thinking we’re unwinding but all we’re doing is further stimulating our brains,” Jane said.
“It’s time to stop!”
Slow Down to Power Up
“It is only when we slow down and allow ourselves time off the hamster wheel that we can truly power up,” Jane said.
According to research the average person has approximately 60,000 thoughts per day and makes over 30,000 decisions each day. Most of these thoughts are unconscious, negative and drain our energy.
“To be able to make conscious decisions that help us to grow, we need to be able to stop, feel how we feel in the present moment and be in a position to say ‘no’ to things that cause us pain and suffering and our mood to drop,” Jane said.
“It takes courage, vulnerability and determination to stop, feel those uncomfortable feelings that may often surface, and to let go of things that are not working, making healthy choices.
“Unfortunately, many people tend to keep busy, numbing themselves not allowing themselves to feel what they really need and so carry on as best they can until burn out or another health issue arises.”
Jane emphasises that the lucky ones are those that choose to allow space for reflection, choosing to let go of toxic relationships and situations and to set boundaries to allow their needs to be met.
“As we take time out to take care of ourselves, stepping more into our authentic self, meeting our own needs, we begin to align with people, things and situations that match the higher energy we put out. We become a vibrational match to better opportunities, like-minded people and circumstances and a more joyful, purposeful life unfolds” Jane said.
“Increasingly, people are rejecting the constant hustle and bustle. Many of us have been told we need to hustle to succeed but it’s getting to the point of total burn out for far too many. Here are a few suggestions how you can adapt your life to slow living and start enjoying more of what life has to offer.”
Stop the doom scrolling
“The number one culprit is your phone. Many people simply lose hours of their lives aimlessly and endlessly scrolling their phones,” Jane said.
“The actual benefits of social media are few and far between. The disadvantages? Well, where does one even start? It’s notorious for being detrimental to your mental health, creating unrealistic expectations, normalising risk-taking behaviours and has become a shocking platform for bullying and exclusion. Do yourself a favour and ditch your phone. Engage your mind by reading a book instead.”
Simplify your schedule
“It’s not just adults whose schedules are overcomplicated and filled with unnecessary things to keep us busy. It’s our kids too,” Jane said.
“Whatever happened to just not doing anything and letting your imagination and creativity take over? Now we’re so busy, we’re rushed off our feet. People are overbooked or they’re double booked and it’s utterly ridiculous.
“Another horrible habit of overly busy people is never saying no to work. Try to clock out and disengage from work. Don’t check your email outside of workhours and on the weekends. Learn to say no to other things as well that don’t bring you joy.”
Jane suggests giving yourself some time to reflect and experience the now. It is only in this space that we can feel into what we need and what truly matters to us. Our creativity and feel-good vibes are more likely to be ignited when we are taking time out, off the hamster wheel. You can consciously add things back into your life once you have achieved a better sense of balance. As you find your inner peace and well-being you will find that your relationships with others will start to flourish as well.
The Great outdoors
“You don’t have to go for a five-hour hike everyday but just get outside and smell the roses in your own garden. Being outside and amongst nature is good for your body, mind and soul. Just twenty minutes in nature each day can significantly reduce your levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, leaving you feeling refreshed and energised” Jane said.
“Rekindle your connection with Mother Nature and let her goodness fill you up. Enjoy the warmth of sunshine on your skin and the feel of a breeze in your hair. Why hole yourself up in a gym like a hamster on a wheel when you can walk, run or swim for free outside.”
The finer things in life
“For once, stop looking at the big picture and start noticing the small things. Children are known for noticing the small things because they haven’t had their lives take over yet. Reconnect with the child within you and take notice of the small things in life,” Jane said.
“Sit at a café and people watch, like they do in Europe. If your nose is always in your phone, how are you going to be aware of the many wonderful things that are going on all around you? And when you stop and notice these small things, you’ll naturally be filled with a sense of awe and gratitude of the magnitude of nature’s wonders and beauty.”
Slow hobbies
“Many of us had hobbies as children that just kind of fizzled away as life got busier and busier. But there are many great hobbies that you can either go back to or start as an adult,” Jane said.
“Slow hobbies let you be more mindful and allow the mind to take a break from de-energising negative thought patterns. Who knows, you could even end up with a new skill. From painting and drawing to playing a musical instrument or restoring an old side table, there are so many ways to engage in a hobby that suits your personality that can bring your many hours of joy, engagement and fulfilment rather than just spending the weekend on binge-watching episode after episode of a show you won’t even remember after a month. Plunge in, try something new, have a play with no expectation like a child would do.”
Stop multitasking
“In our society, multitasking is seen as a good thing. We feel we are being productive but sadly the opposite is often true. Our brain is constantly having to switch gears which drains our energy and often raises our stress levels,” Jane said.
“Isn’t it better to do one thing slowly, productively, mindfully and to its entirety, rather than just dabble quickly in a number of things when nothing ends up being done well?”
Why changing gears and adopting slow living is a good choice
“In today’s world, too many of us are rushing through life so much that it’s become a monotonous treadmill going at top speed. You want to get off but you’re scared you’ll fall. Changing gears may take courage but the benefits of a happier, healthier, more purposeful life will start to stream in,” Jane said.
“Taking time out allows us to feel into what really matters to us. As we take time for ourselves and lift our mood, our relationships are enhanced as we are better able to know, communicate and meet our needs.
“If you’re overworked and overstressed, and you feel like it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month, or even your year, then it is time to reflect. Take charge of your life. Change gears, slow down and take some much-needed time out for you. You may surprise yourself how much lighter you feel and more time you free up, as you begin to let go of what is not working in your life. Most likely you will gain a lot more clarity as to what matters to you and how to focus on what sustains you and brings you and others joy.”
