Protecting your peace of mind

In today's busy world, it has become more important than ever for us to protect our peace of mind by consciously choosing what kind of information and people are allowed access to us.

We can be bombarded with information from our phones, the news and television.

We can be available 24/7 on our phones if we do not put limits around how contactable we are.

Never in human history have humans been as information-saturated and contactable as we are today.

In working with clients, I notice an increasing sense of overwhelm in people's nervous systems because of the lack of downtime in our day.

People can feel on edge, frazzled and unable to cope with everyday stresses because they have been managing and juggling so much for a long time.

We were never designed to be switched on, contactable and taking in information all day every day.

In order to have peace of mind, we need to have pockets of time where we feel bored, where we daydream and where there is no stimulus coming into our systems.

These moments of stillness and peace allow our system to settle and recalibrate. These moments can also be some of our most creative!

If you look at your day from when you wake in the morning, are there boundaries you could start to put in place to protect your peace of mind?

For example, if, on waking you check your phone emails, texts, social media etc., you are using up your motivation neurotransmitter called dopamine which then makes it more difficult for you to feel the reward of completing further tasks like making your bed, getting breakfast ready, planning your day ahead.

A simple change to leaving your phone outside your bedroom and using an alarm clock could set you up for a more productive and peaceful start to your day.

Could you only listen to music you love in the mornings instead of the news or scrolling on social media?

In terms of the people who negatively impact on our peace of mind, it can be more challenging to make changes here but it is worthwhile if we feel happier and more peaceful as a result of limiting our contact with particular people.

Who are the people who lift you up and support your dreams?

Can you spend more time with the people who are a positive influence on your wellbeing?

What kind of boundaries do you need to put on your contact with the people who negatively impact on your peace of mind?

Surround yourself with people who lift you up and make you shine, rather than drain you.

If you find it difficult to know where your boundaries are and it is challenging to enforce them with certain people, speak to understanding friends and family to get some support.

If you need some unbiased support, seek out a session with a psychotherapist who can help you find your individual way to create the boundaries you need in your life to help you protect your peace of mind.