WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF TODAY WAS YOUR LAST DAY?

Ted Mosby once said, "But that's the funny thing about destiny: it happens whether you plan it or not. It turns out I was just too close to the puzzle to see the picture that was forming."

I've spent a lot of time thinking about whether or not I believe in destiny. Do we have a set path that we will end up following no matter what we choose? If so, does it really matter what we choose? Because if that was true, wouldn't everything just happen like it was supposed to anyway?

But if we are in charge of our own destiny, then we are also to blame when things don't turn out how we want them to.

I have spent my entire life wondering what my life will eventually be. I spend so much time trying to figure out what comes next that sometimes I forget that life is happening right now. Sometimes I actually have to take time to remind myself to live in the moment.

So, it got me thinking: what if I only had one more day? How would I spend it? Who would I spend it with?

If today was my last day, I would spend it with my best friends and my family. I would play hide-and-go-seek with my little sister as many times as she wanted. I would let everyone in my life know how much they really mean to me and how much they affect who I am every day.

If today was my last day, I wouldn't spend so much time on my phone, because nothing on Facebook is really ever that interesting. And yet, I find myself glued to my phone more than I care to admit.

If today was my last day, I would get better at texting people back and call my grandma. I'm sorry, Grandma. I really do mean to call more.

If today was my last day, I would eat the ice cream, because sometimes happiness is about more than your waistline.

If today was my last day, I would stop taking everything so seriously. Life is a funny thing, and I think we all need to relax a little and just enjoy it.

If today was my last day, I would spend time in my favorite place: the ocean. If I could live anywhere in the world it would be right off the beach.

If today was my last day, maybe I could stop being so afraid of the future.

I don't know if I believe in destiny. I like to believe life is more "choose your own adventure" than it is a set path. But maybe it is time we stop thinking in terms of what our lives will become in the future. I love Ted Mosby. How I Met Your Mother is and always will be one of my favorite shows. But while Ted spent his entire life waiting for his life to start, he sometimes lost sight of what was right in front of him.

The worries of the future can consume you. They can eat you apart. But don't let them. Happiness seems to be this elusive goal that we all search for, but it doesn't have to be something we strive to attain in the future. You don't have to wait. Whatever your "destiny" is (if you believe you have one), it is important to try to find happiness in the present, because you can never be certain of what the future holds.

And that's okay.

What would you do if today was your last day?

HOW TO CLEAR YOUR MIND SO YOU CAN CLEAR YOUR TO-DO LIST

Lately, I have definitely been on information overload. It's getting to that point in the semester that I feel like I can't think straight. There is so much to do, and I am struggling more than ever to concentrate on one thing for an extended period of time. My focus is so off. Part of it is because I really need a break. I could use some time at home and time away from writing papers and plowing through never-ending required readings. But it's also because I just have a lot on my mind.

An article I found from Forbes called, "10 Steps to Conquering Information Overload" stuck out to me, because I realized that is exactly what I was experiencing. In one my classes last year, I learned about the concept of cognitive overload, which is due to the massive amount of information and stimulation we have on a regular basis. There is so much we can focus on at one time that it can be hard to really buckle down and pay attention to one task. I decided to do one of the exercises the article, and write down the things that were consuming my thoughts.

This is what I took away from it, and what I think it most effective way to get the full benefits from the exercise.

Let it flow out

It is easy to stop and think things through. Avoid this at all costs. The best way to get your thoughts out is to just keep writing. It doesn't matter if it comes out sloppy or doesn't make sense. It doesn't even matter if it is one giant sentence with a series of comma splices that would make your high school English teacher hurl. Keep in mind, no one else is going to be reading this.

Be honest with yourself

Since no one else is reading it, you need to be as honest as possible. This can be the hardest step. Once you put it down on paper it becomes real. If there is something you have been thinking or feeling that you haven't admitted to yourself, this is the best way to do it. It is scary, but it's worth it. If you are lying to yourself, you are wasting your time.

Write everything 

It can get tedious and take a long time, but it is worth it. If you quit before you have gotten everything out, you might miss something important. When I wrote everything out it wasn't until the very last thing I wrote that I realized what I was really concerned about. 

Don't get caught up in the details

Remember, this is for you. You don't need to clarify all of the little details like you would when you are telling a story. You want to write everything you are thinking down, but you don't need to go so in depth that you crank out a short memoir during this exercise.

Reflect

Like I said, it wasn't until the last thing I wrote down that I realized why my thoughts were so scattered. Sometimes in attempt to find a solution, you keep thinking about something over and over again. Maybe you have a moment replaying in your mind or you are thinking through possible scenarios. Either way, putting it to paper can help you thoughtfully articulate why something is stuck on your mind. Look back at what you wrote down, and pay attention to the points that seem new or can explain why you haven't been able to think clearly.

