Things that can have a negative effect on your life and spirituality and how to address them.
We often get caught up in our daily chores, businesses, arguments, and over thinking small and finer details of problems that may not even exist. Some of us merely spend hours thinking about an argument that we may have had and pondering upon what you could have said better in order to make your point.
Although, this is not to undermine the idea of daily chores, debates and pondering upon everyday issues. In fact, sometimes doing all those things in a balanced manner can in fact be beneficial. On top of that humans we are not idealistic creatures who will be perfect, and require something to fulfill our empty mind and occupy it with something rather than sit idly empty minded. Here are some basic things that I feel can help improve productivity:
Find a hobby
It is only natural for our brain and heart to be satisfied while doing something that we enjoy. Hence why hobbies are something that are often over looked. Finding something you enjoy doing and giving that hobby at least 30 minutes of your time every day or every other day is extremely important. Remember, practicing your hobbies is not meant to be a chore. If your hobby feels like a chore, it isn’t much of a hobby.
We must also take into account that having and practicing a hobby and wasting time are not synonymous. Hobbies are what increases our productivity throughout the day as we have something to look forward to. A study showed that “Higher PEAT scores were associated with greater PA, life satisfaction and life engagement, and lower levels of NA and depression” — (Sarah D. Pressman, PhD, Karen A. Matthews, Sheldon Cohen, Lynn M. Martire, Michael Scheier, Andrew Baum, and Richard Schulz, 2009)
In the above quote, PEAT refers to Pittsburgh Enjoyable Activities Test, a test that was developed to measure such effects.
Have a balance in every aspect of your life
The need for balance in life is very important in all aspects of life. Truth is, even too much water at some point, which is vital for life to exist, can ironically kill you. The issue of balance is huge and is something that is needed in work, social life, political views, religious views, diet, and so much more but for now we are sticking to life. Going out of balance is something that will somewhat plunder your predisposed nature of wanting balance. Keep in mind, this idea of balance can be increased, but doesn’t have to be perfect. We all have our own way of balancing things, and can often be subjective, which is fine.
That being said, it is difficult to find a balance. An interesting philosophy with regards to balance I want to share is from a religious scripture which goes as following:
“The sun and the moon follow courses precisely calculated,
“And the stars and trees prostrate.”
“And the heaven He raised and imposed the balance”
“That you not transgress within the balance.”
“And establish weight in justice and do not make deficient the balance.”
It goes from the empirical observable nature to show that if nature around us follow some course of balance and precision, which in modern terminology can be referred to as gravitational pulls, the laws of physics and how precise these things are. we as humans should also stay within the boundaries of balance. Balance meaning, not going over board and not undermining things. Which is then followed by relating the previous line to our moral compass which is justice. I might write about this extensively in another article. The point is, balance is something that we can observe in nature, and we should try to have that balance in our life, which although may not be perfect, it is better to have some than absolute none.
Avoid over eating
First and foremost if one suffers from binge eating addiction or something that is triggered by depression or other psychological related issues which requires professional help, one should seek such professional help. A lot of people do not realize that sometimes overeating is not something that is done merely out of love for food or bad habits, but unfortunately many people suffer from disorders that require professional help which lacks funding in even many first world countries.
with regards to overeating as a result of mere unhealthy habits, this may be a cliche but over eating is something that can effect us a lot. The issue with over eating is that over eating makes us lazy. Laziness can lead to lack of interest in hobbies or wanting to do anything, which then effects us mentally. We need to be modest in our choice of foods as well as the amount we eat. Remember, eating small meals through out the day is better than eating fewer big meals.
Vain talk and argumentation
Argumentation is something we do often. This isn’t to say that argumentation is always bad. However I personally have noticed with myself, that constant argumentation takes away the softness of the heart and makes one less compassionate. This may not seem like a big issue to many people, however I felt the need to touch upon this. I do think this aspect is over looked and how argumentation can be mentally draining.
Vain talk what I am referring to here is talking without purpose. This does not mean one should speak only when one needs to, but speaking utilizes much of our brain. Wasting our utilization of brain in useless and often meaningful conversation is something one should minimize, although one does not have to fully give up. After all, one’s nature and heart yearns for some level of leisure speech with others and to relax.
Although these are things that are very basic and one might think that there is nothing new to ponder upon here, I am yet to see anyone write about the idea of balance. The idea of balance is something that is absolutely needed under which everything falls.
sources:
- Pressman, S. D., Matthews, K. A., Cohen, S., Martire, L. M., Scheier, M., Baum, A., & Schulz, R. (2009). Association of enjoyable leisure activities with psychological and physical well-being. Psychosomatic medicine, 71(7), 725–732. https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0b013e3181ad7978
- Quran chapter 55
