Overstimulation

Down time is a beautiful thing. It’s a shame how little of it most of us have. I think I’m fairly typical when it comes to this issue. We get so caught up on our task-oriented, overworked hamster wheels, we lose sight of the importance of carving out quiet periods.

It was a busy week for me.  After a nice holiday break, I jumped back into work with six back-to-back presentations in five days. (What was I thinking?)  Don’t get me wrong.  I love my work and feel fortunate there is such a need for it.  However, trying to detox from my week’s over-scheduled schedule has been challenging.

As I see it, the problem is one of overstimulation. When our brains get conditioned for constant input and processing of information, that becomes the norm. Accordingly, it becomes difficult to slow down and recharge. Things just don’t feel right if we aren’t doing something. And sadly, grown-ups aren’t alone in dealing with this issue.

I often hear adults complain about today’s youth and their need for instant gratification and constant entertainment. I agree this is the case, but also know kids follow our example. If we want children to develop healthy lifestyles, we adults must be more intentional about modeling the same.

In my last blog I talked about the importance of giving our brain breaks, and I believe the best way to do this is by keeping them from being bombarded with continuous stimulation.  This may come in the form of stepping away from social media – or taking daily walks – or enjoying a relaxing hobby.  And the bonus is that in doing these things, we not only have a positive impact on our own well-being, but model the very behaviors we want our kids to adopt in the process.