This is a regular routine for most of us. We groan all the way to work on Monday and somehow muddle our way through the work like a blind machine, not knowing where we are heading. We hail Fridays with relief and wish we could quit our jobs and do something we love. We all seem to be trapped in our everyday lives and routines, doing everything else but what we need the most. Freedom seems far away. But there are some simple things you can do to regain your sense of space and freedom and feel alive again.
1. De-clutter your living space: It’s a curse of modern times, but we all live in tiny apartments today where space is at a premium. Go through your apartment and get rid of everything you don’t need – the clothing you haven’t worn in years, the knick-knacks that litter your living room, the mementos you no longer look at. You will have space to move around, which will ease some of that shut-in feeling and you will realise that you can even be happy with lesser things around. And that’s a freeing thought.
2. Just do it now! Every time you put off a job, it holds you back from moving on to the next thing. The guilt of not completing that job shackles you, making you uncomfortable. Finish off your jobs and you will be able to breathe free even though that is easier said than done.
3. Stop apologising: If you’re not sorry, don’t say so. Own your actions and your thoughts. It’s a damn freeing feeling to stand by what you do without apology.
4. Move your body: Constant hours of sedentary work makes you stiff and uncomfortable. Free up your body and mind with some light exercise. You could opt for an intensive workout, or a relaxing yoga or swim or even something invigorating – like dance. Your muscles will relax and your mind will feel more free and cheerful.
5. Start saying no: That is easier said than done, so start small. If you don’t want to finish the movie, turn off the TV. If you don’t want to go to the party, don’t go. Getting into the habit of saying no to small things helps you to repeat the practice when it comes to the bigger issues – and it frees up so much more time for what you actually do want to do with your time.
6. Go slow, go efficient: Watch yourself during a typical day. Begin to identify when and why you’re rushing around and how your performance changes when you’re calm and collected. Don’t buy into the myth that slowing down will make you less productive. Productivity isn’t just about speed, it’s also about efficiency.
7. Breathe: Most of us don’t pay attention to how we breathe. When you are stressed out, you tend to take short, gasping breaths. But when you become conscious of this, it slows down, becomes deeper and calmer. So start paying attention to how you breathe. You can do meditation or rhythmic breathing everyday in the morning.
8. Commit to continuous learning: Chuck the idea that you’re too old or too busy to learn new things. Humans are innately curious and learning new things is what keeps us alive – body and soul, and keeps us evolving. Opening your mind to new concepts frees your mind of your usual way of thinking and you end up finding a new way to do the same thing. And that, my dear is called new perspective. It’s how you find solutions to your problems.
9. Identify what you need to let go: Get your thoughts together and recognise which ones are dragging you down. If you’re harbouring anger, resentment or fear, find a way to release it. And relish in the positive mental space you’ve cultivated as a result.
10. Define your own freedom: Most important of all is to decide what the word ‘Freedom’ actually means to you. Is it financial independence? Is it intellectual stimulation? Is it having the time and resources to travel or is it as simple as making a little more time to read and visit friends? Whatever freedom means to you, take the chance to define it – and then pursue it with everything you’ve got.
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