There’s no shame in realizing you might be addicted to stress. Some of the best, most well intentioned and “productive” people are stress junkies in disguise. It’s just a really good idea to take assessment of your life from time to time to find out if there are any unhealthy habits you have that could be preventing you from an even greater impact you could be having in your life. Check out this list, be honest with yourself and see if you can relate. I’ll try to keep it short, since you’ll likely get bored and want to move on to something else.
1. You wake up in the morning with a feeling of dread or anxiety over what you might have to do that day.
2. You often skip eating or sleeping in favor of getting something done.
3. You find it hard to focus on someone when they’re talking about personal things without rehearsing all the other things you could be doing while you’re listening.
4. You cannot relax if you are aware that something in your life is left undone.
5. You wonder why drama seems to always follow you around, but secretly you thrive on it.
6. You constantly “multitask.” For example: reading with the TV on, listening to a book while doing other things, etc.
7. It’s been a long time since you’ve asked yourself the deeper questions concerning the motivations behind your actions. (Hint: You had to read this item twice before understanding what it was saying.)
8. You filter out any information that doesn’t immediately apply to your life in the here and now.
9. You inadvertently find yourself holding your breath, biting your cheek, clenching your jaw, or taking shallow breaths frequently throughout the day.
10. You watch other people slowing down and enjoying life and think, “That would be nice, but I don’t have a choice in my life.”
Congratulations, you’re still reading— which means that you might not be beyond recovery. If this list has freaked you out a little bit about the pace of your life, that’s good! Here’s a quick prescription you can follow to help you re-connect with yourself and get you on the road to recovery.
Prescription for Stress Addiction:
1. Schedule 10, 20, or 30 minutes you owe to yourself. Decide on a time and a place and set it in your calendar. Tell the people around your about your plan so they don’t interrupt. If possible, get away from all people. Make sure you schedule time enough to get to your destination.
2. When your calendar reminds you it’s that time, drop everything and be in the place. Turn your phone and all other devices off immediately. You may want a clock available to help you with the time. Being in your car can work great.
3. During that time, practice mindfulness. Close your eyes and feel yourself breathing, hear the sounds going on around you. Talk to the self inside. Make a conscious effort to be kind and compassionate toward yourself. You may want to have paper and pen available to help you focus, draw or release whatever is inside. If you believe in God, you can direct your thoughts in the form of a prayer.
Make it your goal to work your way up from maybe once a week to once a day for 10-30 minutes.
Did you try it? If so, let me know how it goes and what insights you gained!