Peaceisthementalandspiritualstateofcalm,devoidofstress,panicandworry.Itisveryimportantforindividualstofindpeaceintheirlife,ithelpsyoucalmyourselfwhichisaveryimportantnecessitytocontinuetoexistinaworldthatseemslikeitmovestoofast,andwouldleavebehindanyonewhofailstocatchup.Givenhowfast-paced,strenuousandcompetitivelifehasbecometoday,itisimportanttopaceourselvestoavoidburnout.Incaseyouaren’tfamiliarwiththeterm,‘burnout’referstoexhaustingyourselfasaresultofprolongedperiodsoffacingstress.Onceyourefillthefuelofyourcar,ittakesyourcaraspecificdistance,right?Andifyouuseahigherspeed,youareburningmorefuelmorerapidly,right?Thesamehappenswithustoo.Whenwearefacedwithaproblem,wetryourbesttosolveit.Weusewhateverresourceswecantoresolveitsothatwecanbedonewithit.Butiftheproblempersists,ourresourcesbegintodeplete,andeventuallygetexhausted.Thisexhaustionisburnout.Whyshouldyouavoidburnout?Well,otherthantheobviousreason-wedon’twanttobeexhausted,wewanttofeelhealthyandrejuvenated-burnoutcanalsoseverelyaffectyourphysical,mentalandemotionalhealthandjeopardizeyoursocialrelations.Burnoutcanmanifestinphysicalhealthintheformoflossofappetiteoralargerthanyourusualappetite, frequentheadachesandmuscleache,lowimmunityresultinginyoufallingillveryfrequentlyasyourbodydoesnothaveenoughenergytofightpathogensandkeepyouhealthy,aswellasbeingverydrainedhavinglittletonoenergymostofthetime.Itcanalsocauselossofmotivation,inabilitytofocus,reductionincognitiveabilitiessuchasmemoryandproblemsolving,alongsidefeelingsofworthlessness,senseoffailure,lowself-esteemandadeepsenseofdissatisfactionwitheverything.Itcanalsomakeyouveryirritable,makeyouwanttodeferyourresponsibilities,withdrawingyourselffromsocialisation.Andinsomeintenseinstances,itcanleadtoalcoholorsubstanceabuse,orsomeotherformofaddiction.Howdoweavoidburnout?Bypacingourselves,bytakingitonestepatatime,andbytryingtotakebreakswhenweneedtorecuperateandbounceback.Justlikeifweholdontoabagfortoolongandriskcrampingourarm,similarlybyworkingandoverworkingourselvesweruntheriskofburnout.Soitisadvisabletotakebreaksandunwindwheneverpossibleasitresultsinamoresustainableformofproductivity.Herearesomewaystopracticepeace-1.Drawuplimits.Wetendtooverfillourplateandthenhalfwaythroughrealisewehavebittenoffmorethanwecanchew.No,I’mnottalkingaboutfood,thatwasananalogy.Theweekhasonly7daysandadayhasonly24hours.Don’ttrytofiteverythinginoneday.Learntoprioritiseanddelegatetasksallovertheweek.Setlimitsforyourself,forexample-checksocialmediaonly5timesaday,oronlyfor15minutesintheafternoonand15minutesintheevening,orbasedonprioritydoonly3bigtasksadayor5smalltasks.Theselimitswillhelpyoupaceyourself,aswellasestablisharoutine.2.Lookforarelaxationtechniquethatistailoredtoyou.Differentthingshelpdifferentpeoplerelax,trytofigureoutwhatrelaxesyou.Itisabitofatrialanderrorprocess,somethingthatisrelaxingforothersmaynotworkforyou,sogiveeverythingatryuntilyoufindoutwhatsuitsyourneeds.Meditation,mindfulness,yoga,journalingetc…aresomethathaveworkedformany.Deepbreathingexercises,listeningtomusic,orgoingoutforawalkaregoodplacestostart.Nomatterwhatworksforyou,besuretoimplementiteveryonceinawhile.3.Don’tletthingsgetbiggerinyourheadthantheyactuallyare.Ourmindshavethistendencytooverthinkandmakesituationstobebiggerandmoreimpactfulthantheyreallyare.Whatthisleadstoisyoustressingoutandfussingoversomethingthatiseventuallysomethingthatyoudidn’tevenneedmuchthinkingfor.Agoodpracticetoavoiddoingthisistotryandrealisewhenyouaregettingoverworkedoversomething,takeastepbackandrationalise.DoesanybodyotherthanmecareaboutitasmuchasIdo?AmIholdingmyselfuptounrealisticstandards?WillIstillbethinkingaboutthisinamonth,ayear,afewyears?Answeringthesequestionsmighthelpyouassesshowmuchenergyshouldgointothesituation.4.Slowdown.Goingbacktotheexampleofcarandfuel,thefasteryougo,themorefuelyouburn,thesloweryougo,themoreefficientamountoffuelyouburn.Similarly,slowdownonceinawhile.Whenyoufindyourselfoverwhelmed,andtakingabreakwouldstressyououtmoreorisotherwisenotanoption,slowdown.Sometimestasksareamarathonandnotasprint,itismoreimportanttoconserveyourenergythan“givingityourall”.5.Organizedenvironment,organisedmind.Adisorganised,clutteredoruntidyspacewillonlyimpedeyourabilitytobeproductive.Itwillalsosubconsciouslystressyououtmore.Itdoesnottakemuchtimetocleanupandorganiseyourroom.Youdon’thavetodeepclean,butatleasttidyuptheplacealittlesoitlooksneat.Thiswillhelpyouslipintoaclearerandorganisedmindset.Useaminimalisticworkspace-youmightnotrealiseitbut,butvisualclutteraddsconsiderablytosubconsciousanxiety.Themorethingsyouseeinfrontofyou,themorethingsyourbrainisconstantlytryingtomakesenseof.Trytokeepthedeskyouworkonasminimalisticaspossible,andkeepeverythingelsestorednearby.Andcleanyourdeskeverytimeyouhavefinishedworkingsothatthenexttimeyouhavetowork,youcometoadeskreadytobeworkedupon.Ifyouleaveitcluttered,youwillwanttoputoffworkingasyouknowyouhavetocleanitfirst.6.Acceptandletgo.Acceptanceisthebestwaytoachieveapeacefulmindset.Wearenotalwaysinasituationwherewecanchangethingsaroundustocatertous,andinsteadofgettingupsetoveritorfussingoverit,ifwetrytoacceptandadjustwewillrealiseitreallyisn’tthatbad.Ifthereissomethingholdingyoubackfromthepast,somethingyoudidthatyouregretormaybesomethingthatsomeonesaidtoyou,trytoacceptthatitisinthepastandyoucan’treallychangeit.Thinkingaboutitisonlyawasteofyourenergy.Letitgo,youstillhavethefuture.Youcanlearnfromapastmistakeandensureyoudon’trepeatitagain,andifsomethingsayssomethingtoyouthatyoumightnothaveexpectedlasttime,thistimeyouarebetterprepared.Letgoofphysicalandmaterialthingstoo.Thistiesintothepreviouspointaboutdeclutteringyourplaceaswell.Wemighthoardthingsthataren’treallyofmuchvaluetous,letgoofthosethingstoo.Thatdressyouworetoaneventthatyouhavefondmemoriesofbutdon’tfityouanymore?Ifyoucan,giveitaway.Letsomeoneelsemakefondmemorieswithit.Onceyouhaveletgoofthepastandacceptedthepresent,youcanmoveforwardtothefuturewithapeacefulmind.7. Forceyourselftocompleteonetasktobreakthecycleofprocrastination.Everytimeyouputoffataskforthefuture,youareonlyaddingmoretoyourstress.Youmaynotbedoingthetaskactivelybutyouareconstantlythinkingaboutit.Andconstantlythinkingaboutitbutnotdoinganythingaboutitcanleadtofrustration.Sobreakthatcycleandgocheckoffataskfromyourto-dolist.Evenifitisthesmallesttask,justgoaheadanddoit,don’tthinktoomuchandgoaheadandfinishit.Itdoesn’thavetobeperfecteither,justdone.Ormaybegosolveaproblemthathasbeentroublingyouforawhilenow.Youhaveprobablythoughtaboutitforawhile,maybeyouevenhaveavagueideaofwhattodo.Justgodoitandbedonewithit.Youwillbesurprisedattheamountofreliefyouwillfeel,howmuchlighteryouwillfeel.Itwillalsobeagoodremindertoyouthenexttimeyouarefacedwithsomethingtojustdoit.Onceyouaredonewithit,youwillfeelalotcalmerandmoreatpeace.8.Escapeanddisconnectforawhile.Lifecanbeveryhectic,andaswesaidbefore,weallneedabreakeveryonceinawhile.Andwhileabreakmaymeangrabbingacoffeeorsomethingtoeatforawhile,ormaybesteppingawayforafewminutes,youalsoneedaproperbreakawayfromeverythingthatisstressingyouout.Leaveforaweekend,takeavacation.Andifyoucannotleave,thenatleastdisconnect.Letyourco-workersandfriendsknowyouaretakingabreakandwillonlybeacceptingcallsifitisurgent,andspendtheweekendthewayyouwant.Gotakeawalkacrossthecity,maybevisitaparkorgardenorascenicplacethatwillhelpyoucalmdown.Orifyouwanttostayin,watchamovieyouhavebeenmeaningtowatchforawhileorbinge-watchyourfavouriteseries.Orcurlupinyourbedwithagoodbookandyourfavouritesnacks.Somepeoplelovecookingandfinditincrediblyrelaxing,orifyoudon’tknow/likecookingorderout!Takethistimetobewithyourselfandindulgeinyourhobbies,whateverhelpsyouunwindandrelax,helpsyoufindpeace,evenifforabriefwhile.9.Bepolite,patientandunderstanding.Thebestwaytoattainpeaceisbymaintainingit.Inthegrandschemeofthings,weareallinthistogether.Soitisourcollectiveresponsibilitytoensurepeaceismaintained.Bepolitetoothers,rudenessalwaysbringsaboutunnecessarynegativity.Negativityisdisadvantageoustofindingpeace.Tofindpeaceforourselfweshouldhelpothersfindittoo,soweshouldtryoutbesttonotbringnegativity.Bepatientwithothers.Wecanallgeteasilyfrustratedattimesandwemayallhavereasonsforit,butbeingpatientcanworkwondersinbringingyouandtheotherpersonpeace.Maybeyouarehavingabadday,maybeyoumissedyourbusortraintoworktoday,maybeyouhadamisunderstandingwithsomeoneclose,andyoufeellikesnappingatthenextpersonwhocomesacrossyou.Trytoholdonandrealisethereisapossibilitytheyarehavingabaddaytoo.Trytobeunderstandingofthecircumstancestheyarefacingaswell.Bybeingalittlemorepatientandunderstandingyouhaveavoidedconflictandmaintainedpeace.Youareboundtofeelbetteraboutyourselfafterittoo.10.OneStepataTimeEventhosewhoclimbedMt.Everesthadtotakehundredsofstepstogetthere.Takeitonestepatatime.Don’tstressyourselfifyoudon’tgetsomethingstraightaway.Turnitintoamantraandremindyourselfeverytimeitstartsgettingtoochaoticinyourhead. Ifthereisabigtaskaheadofyouthatseemsverydauntinganditisoverwhelmingyou,hitpauseandtrytobreakthetaskintomanageablechunksandtakeabreakwheneveryoufeelnecessary.Youwilleventuallyfinishit,youjusthavetohangonuntilyouhave. Whenyoudon’tletoverthinkinggettoyouandkeepfaithinyourself,youareboundtoadoptamorecalmandcollecteddemeanourandapeacefulmindset.
Peace is the mental and spiritual state of calm, devoid of stress, panic and worry. It is very important for individuals to find peace in their life, it helps you calm yourself which is a very important necessity to continue to exist in a world that seems like it moves too fast, and would leave behind anyone who fails to catch up. Given how fast-paced, strenuous and competitive life has become today, it is important to pace ourselves to avoid burnout. In case you aren’t familiar with the term, ‘burnout’ refers to exhausting yourself as a result of prolonged periods of facing stress.
