Today we make more decisions in 10 minutes, consciously or subconsciously, than our grandparents probably made in a day.
My grandfather would take half a day to drive the horse-drawn wagon to town. On the way back, as the sun was starting to set, he would tie the reins to the seat, climb in the back, throw a blanket over himself and not wake up until the wagon came to a halt beside the barn.
Today, we steer a car, signal, shoulder check, brake, shift gears, monitor our speed, read signs, estimate the distance to the lights, plan our grocery list, remember that we need to stop at the bank, all in the space of mere seconds.
Sometimes we just need to get away from it all – physically, as well as mentally.
I’ve heard there are two types of people – those who recharge their emotional batteries by being with people, and those who need solitude in order to boost them above the stress of the day. I’m definitely a solitude person. Being alone in a quiet place helps me sort through thoughts and realign my feelings so I can emerge in a more positive frame of mind.
I have proven to myself that exercise is another effective stress-buster. At a particularly difficult time in my life, I took up running. I would estimate how I felt on a scale of 1-10 as I was starting my run. Without fail, I was two or more points higher at the finish.
Join a club or take a class with uplifting people. Create segments of solitude. Participate in some form of exercise. Find things that rejuvenate your spirit and you will be an active participant in your own happiness.
Is there something in particular that recharges your emotional battery? Tell us about it by commenting below.
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