Go Back to Your Comfort Zone
I know right, every influencer, motivational coach and somebody with a camera is constantly screaming at you to leave your comfort zone.
and here’s me telling you to return to the Shire.
That is because your body already thinks it has been out in Middle Earth.
It can’t tell the difference between an alarm clock or an Orc, everyday stressors or trolls.
When you’re stressed the body releases Acetylcholine. Acetylcholine causes your muscles to contract and too much of this you end up with knots in your muscles.
You know those painfully tight and tense spots on your body that bug you all the time.
Constant stress causes inflammation in the muscles stopping you from recovering from your training as well as shutting down your digestion and pushing blood away from vital organs (starving them of nutrients and oxygen) to keep your body in a constant state of being ready to fight or run.
Here’s what the Hobbits got right.
They know how to relax! Here’s how you can learn from the little Halflings.
1) Spend time in nature. No rushing, just wander around, sit under a tree and relax. Nature not only helps you destress but can help unlock creative thinking, Make you feel happier and can reduce depressive thoughts and anxiety.
2) They eat real food. Not only are you in a state of constant stress which can affect your digestion and starve your body from vital nutrients. The food you eat is highly processed and does not have many quality nutrients in them. Those little halflings ate 7 meals a day and I’d say not one of those meals was processed. The food they ate provided they weren’t in the middle of Mordor would be from their gardens or a local farm from the shire being highly nutritious.
We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures. Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner! I can’t think what anybody sees in them.” – Bilbo Baggins
3) Spend time with friends and family. Humans are very social creatures. Loneliness is worse for your health than smoking. Hobbits have this mastered, They make time for their friends and family (Even risking their lives for them and giving up potatoes). They sit and talk under the stars all night or enjoy a drink and a dance in the green dragon whatever you do spend time with your friends and have a laugh.
4) Gardening. Hobbits love to garden and grow their food, Granted the Shire doesn’t have a Big Tesco’s but Gardening gets them out in nature as well as being a physically active hobby it lets them unwind, destress and stay active. Try and spend a bit of time in your garden (when this rain stops)
5) Appreciate the present. If Middle Earth had Facebook, I don’t think those little halflings would care very much. They appreciate the little things in life, like sitting on a bench and watching the world go by. Next time you have a meal.. instead of taking a picture of it, take the time to enjoy the taste of it.
If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” – Thorin Oakenshield
Incorporate these little tips into your life and watch your world turn a little merrier