Once you refill the fuel of your car, it takes your car a specific distance, right? And if you use a higher speed, you are burning more fuel more rapidly, right? The same happens with us too. When we are faced with a problem, we try our best to solve it. We use whatever resources we can to resolve it so that we can be done with it. But if the problem persists, our resources begin to deplete, and eventually get exhausted. This exhaustion is burnout.
Why should you avoid burnout?
Well, other than the obvious reason - we don’t want to be exhausted, we want to feel healthy and rejuvenated - burnout can also severely affect your physical, mental and emotional health and jeopardize your social relations.
Burnout can manifest in physical health in the form of loss of appetite or a larger than your usual appetite, frequent headaches and muscle ache, low immunity resulting in you falling ill very frequently as your body does not have enough energy to fight pathogens and keep you healthy, as well as being very drained having little to no energy most of the time.
It can also cause loss of motivation, inability to focus, reduction in cognitive abilities such as memory and problem solving, alongside feelings of worthlessness, sense of failure, low self-esteem and a deep sense of dissatisfaction with everything. It can also make you very irritable, make you want to defer your responsibilities, withdrawing yourself from socialisation. And in some intense instances, it can lead to alcohol or substance abuse, or some other form of addiction.
How do we avoid burnout?
By pacing ourselves, by taking it one step at a time, and by trying to take breaks when we need to recuperate and bounce back. Just like if we hold onto a bag for too long and risk cramping our arm, similarly by working and overworking ourselves we run the risk of burnout. So it is advisable to take breaks and unwind whenever possible as it results in a more sustainable form of productivity.
Here are some ways to practice peace-
1. Draw up limits.
We tend to overfill our plate and then halfway through realise we have bitten off more than we can chew. No, I’m not talking about food, that was an analogy. The week has only 7 days and a day has only 24 hours. Don’t try to fit everything in one day. Learn to prioritise and delegate tasks all over the week. Set limits for yourself, for example - check social media only 5 times a day, or only for 15 minutes in the afternoon and 15 minutes in the evening, or based on priority do only 3 big tasks a day or 5 small tasks.
These limits will help you pace yourself, as well as establish a routine.
2. Look for a relaxation technique that is tailored to you.
Different things help different people relax, try to figure out what relaxes you. It is a bit of a trial and error process, something that is relaxing for others may not work for you, so give everything a try until you find out what suits your needs. Meditation, mindfulness, yoga, journaling etc… are some that have worked for many. Deep breathing exercises, listening to music, or going out for a walk are good places to start. No matter what works for you, be sure to implement it every once in a while.
3. Don’t let things get bigger in your head than they actually are.
Our minds have this tendency to overthink and make situations to be bigger and more impactful than they really are. What this leads to is you stressing out and fussing over something that is eventually something that you didn’t even need much thinking for. A good practice to avoid doing this is to try and realise when you are getting overworked over something, take a step back and rationalise. Does anybody other than me care about it as much as I do? Am I holding myself up to unrealistic standards? Will I still be thinking about this in a month, a year, a few years? Answering these questions might help you assess how much energy should go into the situation.
4. Slow down.
Going back to the example of car and fuel, the faster you go, the more fuel you burn, the slower you go, the more efficient amount of fuel you burn. Similarly, slow down once in a while. When you find yourself overwhelmed, and taking a break would stress you out more or is otherwise not an option, slow down. Sometimes tasks are a marathon and not a sprint, it is more important to conserve your energy than “giving it your all”.
5. Organized environment, organised mind.
A disorganised, cluttered or untidy space will only impede your ability to be productive. It will also subconsciously stress you out more. It does not take much time to clean up and organise your room. You don’t have to deep clean, but at least tidy up the place a little so it looks neat. This will help you slip into a clearer and organised mindset.
Use a minimalistic workspace - you might not realise it but, but visual clutter adds considerably to subconscious anxiety. The more things you see in front of you, the more things your brain is constantly trying to make sense of. Try to keep the desk you work on as minimalistic as possible, and keep everything else stored nearby. And clean your desk every time you have finished working so that the next time you have to work, you come to a desk ready to be worked upon. If you leave it cluttered, you will want to put off working as you know you have to clean it first.
