When life gets hectic, your answer to this question might be a frustrated, “I don’t have time for a break!”
I’d counter that assertion with a Zen buddhist adage you might have heard of:
"You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes a day. Unless you're too busy; then you should sit for an hour."
In case the sentiment isn’t obvious, applying this to breaks would look like a reminder that rest is productive, and exhaustion never leads to great results. And even if it did, would it be worth it?
As I’m always saying, self-care isn’t selfish, rest doesn’t need to be earned, and you are your own best investment.
But we sometimes push ourselves towards burnout without even realising, unaware of the impact on our body and mind (or willfully feigning ignorance).
If that might be the case for you…
Pause, breathe, and notice what’s going on in your body. What’s it telling you? Is there tension in your muscles? Are niggling pains showing up? Is your heart racing? Or maybe your breathing’s fast and shallow.
What’s your soul saying? Is it crying out for rest and rejuvenation? Do you feel creatively depleted? Have you lost your joy? Or maybe you just feel a bit blah and disengaged.
What are your energy levels like? Do you feel exhausted, even when you’ve slept well? What activities or tasks tire you out (mentally or physically)?
Think about your communication and relationships. Have you started to get frustrated, lose patience easily, and snap at people over little things?
Is illness showing up? Have you pushed yourself to the point that you get sick all the time? Or does adrenaline power you through until the weekend, then you crash and burn in what should be your fun time?
We’re all unique and exhaustion can show up differently for us. But by taking the time to tune into our own warning signals, we can notice the path we’re on before it’s too late and take a break before our bodies force us to.
What signs do your body, mind and soul send you when you need a break?
I tend to hold stress in my body, so physical tiredness or aches are often a sign that I need to slow down. And as my perimenopause brain gets foggier, double-booking myself or forgetting appointments are a sure sign of overwhelm! I know I’m tipping into the danger zone when I get snappy and impatient with others over things that really aren’t the end of the world.
Fortunately, the more I practice mindfulness, the easier it gets to spot these patterns and nip problems in the bud. Just like the Zen saying, I’ve come to realise that when I’m feeling harried, more meditation (and rest) - not less - is the best answer.
I’d love to hear any reflections you have on this prompt. 💬
Wishing you a wonderful week ahead,
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