We often fear doing less.
We label less as lazy.
We think of less as damaging.
We worry that if we don’t work hard enough, we will surely miss out.
We worry that while we take a break, opportunities will be missed and we will be left behind.
We worry that if we do not attend every event we will be forgotten, overlooked or even worse we will disappoint someone.
We worry that if we are not online everyday we will miss out on something.
We worry that we are wasting time.
For a long time I believed that if I did less, I would get less, and my life would be wasted.
My days became an endless battle of doing and worry and my physical and mental health suffered.
I was unable to stop.
Even when I planned to take a holiday, fear and worry would creep in and I would found myself squeezing in some work.
Busy mornings when I would tell myself the housework can wait, and then sneakily put on a load of washing…..as if I couldn’t see myself.
Afternoons when I collapsed on the couch and within minutes boomeranged up again, wiping the bench or fussing over something.
Despite fatigue and exhaustion I would push on, afraid that once I began doing less I would tumble-down that slippery slope.
Fearing I would enjoy the rest too much and lose my drive, my determination, and be left to a doomed life of procrastination and under achievement.
I now realise I was born a doer.
I was gifted a hefty dose of drive and determination, in fact I have bucket loads.
It is the ability to stop, to relax and to restore that I struggle with.
Rest for me requires practice.
Slowing down can be difficult and requires a conscious effort.
I now believe………
We all have a natural rhythm, some of us need a push to get going and others need help putting the brakes on.
Getting to know who you are and what you need most is essential to your long-term health and overall happiness.
Periods of rest and restoration are required to revive our bodies and our minds.
Listen to your body. If you are craving a nap in the day, take one. If your mind is a jumble sit still for 5 minutes and breathe deeply. If you are having trouble sleeping, take a bath and drink a herbal tea.
Regular breaks from our ‘daily work’ give us the chance to reflect and gain a new perspective and appreciation for who we are and what we do.
Home with the kids all day? Organise a night off and go out before bath, dinner and bedtime.
On holidays from work? Set an autoresponder on your email and leave the laptop at home.
After any break we return with renewed vigour and our productivity goes up.
By doing less we experience more, as we focus our attention more on being present and in each glorious moment.
Do you find yourself jumping though endless hoops?
Are you busy every day?
How long since you took a long restorative moment for YOU?
Does slowing down require practice?
Where could you do LESS in your life this week, this month, this year?
And as I practice what I preach, and confront my own fear of being lazy, I will be taking a 2 week break from my blog to enjoy some fun in the sun with my family, minus any distractions.
Until then remember; This is your one great life and it is up to you to lead it fabulously.
Oh this is a hard one for me too Karen. Most days I have to just stop and force myself to sit and pick up a book. Then I have to calm my mind and focus on the words. I agree with you – some of us are born doers and some of us need a push to get going. Only when I’m feeling ill do I really stop. Thanks for the nudge to stop and reflect.
For me it’s about calming (or better yet controlling) the mind. Trying to relax and take a break is completely unproductive if I can’t get my mind to go along with the program. I’m working on it because I know that you are right – we all need to give ourselves permission to take a break! Enjoy your time with your family!
Definitely need to take time to refresh. Being a busy-body doesn’t always equate with being successful.
There’s a fine line between laziness and efficiency. I prefer to be efficient so that I can have some down time! 😀