In today’s day and age, it’s all too easy to get caught up in the rat race of life. From responsibilities and social demands to social media negativity and the occasional feelings of existential dread.
With all these things going on simultaneously, it’s not at all uncommon to feel overwhelmed, fatigued, and exhausted. However, as time goes on, more and more people are beginning to realize that more stuff and more demands don’t necessarily equate to a better quality of life. As a result, a growing trend towards living simply has begun to emerge.
If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed lately, here are four surprising benefits of living simply courtesy of TMS Center of Lehigh Valley.
You’ll Experience Fewer Distractions
Believe it or not, the busy demands of your life are often unnecessary extras rather than required commitments. Once you begin to adopt a simple lifestyle, you can also begin to peel off the shackles of distraction.
Over time, you’ll begin to notice a reduction in both physical and mental clutter, allowing you to restore productivity, reduce anxiety, and a newfound abundance of freetime, which you can put to use learning a new skill, recharging your batteries, or resting your mind and body.
You’ll Reduce Your Personal Environmental Impact
There is a general consensus within the scientific community that the environment in which we all work and live is being negatively affected by a society that continues to be consumer-driven and negligent.
Of the many benefits afforded by a switch to a more simplistic lifestyle is a reduction in your personal environmental impact. Most people who embrace this type of lifestyle abide by the “three Rs” of the waste hierarchy: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
By making the most out of your resources and becoming more aware of ways in which you can abide to a more sustainable lifestyle, you’ll not only simplify your life, but you will also feel better by reducing the amount of waste you produce, as this helps both your family and your environment.
You May Improve Your Executive Brain Functioning
In a recent article featured on Huffington Post, Dr. Tracy Marks, MD, explains that recent studies have shown that overstimulation can impair executive functioning in both children and adults.
Executive functioning refers to your brain’s ability to plan, remember, problem solve, and think critically. Dr. Marks argues that a reduction in unnecessary “noise” can restore executive functioning levels dramatically, allowing you to better concentrate, communicate, and think more creatively.
You May Feel More Energized and Less Stressed
In the aforementioned article, Dr. Marks also mentions that frequent multi-tasking generally leads to more stress and burn-out. Constantly feeling “plugged-in” and attempting to juggle too much at once can greatly increase stress levels.
Often, difficulty sleeping is one of the first signs that your mind and body are over-stressed. One fantastic benefit of simplicity is a drastic reduction in conditions that affect sleep, including insomnia.
According to Amitai Etzioli, author of the scientific research article, Voluntary Simplicity: Characterization, Select Psychological Implications, and Societal Consequences, claims that living a simpler life can decrease chronic stress, which in turn improves your mental well-being, personal relationships, and ability to enjoy your life to the fullest.
Speaking of living your life to the fullest, did you know that TMS Therapy is a scientifically-backed, safe, and effective treatment for mental health conditions like chronic stress and depression?
TMS Center of Lehigh Valley, is the region’s first depression treatment center offering FDA approved, non-drug, non-invasive transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment for patients who suffer from mental illnesses like depression and anxiety.
Our dedicated staff is made up of tireless advocates who, with our expertise and compassion, help people struggling with depression conquer their disease and get their smiles back. To learn more about what we do or how we can help, don’t hesitate to contact us today.