Remember to Take Breaks

I saw a quote on FB once and it stuck with me since.
“You were born to do more than just go to work, pay bills, and die.” (I believe I saw it on Spirit Science, however, who specifically quoted this, I am uncertain.)
It stuck with me because I believe we are here to do so much more. I often talk to people about what they enjoy doing. A lot of times people reply, “I don’t have time”.
The sad part is, you have to make time. If you are already telling yourself you do not have time, and you are running around for everyone else, how long do you think your body can keep this up?
The body does not distinguish between physical and psychological threats. When you are stressed over a busy schedule, a traffic jam, or a mountain of bills, your body reacts just as strongly as if you were facing a life-or-death situation.
On HelpGuide.org “Long-term exposure to stress can lead to serious health problems. Chronic stress disrupts nearly every system in your body. It can raise blood pressure, suppress the immune system, increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, contribute to infertility, and speed up the aging process. Long term stress can even rewire the brain, leading to anxiety and depression.”
How long do you think you can keep it up? Stress recovery takes time. Do you want to guess how long? A lot of reports and research show two to 10 years. Often there are signs or symptoms that people ignore as normal, but it is your body telling you it is not at peak performance.
For example: bowel movements. You should be having a bowel movement everyday. Do you?
Another example: sleep! How long do you sleep? What is the quality of your sleep like? Do you feel rested when you get up in the morning?
A sad fact from the US Center for Disease Control, “more than half of all deaths between the ages of one and 65 result from stressful lifestyles”.
What is normal, is a body that functions well and you are having fun! The downside is, I do not hear a lot of people telling me this.
Remember to take breaks. The best thing you can do is something you like to do. Something that brings you joy. Do you like to dance? Bike? Color? Read a book? Go for a walk with a friend?
Remember to take care of yourself. It is the best thing you can do!