19 Mar Lessons from a few days “off”
I’ve just taken a few days off, a long weekend of sorts, and I thought I’d share a few lessons or reminders of why I think this is so important to do on a regular basis.
First up, describing this as “days off” implies that it’s somehow off and not on, unimportant and/or even a distraction from what’s really important. But that’s not what I believe. I think it’s just as important as the “days on”. Sure, we all need to work and/or meet our responsibilities as parents or partners or carers etc. But to do this, we need to take care of our health and wellbeing, otherwise, we simply can’t keep going.
It’s like that famous metaphor from the airplane safety instructions … if there’s trouble, put your own mask on first!
These days off, if used properly, provide rest and recovery, recuperation and reenergising. This allows us to keep doing what we want and/or need to do.
We don’t see recharging our phones or devices as a luxury, we don’t see filling up (or recharging) our cars as a luxury; these are necessities and so too is time away to rest and engage in whatever activities (or non activities) benefit you.
On a different note, visiting somewhere different and doing different things is wonderfully energising. From trying a new cafe to walking a new path, exploring a new region and even sleeping in a different bed. All of these can unsettle us in the best possible ways. All of these help us remember that there’s a bit and exciting world out there, one waiting for us to experience and enjoy.
And within all of this, for some of us anyway, is an opportunity to really connect, or reconnect, with our partners; away from the usual stressors and strains, the distractions of every day living. Obviously, we can’t do this all the time but a few days each month or quarter or as often as is possible, can be life saving, and life enhancing.
I could go on but the point I’m trying to make is that … time off is important, really important. If we want to be on then we need to allow ourselves time “off”. If we want to be able to “go” we need to allow ourselves to stop, or at least pause.
Undervalue this at your own peril!