Now that school is out, are you ready? You have been rushing, pushing, working to all hours of the night and suddenly it all stops. For many of us, that is like hitting a brick wall. We didn’t even know the shape we were in. Some of us will continue the running because it is too painful to stop. Some of us will wonder what hit us. Then, some of us will slow down to regroup and discover a different pace for the summer. Check out these three tips.
1) Rest – how can you give yourself permission to rest and do nothing?
I know that sounds like an abnormality but your body, mind and soul will thank you for it. Even for a few days, rest is an amazing battery charger. According to Dr. Timothy Morgenthaler, of Mayo Clinic, sleep provides a good immune system and the brain power to complete complex mental tasks. With sleep and rest, you’ll be ready to tackle whatever projects you have for the summer.
2) Regroup – what do you need to recharge yourself?
As educators, we focus on others, often to the exclusiveness of caring for ourselves. When riding on an airplane, the stewardess will tell you to put the oxygen mask on yourself first, before placing it on your accompanying children. What oxygen do you need for the summer so that you’ll be refreshed and ready for the fall?
3) Discover margin – what spaces do you need to create in your life that allow for the unexpected?
Dr. Richard Swenson, in the book, Margin, Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives defines margin as the difference between having the not having the time to read the book on stress and having the time to read it twice; as the space to breathe, to have room for the unexpected because you’re not scheduled to the last minute. Hope you have the opportunity to take time for yourself, creating space and discovering the best summer yet.
Nancy Booth is a certified life coach and certified brain-based coach. She loves creating safe spaces for women going through life’s transitions to discover and support their visions for health and well-being in an overwhelming world, explore possibilities for next steps and find hope. She writes about taming the overwhelm and reducing stress, looking for ways to motivate, energize and inspire you! You can sign up to receive her weekly blog or contact her to find out ways you can begin to shed overwhelm and stress. It’s time to explore possibilities of new relationships, better life pacing and gain hope and peace.