Years ago, when computers were less user-friendly, one had to know how to take various shortcuts when there was an issue with their computer. One of those shortcuts was Ctrl-Alt-Delete. Pressing these three keys together at the same time helped to reboot one’s computer when it froze or acted haywire. Once pressed together, the computer returned to its normal self.

Last week, something scary happened to me that made me want to reboot my life. After I arrived at work, I felt pain in my chest. The pain wouldn’t go away and I started to break out into a sweat. I immediately went down to my school Director’s office and asked her if I can sit down. She saw that I didn’t look well and asked me if she could call up an ambulance to which I agreed. The EMS workers attached me to an EKG machine and fortunately, their readings showed that my heart rate was good. Feeling worn out after a hectic weekend, I decided that it would be best to leave my job and go home to rest for the day.

My son, who fortunately had just received his driver’s license, drove me home. As I sat in the backseat of my car, I contemplated my life and what may have caused the chest pain. It turned out that the day before the incident, I had drunk three cups of coffee, way more than I was used to. This was to help get me and my family back home on a 5-hour trip from Vermont after driving 5 hours the day before to pick up my daughter from a 10-day art residency. It had to be the coffee that affected my heart. However, the trauma of having prolonged chest pain and entering an ambulance was a wake-up call for me to reevaluate everything I did in my life.

For the past dozen years or so, I’ve been living as if every day were my last. This may sound like an exciting way to live, but it can be exhausting and over time, physically and mentally damaging. To start making necessary changes, I reflected on everything that I’ve been doing in my life. I am currently working a full-time job and several part-time jobs to help support my son in college. I decided that instead of working a few part-time jobs in one day, I spread them out evenly throughout the week. I am now also reshuffling my busy schedule and canceling or postponing things when I have too much on my plate.

I also thought about the stressors in my life and figured out a game plan on how to deal with them. I decided that I wasn’t going to let others stress me out, for the toxicity coming from some individuals can literally increase my heart rate and affect my health. I also knew that I sometimes need to say “no” to others who may need my help or guidance, for I can only do so much.

Additionally, I spent time thinking about the things that I love to do in my life. I have to approach these things in a different way that will promote my well-being. If I feel that they will cause me stress, I will stop doing them or be a part of them in a much smaller way.

I have recently taken up hot yoga. Yoga is benefitting both my body and mind and is even helping me improve my running. It calms me down and makes me stay focused on the important things in my life.

Many people’s lives often get out of control as they live beyond their capabilities. This could send some of us to the hospital. We all have to reflect on what we do from time to time and reboot when necessary.