We live in times today where technology has changed the way we communicate, live, and possibly think. The constant pinging of emails can be as annoying as a dripping water facet. We are suffocating in doodads and options, Blackberries and blogs, cell phones, search engines and Wi-fi. These tools have made our lives easier and we have become smarter in many ways. But, are we overall better off? Not necessarily so. The excessive demands on our senses have created what scientist call “Cognitive Overload,” a state of constant distraction causing chronic stress.
The National Consumer League states that 80% of Americans are stressed and 63% say their stress levels are rising. Over 50 million people in the US alone suffer from sleep and relaxation disorders. PEOPLE NEED TO CHILL OUT! We have become imbalanced. How do we avoid cognitive overload and bring more balance into our lives? I have two simple suggestions.
1. Spend time in Nature.
Dr. Felf in his book, " The Role of Horticulture in Human Well-Being and Social Development" states that exposure to nature settings produces significant recovery from stress in physical measurements such as blood pressure and muscle tension. I can vouch for that!
One of my very favorite things to do is hiking with my two over-grown retrievers, Eli and Bogart, at a nearby park . It is a great place for them and me to get in touch with nature. There are many different hiking trails for several miles that cover about 400 acres of beautiful dense forest. In the Spring the dogwoods, if the sun hits them just right, look like a forest of twinkling white lights. Lush shades of green in varying size and shapes of foliage fill the summer months. In the fall, you are surrounded by brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows. Though I love all of the seasons there, I think my favorite is winter. The leaves are off the trees and you can see for miles. The woods are wide open. This is the season when I take Eli and Bogart off their leashes and say, “Run, boys…Run” and they run like the wind. It looks and feels like total freedom! No matter how stressed I am, within five minutes of being in nature, I have not a care in the world. It quiets all my mind chatter and frees my soul.
Spending time in nature isn’t always possible. But viewing nature scenes on your television or computer is and it has also proven to have great calming effects.
2. Listen to Soothing Music
My second suggestion is to simply listen to soothing music. Dr. Joel Robertson in his book, "Natural Prozac" states that listening to soothing music is a powerful tool to instantly change the chemistry in your brain with no negative side effects. He says, “If chosen correctly, it can be medicine for the mind and the soul.”
20 years ago scientists experimented with plants and the music of Bach. They found that his music caused the plants to grow faster and healthier, while the hard rock music had a negative effect on the plants. It stands to reason then that music also affects the human organism in ways that we may not realize. The next time you feel your stress levels climbing, tune into soothing music and just see how quickly your mood changes. Add some deep breathing to that and I guarantee you will feel a whole lot better! I like to keep soothing music playing in my office all day as I work. It helps keep me relaxed and balanced.
We are bombarded with information and most of it negative at that and we are in ‘Cognitive Overload.’ We must take measures to keep out lives balanced. Being in nature and listening to soothing music are two readily available and simple measures to create that balance.
http://www.TwentyGems.com/
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Denna J. Shelton, Copyright, 2010
