Taking a Time Out
7 Tips for Making the Most Of It
Dear friends,
It has been awhile (5 months but who’s counting). And I have missed this. Sitting at my computer in the comfortable surrounds of my home office and having a conversation with you. You’d be surprised how many times your faces pass through my mind as I write; recalling a conversation we’ve had or wanting to speak directly into your life and your situation. Wondering how life has moved on since we last connected. Yes, I’ve missed this.
“Where have I been?” you ask. I’ve been taking a time out; a season of stepping back and focusing on rest and regeneration. I had no idea how hard this would be for me.
Ever have one of those times in your life? When you notice that your creative, mental and physical energy are tapped out and you’re running on fumes? Ever have fantasies of sleeping for a month on a beautiful deserted island – completely alone? If you have, you can relate to the need for a time out.
I’ve written many times about the need for rest and relaxation: daily, weekly, monthly and more. I have regular conversations with my clients about building a lifestyle that supports adequate rest. And yet…..sometimes the reality of life puts us behind the eight ball despite our best efforts. I share this to say “it can happen to anyone,” so don’t beat yourself up if it happens to you. Do take a time out.
Since I find myself in the midst of this life lesson, I thought I would pass on a few things that I’ve learned so far about the challenges and opportunities of a “time out. “
- Take it seriously. Don’t minimize the messages that your body and soul are giving you. Most of us are better at pushing through our discomfort than listening to it. With years of practice we perfect the ability to “just keep going.” This is a time to slow down and listen.
- Be ruthless in letting things go. It’s easy to let go of things we don’t like to do anyway. But optimizing a time out means cutting into the meat of your life; temporarily stepping back from things you love as well. Like writing this blog and time with my family.
- Put yourself at the top of the list. This can feel a little selfish at first, if not downright uncomfortable. It’s important to filter every choice through the question “what will take the best care of me?” and follow through with action.
- Focus on basic self-care. Getting “back to the basics” means prioritizing sleep (lots of it), rest, whole foods, nutritional support, sunlight, positive thoughts, spiritual connection and pleasure.
- Practice satisfaction with “being” rather than doing. This practice continues to be challenging for me. A lifetime of living in a culture that celebrates doing has conditioned me (maybe you too?) to measure my days by my accomplishments rather than my experience.
- Be patient. I am finding that an effective time out takes longer than I would like. Depending on the level of depletion, you may feel restored after a two week vacation, but more likely a lifestyle shift of 3, 6 or 12 months may be required. Every situation will be different, so it’s important to trust the process and listen to your internal guidance.
- Stay open to what you can learn. In general, I have learned the most about myself during challenging times and I am finding this to be true again. Despite decades of self-exploration I am delving into a deeper layer of awareness; discovering automatic behaviors and other unconscious patterns. New perspectives are emerging, challenging me to step back and re-evaluate my life. What a rich opportunity!
My personal time out will continue for the near future and I will pass on new findings as they come. Until then, please check out my Whole Health Wise Facebook page for more frequent tips and wellness information.
To your whole health,
Pam
P.S. I’d love to hear your best time out practices; please leave me a comment below.