How Downshifting Heals

Why do we need to heal? What is it about being in the rat race that causes us so much discontentment and ill-health? With some studies showing that over 70% of office workers in the UK are currently suffering some form of ill health as a result of their jobs, it seems pertinent to explore downshifting as a healthier alternative.

Downshifting in a nut shell is about choosing to trade some of our income for simplicity and time. When we engage with those things, simplicity and time, in a wholesome, life-serving way, they have the potential to heal us in body, mind and spirit and also to maintain us in that healthy state.

Healing Our Bodies.

What are the physical stresses we impose on our bodies? In a fast paced, achievement focussed, money-driven existence, we snack on junk food, eat for comfort, forget to exercise and do not give ourselves permission to relax. The result in the extreme can be heart disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis and chronic fatigue states.

Downshifting can free us up to make dramatic improvements to our health and wellbeing. In setting aside some time to pay attention to our nutrition, for example, we can decide to return to eating freshly prepared, nutritious food at regular meal times that are in alignment with our body’s needs. We can seek support in returning to or setting up regular and enjoyable exercise habits. We can attach some priority to relaxation as an essential part of every day, valuing the regeneration work that our bodies are programmed to do for us, once we stop rushing around and start resting.

Mind

Being in the rat race can set up numerous emotional stresses, from pressures on our time and energy, to office politics and unrealistic expectations that we and others may have of us. If left untreated, these stresses can lead to depression, anger, insomnia, resentment, addictions and confusion.

How do we simplify what is going on in our minds? Stress is not what other people do to us, but rather how we respond to what they do. Pain is what happens, suffering is our response. So, we can relieve the stress by deciding to change how we respond to the mental pressures on us. Downshifting happens on a mental level as well as in the physical realm, by focussing our minds on what is truly most important to us. I do a lot of values and beliefs work with my clients, much more process work than goal setting, just as much looking at how to “be” as working out what to “do”. This is the nature of downshifting our mental processes – giving ourselves the time to uncover our core values and then deciding to focus on them. This mental simplification in turn frees up our time – time to think, to prioritise, to be grateful, to unwind.

Spirit

What do we feel in the spiritual part of our being that seems like stress? If you’re feeling disconnected, lethargic, uninspired, not truly present in the world, or reluctant to take responsibility for yourself, then you could well benefit from paying more attention to your spiritual side.

How do we do that? There are two remedies I would suggest for re-kindling that pure, undamaged spark of life that is present in all of us. The first is through adopting some form of spiritual practice, such as T’ai Chi, Qui Kong, Yoga, or Meditation. The second is through finding out what inspires you and making a habit of it. This might be spending time in nature, reading particular books, watching inspiring films, spending time with inspiring people etc. They key to optimising your spiritual wellbeing is to view these kinds of activities not as luxuries, but as essential parts of your life.

For many of my clients and downshifted friends, those two remedies go hand in hand and the best results, in terms of personal happiness, are obtained by adopting both of them together.

Conclusion

The stresses imposed on our body, mind and spirit by living in the rat race can lead to ill health that affects every part of our being. In contrast, by simplifying our lives and freeing up our time, we have the potential not only to heal ourselves, but also to maintain our optimum wellbeing and thus increase our overall happiness.