6. Accept and let go.
Acceptance is the best way to achieve a peaceful mindset. We are not always in a situation where we can change things around us to cater to us, and instead of getting upset over it or fussing over it, if we try to accept and adjust we will realise it really isn’t that bad.
If there is something holding you back from the past, something you did that you regret or maybe something that someone said to you, try to accept that it is in the past and you can’t really change it. Thinking about it is only a waste of your energy. Let it go, you still have the future. You can learn from a past mistake and ensure you don’t repeat it again, and if something says something to you that you might not have expected last time, this time you are better prepared.
Let go of physical and material things too. This ties into the previous point about decluttering your place as well. We might hoard things that aren’t really of much value to us, let go of those things too. That dress you wore to an event that you have fond memories of but don’t fit you anymore? If you can, give it away. Let someone else make fond memories with it.
Once you have let go of the past and accepted the present, you can move forward to the future with a peaceful mind.
7. Force yourself to complete one task to break the cycle of procrastination.
Every time you put off a task for the future, you are only adding more to your stress. You may not be doing the task actively but you are constantly thinking about it. And constantly thinking about it but not doing anything about it can lead to frustration. So break that cycle and go check off a task from your to-do list. Even if it is the smallest task, just go ahead and do it, don’t think too much and go ahead and finish it. It doesn’t have to be perfect either, just done.
Or maybe go solve a problem that has been troubling you for a while now. You have probably thought about it for a while, maybe you even have a vague idea of what to do. Just go do it and be done with it. You will be surprised at the amount of relief you will feel, how much lighter you will feel. It will also be a good reminder to you the next time you are faced with something to just do it.
Once you are done with it, you will feel a lot calmer and more at peace.
8. Escape and disconnect for a while.
Life can be very hectic, and as we said before, we all need a break every once in a while. And while a break may mean grabbing a coffee or something to eat for a while, or maybe stepping away for a few minutes, you also need a proper break away from everything that is stressing you out.
Leave for a weekend, take a vacation. And if you cannot leave, then at least disconnect. Let your co-workers and friends know you are taking a break and will only be accepting calls if it is urgent, and spend the weekend the way you want.
Go take a walk across the city, maybe visit a park or garden or a scenic place that will help you calm down. Or if you want to stay in, watch a movie you have been meaning to watch for a while or binge-watch your favourite series. Or curl up in your bed with a good book and your favourite snacks. Some people love cooking and find it incredibly relaxing, or if you don’t know/like cooking order out! Take this time to be with yourself and indulge in your hobbies, whatever helps you unwind and relax, helps you find peace, even if for a brief while.
9. Be polite, patient and understanding.
The best way to attain peace is by maintaining it. In the grand scheme of things, we are all in this together. So it is our collective responsibility to ensure peace is maintained.
Be polite to others, rudeness always brings about unnecessary negativity. Negativity is disadvantageous to finding peace. To find peace for ourself we should help others find it too, so we should try out best to not bring negativity.
Be patient with others. We can all get easily frustrated at times and we may all have reasons for it, but being patient can work wonders in bringing you and the other person peace. Maybe you are having a bad day, maybe you missed your bus or train to work today, maybe you had a misunderstanding with someone close, and you feel like snapping at the next person who comes across you. Try to hold on and realise there is a possibility they are having a bad day too. Try to be understanding of the circumstances they are facing as well. By being a little more patient and understanding you have avoided conflict and maintained peace. You are bound to feel better about yourself after it too.
10. One Step at a Time
Even those who climbed Mt. Everest had to take hundreds of steps to get there. Take it one step at a time. Don’t stress yourself if you don’t get something straight away. Turn it into a mantra and remind yourself every time it starts getting too chaotic in your head. If there is a big task ahead of you that seems very daunting and it is overwhelming you, hit pause and try to break the task into manageable chunks and take a break whenever you feel necessary. You will eventually finish it, you just have to hang on until you have. When you don’t let overthinking get to you and keep faith in yourself, you are bound to adopt a more calm and collected demeanour and a peaceful mindset.
