The Secrets of Eliminating Daily Stress: Remove Activities and Commitments
Photo by Joe Lanman
Stress doesn’t always come from huge events in our lives. It can be caused in little amounts by small events, and build up to the point where it has the same impact as a major catastrophe. Over the next few Fridays, I’m going to examine some of the causes of daily stress and give some suggestions on what can be done to alleviate them.
Removing Activities and Commitments
One of the reasons we get over-committed is we don’t want to let people down. We work under the illusion that if we just work a little bit harder or different, we can do it all. Our increasing sense of burnout tells us otherwise. Just like we can’t eat everything at an all-you-can-eat buffet, you can’t do it all. Slimming down your commitment roster can free up time to enjoy remaining activities more, or to pursue interests we couldn’t work on before.
There are two things you need to consider about any activity you currently participate in or are considering.
Does It Bring Joy?
If this activity does not bring you joy, short term or long term, it is a candidate for purging.
For example, I had rejoined a singing group two years after I left it at the request of a friend. I had made the commitment to myself to stick the full year out, but it was such a drag on my spirit I left after three months. I felt so much better after!
Life is too short to hate what you do.
If this activity that doesn’t bring joy is one that you cannot avoid (like work or doing the laundry), sit down and figure out what you dislike about it and see if you can rectify it. For example, if you hate your work because of the commute, find a job that is closer. If you hate doing the laundry because you hate folding clothes, see if someone else in your family is willing to do the folding.
Does It Further Your Long-Term Goals?
The other thing to consider is whether or not this activity is furthering your long term goals. Some long term goals can only be gained by work and sacrifice in the short term.
For example, you might have to take a class you hate in order to get your degree. Or in the classic example, if you want a pony, you have to deal with the pony leavings…
However, not all your activities can be in this class, or you will end up grumpy and bitter.
If you honestly think you can’t give up activities and commitments because you don’t want to disappoint people, then you need to consider the people you are trying to please. More on that next week.
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