You should eat this.
You shouldn't eat that.
You should exercise more.
You shouldn't exercise like that.
You should stop drinking.
Relax, just have a couple of drinks.
You should be productive.
You shouldn't work so much.
One of life's pressures for some of us is to try and change who we are according to what our family, friends, professionals, society or others say we should do.
It's good to be fit, it's good to be mindful of what we eat, it's good to have a work/life balance, it's good to keep our minds occupied, and it's good to conform to norms when appropriate.
The problem that some of us have is that many of us spend far too much time trying to follow a strict regime, trying to get the work/life balance right, trying to conform to what others suggest of us - trying to meet all of the expectations of others and of ourselves.
A classic pressure that we put ourselves under relates to our physical health - we need to eat right, drink right, eat less, exercise more, the list goes on. Yes, these are all good things to consider, but so is your mind health.
Striving to do all of the aforementioned suggestions places us under pressure, pressure that can easily turn to anxiety and stress if we believe we aren't meeting those expectations.
Our brains are wired in such a way that it is often difficult to make changes in our lives because what we want to change is deeply ingrained in or brain. It takes to sixty (60) to eighty (80) days to change a habit. Just one, single, solitary habit.
To reduce this tension that goes on inside of our heads, choose just one thing that you want to change in your life, something that will make a real difference to you, something that you want dearly to achieve. Then, focus on that single thing for eighty days minimum. When this new habit has become instinctive, i.e. a habit you no longer have to think about, pick just one more thing to change.
Over a year, you shouldn't try to change more than three habits, your brain won't like it. If you try to change too much at once your brain will become overloaded and will resist the changes.
Each of us is very different, and that is what makes the world an interesting place.
Keep doing your best - that's more than enough. And remember, your best will look different each day.
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You Should Do This!