On Taking a Time Out

It is so important to listen to our bodies, hear what they are saying and heed their warning to slow down if necessary.

Things move fast and the way we communicate is more reliant on technology than ever before. There is also so much that "needs to get done" it seems there is less and less time in the day to do it. At least, this is how the last couple months have been for me. 

I was going non-stop and traveling a lot, until one day a few weeks ago my body basically shut down. If it could speak, I'm sure it would have said "Alright silly girl, now you have no choice but to slow down. In fact, you're going to feel so sick you won't even be able to get out of bed for an entire day and a half." (No correspondence with the outside world either because looking at a screen made my eyes hurt). "Then you'll be so weak you will have no other option except to move slowly and take an overdue break."

Now that it's over and I'm almost up to speed, my question is: What’s the solution moving forward? How do I recognize when it’s time to slow down and then actually do it without completely shutting myself off from the rest of the world?

Here is what I’ve come up with:

* Be realistic about what needs to be responded to immediately, and what can wait: 

- I have this habit of checking my phone when I’m in transit, carrying heavy bags, reaching for my wallet or metro card.  Basically when my hands are completely full I think "hmm let's multitask ONE more thing." Why do I do this? I don't know. Perhaps because technology allows us to communicate at such high speeds, we feel an urge to keep up with it. Either way, it needs to stop. Moving forward I now make a point not to check my phone unless it's convenient or completely necessary, and DEFINITELY not while my hands are full.

* When there is a chance to stop (on the subway/bus, waiting in line) just STOP: 

- While it is easier said than done, I know that if I can begin to cultivate the habit of actually stopping (thinking, calculating, worrying) when my body stops, it will eventually become second nature.

* Drink water!!  It’s so simple, but so over looked.

In terms of knowing when to slow down before our body makes us, we really need to listen and pay attention. I have this new theory that the "common cold" is actually our body saying "Enough! Now you rest. No choice!" Germs and bacteria are circling us at every moment. It's when our defenses are down that they invade. For about 2 months before I metaphorically died I had been getting head rushes almost every time I stood up. I'd say that's a pretty good sign of needing to slow down...

Think back to the last few times you've gotten sick, or had to stay put for any kind of health reason, even if it was a fall or twisted ankle. What was going on in your life? A lot? Perhaps it was your body's way of regulating your activity and making you slow down. Who knows, it's just a theory.

Where The September Newsletter Went

Several months into creating these newsletters, I wished they went out at the beginning of the month instead of the end. I wanted to be able to start us off with some inspiring words and an intention to think about to carry us through. At one point I sent it out mid month, and figured if I sent it earlier and earlier each time I could smoothly transition to the beginning. This didn't work because without the pressure of a deadline, I couldn't get myself to sit down and write it early enough. Then September came. As mentioned above I got very sick mid month, and I believe it was due to exhaustion. I decided to practice what I was preaching about taking a break, skip the September newsletter, and send the next one at the beginning of October.

So, from now on I will send these out within the first week of the month, and they will be themed with an intention or idea to keep in mind. While the theme for this month is obviously about knowing when to give yourself a break, I saw a sign while I was in Toronto saying "October is non-GMO month" and I think that's an important thing to point out!

Being OKAY With The Fact That We're Not Invincible

We live in a competitive society, whether we consciously engage in it or not. We get caught up in the idea that we need to prove ourselves, or show how hard we work and how stressed we are. When success comes, I feel like I need to explain how hard I worked to give proof that I earned it, almost as if I feel guilty for receiving that abundance. I feel ridiculous admitting it, but it's true. 

During the last several months (years even) while I was getting more and more tired and stressed, I kept saying "But everyone else works just as hard, so I should be fine." Moving forward I will no longer spread myself so thin. -I will listen to my body. -If I'm tired I will go home and forgo the gym (and not feel guilty about it!!) -I will set aside time to do my grocery shopping so I can go straight home after, instead of running around the city carrying unnaturally heavy bags. I will not let the barrage of emails overwhelm me, because I know most of them can wait.

One last idea that I am going to practice diligently: I believe that if I take 5-10 minutes to truly sit quietly and disengage (even though I have a ton of people to respond to), I will actually be more productive when I begin working again. If I keep going without a stop, I will burn out and be dead to the world. So instead, I am going to focus on stopping before my body forces me to.

This newsletter was a long one, but hopefully you found some useful and relevant ideas. As we move through October and the weather gets chillier, take a moment to slow down and look around. Enjoy where you are right now, so that later on you don't look back and say "I wish I had been more mindful. I wish I had paid more attention to what was in front of me. I wish I had paid more attention to me."

There was another section I had prepared, but it will be saved for next month. The quote below is a small taste of what's to come.