It seems as though in this day and age, everyone is busy – and I mean busy. We go from project to the next or possibly have them going on at the same time. The need to get things done faster, with less resources, and with higher impact is making us feel like there are not enough hours in the day or days in the week. We are becoming a nation that is stressed out and on the edge of burnout. I know that I am.
What is necessary is to be able to take some time to slow down and relax. To refresh…
Of course that is harder than it appears. We are no longer able to take a day off and play golf or go to the cabin without still being hooked in. Our cell phones and laptops, while wonderful tools, keep us plugged in no matter were we go. We cannot escape the e-mail or phone call that requires our attention NOW!! Even if we do escape to some backwater place where we don’t get cell phone coverage or there is no wi-fi, we often have the stress of multiple projects and deadlines looming over us that keep us up at night. None of this is good or healthy.
So what do we do? How can we refresh ourselves?’
What we need is some serious down time. Some time for ourselves to let our minds and body’s calm down and rejuvenate. This is not a vacation (vacations often only add in more stress and pressure). This is a time to slow down and allow ourselves an opportunity to vegetate. To feel like we did in Junior High over the summer when the most pressure we had was to make sure we got home in time for dinner. It is time that many people might call “wasted” time because it is unproductive – but I feel that it is time that is needed to repair and invigorate so that we can be productive.
I can attest that this isn’t easy and that I’ve never actually fully achieved it – but I’m going to try. Here is my plan…