I had the amazing blessing of taking a week vacation earlier this month. I was definitely overdo for taking a break to really disconnect from work and all my other “doing.” Although I still have a long way to go towards gratitude and that state of being rather than doing, I feel like I truly was able to soak in a restful state of mind and just be. And, I have to say that I really do wish you were here.
It doesn’t necessarily require an exotic destination to disconnect and rest. But I think you do need to actually get away. My vacations in recent years afforded me time off from work, but I ended up filling most of my days with other to do’s. Perhaps you are better at this than I am, but for me taking time off work yet still staying at home makes it harder to truly disconnect. Not only are you still surrounded by plenty of to do list items, but you are also still in your everyday environment and normal routine.
I will admit that it felt strange at first to remove that connection to regular life activities. It was difficult to even keep track of what day of the week it was, which is very strange for me. However, by the end of the week I didn’t want to go home. I had settled into a restful state of mind where I could just go with the flow and not worry about what was planned for tomorrow.
But I did come home, and I did go back to work. And, although I have jumped back into the rush of “normal” life, I can honestly say that I feel rested and refreshed. I also have a better awareness of how I really do crave that type of rest. It takes more than a Saturday afternoon nap to get into a restful state of mind. So now I’m working on that next part. Aside from planning more frequent vacations, how can I give myself the rest I need to stay refreshed? As I contemplate that question I am going to hold onto this restful state of mind as long as I can, telling myself as often as needed “wish you were here…”
I am so glad that you were able to take a break. I agree, it is so hard to turn it all off yet so rewarding. I try to take a day break on Sundays, and I find it make the world of difference in my week. I try to turn off all electronics until 5 pm. I try to make it a day of rest. I am never 100% successful. But it helps make my day go well. Thank you for the reminder we need to get a real break now and then.
Thank you Maree! I think a weekly rest day really does go a long way. I’m not sure if I’m ready to turn off all electronics, but that gives me an idea of turning off all “to do” list items. Even when I’m too tired to get chores done on the weekend, the thoughts of what I have to do often fill my mind and detract from my rest. I think I am going to try setting apart a day (or at least a good part of a day) each week to purposely avoid all things “productive” (in the “to do” list sense). I like how you mention that you’re never 100% successful. That is a good reminder that setting goals for rest can’t get weighed down by our perfectionist tendencies.