Throughout the day we rush from one job to another, a meeting here and a meeting there, cooking a meal, shopping, picking the kids up from school, it goes on and on until, exhausted we drop into bed. Then, Hey presto, its one o’clock in the morning and you are worrying about the next day. How you are going to get that report finished and on your manager’s desk for 10am? Did you really pay the electricity bill and did you set the house alarm? Busy, busy, busy and that’s increasingly how we define ourselves to others. They say, “what are you doing today”, well, I’m soooooo busy, always on the go!!

STOP, STOP, STOP It might feel that you need to be busy to justify who you are, or to maintain your contribution to family and society, but being too busy leads to stress and anxiety. STRESS creeps up on you over time and weaves itself throughout your mind and body. Shoulders become tense, your neck hurts, you have more headaches than usual, your muscles ache, you wake fatigued and wanting to have ‘just 5 more minutes’ in bed. The alarm clock becomes the dragon in the room.

You need to adjust your attitude to your own health and well being. Learn to appreciate that the simple act of taking a breather from the hustle and bustle of your busy schedule will have massive health benefits.

Here are 3 easy steps to mindfulness.

  1. Walking is great in your lunch break, it gets you out and moving (something the spine loves to do by the way!)

  2. Sitting on a park bench re-connects you with your breathing and helps you relax. Its a well known fact that nature aids recovery and improves overall health and wellbeing.

  3. Lying on the floor with your feet raised over cushions or on a chair will help your spine to relax, and ease the burden from sitting hunched over a computer all day and gives your mind and body an important break from a busy mind.

So next time you say to yourself or to others “I’m so busy I haven’t got time to go for a walk, go to the gym, do my rehabilitation exercises… you are allowing stress to creep into your life. Somewhere down the line, maybe not today, next month, maybe not even next year, your mind and body will eventually make you ‘STOP’.

Remember, “those who have no time for exercise will eventually have to make time for illness”. Be brave and take up the challenge today to look after yourself, because if you can’t look after yourself you will find it difficult to look after those close to you. Go on, take a breather for 20 minutes a day and you will be amazed at how good you will feel!!