Whether you have too much going on at work or a decision that you haven't been able to make, it is important to take the time to clear your mind. In the end, you will save yourself a lot of time and energy. It's time to focus on what you need to get done, and figure out what you really want. 

 What do you do to clear your mind? Have you ever tried something like this?

P.S. Check out "How Yoga Changed My Life" for more tips on de-stressing.

*Title credit to my wonderful roommate and friend, Kenzie. Thanks for the inspiration. :)

How Yoga Changed My Life

Original Image

Life is stressful. Someone cuts you off on the freeway. Work piles up, and your boss doesn't seem to get that you are human, too. No one else seems to understand what you are going through. Then one day, you say something that you don't mean to someone you care about, because you have bottled up your frustrations of the day. 

Yoga allowed me to see things differently. I see the stressful events in front of me. I might even feel a twinge in my chest or the anxiety approaching, but I stop. I take a breath, and I actively combat the stress with calming thoughts and soothing breaths. When I am actually in the yoga studio, it becomes even simpler. Suddenly, the worries shrink, until they disappear. My breath is louder than my thoughts, as I mentioned in my post "Breathe in, Breath out." And I am able to stay focused on the present poses.

Via The Mayo Clinic

Child's Pose// In child's pose you are faced toward your mat--arms stretched out, legs bent, forehead on the mat. Many of the instructors I have had start the class with in child's pose, reminding us to return to this pose if we are overheated (I do a lot of hot yoga) or out-of-sync with our breath. While I am not going to go into this pose in my everyday life, when I am fatigued or overwhelmed it serves as a reminder to stretch my body and calm my mind.

Downward {Facing} Dog// Whenever I have a conversation about yoga with someone who doesn't practice, they seem to bring up the downward dog if anything. It is the one pose that many people recognize, and sometimes like to poke fun at. But while they are laughing, I am reaping the benefits of stronger arms and decreased back pain. 

Active.com lists other benefits including,

• Stronger hands, wrists, low-back, hamstrings, calves and Achilles tendon
• Decrease in back pain by strengthening the entire back and shoulder girdle
• Elongated shoulders and shoulder blade area
• Decrease in tension and headaches by elongating the cervical spine and neck and relaxing the head
• Deepened respiration
• Decreased anxiety
• Increased full-body circulation

Cobra// I like to do yoga in the morning. Have you ever heard people say they work out in the morning, because then they are conscious about what they eat throughout the day? It's a motivator to stay healthy, because you don't want to ruin the benefits you gained from working out. Well, for me, yoga is a way to stay grounded and focused throughout the day. It is a reminder to remain calm and appreciative after my practice. The cobra involves you lifting your chest away from the ground, stretching your heart forward. With that in mind, I keep my heart open and full throughout the day.

The Art Of Living mentions benefits such as,

• Opens up the shoulders and neck. 
• Tones the abdomen.
• Strengthens the entire back and shoulders.
• Improves flexibility of the upper and middle back.
• Expands the chest.
• Improves blood circulation.
• Reduces fatigue and stress.
• Useful for people with respiratory disorders such as asthma. (Do not practice this yoga pose during the attack though).

 
Warrior Series// Even the name suggests strength. There is Warrior I, Humble Warrior, Warrior II, Reverse Warrior, and Warrior III. In Warrior II, I feel strength in my arms and legs. In Warrior III, I fight to balance (the more concentrated I am, the more likely I am to stay balanced). Yoga is not an extended version of stretching; there is so much more to it. It is mental, physical, philosophical, and psychological. Yoga is also about achieving courage, grace and peace.

Corpse Pose// This final pose, Shavasana, is often emphasized as the most important. Many yoga instructors encourage yogis to stay at least 3-5 minutes after the class has ended to remain in this pose to soak in the benefits of the practice. In yoga it is important to keep your focus inward. Nothing matters beyond the four corners of your mat, which includes not feeling discouraged by the practice of the people around you. It is in our nature to compare ourselves to others, but it is often destructive, and everyone is at different places. Some people are brand new, while others have been practicing for many years, so they might be able to push a little farther. This pose is meant to be even more about you. With your eyes closed, you focus on your breathing and the present moment. It is meant to be meditative and relaxing. 

Yoga: Art + Science shares benefits of these pose such as, 

• a decrease in heart rate and the rate of respiration.
• a decrease in blood pressure.
• a decrease in muscle tension.
• a decrease in metabolic rate and the consumption of oxygen.
• a reduction in general anxiety.
• a reduction in the number and frequency of panic attacks.
• an increase in energy levels and in general productivity.
• an improvement in concentration and in memory.
• an increase in focus.
• a decrease in fatigue, coupled with deeper and sounder sleep.
• improved self-confidence.

Via Pinterest

What helps you stay relaxed? Do have any other tips and tricks for combating stress?