12 Nov Want Real Fulfillment and Happiness? 5 Ways to Simplify Your Life
via Inc.com by Rhett Power
The research is in: Simplicity is the fast track to happiness, health, productivity, and success. How so?
The lessons of meditation.
Meditation is training in simplicity, reducing distractions, first by physically removing them and in advanced stages by mentally removing them. "A particularly ambitious form of meditation aims at effortlessly sustained single-pointed concentration meant to enable its practitioner to enjoy an indestructible sense of well-being while engaging in any life activity."
Studies of meditation and its impact tell us how effective it is in reducing stress and improving productivity and health outcomes. Forbes lists some of the most interesting studies in recent years. Findings include:
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Meditation helps preserve the aging brain
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It reduces activity in the brain's "me center"
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Its effects rival antidepressants for depression and anxiety
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It reduces anxiety–and social anxiety
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Short meditation breaks can help kids in school
The lessons of clutter.
Researchers at the Princeton University Neuroscience Institute published the results of a study on the effects of clutter in the Journal of Neuroscience. "The conclusions were strong–if you want to focus to the best of your ability and process information as effectively as possible, you need to clear the clutter from your home and work environment. This research shows that you will be less irritable, more productive, distracted less often, and able to process information better with an uncluttered and organized home and office."
The lessons of multitasking.
A recent Stanford study that shows that multitasking slows us down and lowers our IQ. "The researchers also found that people who are regularly bombarded with several streams of electronic information cannot pay attention, recall information, or switch from one job to another as well as those who complete one task at a time." In "The True Cost of Multitasking," Psychology Today reports decreased productivity of up to 40 percent with multitasking. Others report that stress levels are higher among multitaskers and health suffers as a result.
These are just a few studies. In all three areas, there are many additional studies with similar results. The lesson here for us is that simplicity is the path to a happier, healthier, more productive life and career. We can all benefit from coaching in meditation, clutter reduction, and singletasking, but what are some specific ways to apply these lessons in daily life?
How to live better and longer by simplifying…
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