Need a Break?
“So much for The Pause,” she sighed into the phone. My friend and I have been catching up on life since The Pause Retreat three weeks ago.
She shared that her father was recently admitted to the hospital and her mother, who doesn’t drive, was A BALL OF NERVES and needed her support and transportation in order to be with him. Her youngest son, a rising freshman, was heading off to college the next day, with seemingly everything he owned staged for the departure all over the living room floor. How could she feel both a longing to keep him safely home, as well as a desire to give him a strong shove out the front door?!? Her own summer break was coming to a close, and she was going BACK TO THE DAILY GRIND the next morning. And, to top it all off, the remodeling project they’d been planning for months, was finally happening. I could hear the persistent BUZZING and POUNDING all around her.
Even though The Pause Retreat was only three weeks ago, with all of this unsettled chaos, she told me it might have well been three years ago. She needed a break.
Could you use a break, too? My guess is you need a break.
A global pandemic alongside an ever-increasing amount of hardship and unrest in the world takes its toll. As a burnout coach to high achieving women, I was pleased to hear more mental health stories in the news, like the stories of Naomi Osaka, Simone Biles and Megan McKain. These women are highlighting the dangers of being “constantly on” in our hustle culture. Their burnout stories, and the conversation with my friend, highlighted our current obsession with “all or nothing”, “0-60” living.
High achievers are pushing themselves until they can’t push anymore. Recognizing their breaking point, they are forced to take a break.
This “burn it at both ends”, “drive till you drop” mentality only perpetuates burnout.
I believe we can do better.
Learn how to give yourself a break,
And you’ll have a life you don’t need a break from.
There is a physiological fact that we often overlook in our busy culture. The brain craves closure. That’s why we love stories. Stories have a beginning, a middle and an end.
In times of uncertainty…
In a career with long term projects…
During a day with unending tasks…
Our brain is working hard to close the loop. Our brain is busy making meaning of our circumstances and working hard to create closure. When the brain can’t create closure our bodies experience exhaustion. To reduce emotional and physical exhaustion, we need to help the brain close the story loop.
Here’s the three step strategy I teach at The Pause Retreat. It allows our brain to settle, it relieves the pressure of constantly being on, and it will give you the beak you need. By intentionally creating a beginning, middle and an end to events in your day, you’re giving yourself the break you need.
Pause: With our schedules so full, most of us jump from one event into another with no white space in our calendars. This keeps our brain searching for closure. When you build margins between your events you’re giving your brain what it craves. Your brain wants to create an ending, so allow it to do it’s thing.
Gain Perspective: In the time it takes for you to walk to your next meeting, or park and exit your car, you can reflect on what just took place and choose what needs to be taken away from that event.
Plan Ahead: It’s only after you’ve paused and gained perspective that you should begin to think about and plan ahead for your next event.
If you practice this strategy for a full week, I wouldn’t be surprised if you feel more in control of your schedule and more content with your life.
Take time to PAUSE
So that you GAIN PERSPECTIVE
Before you PLAN AHEAD.
Living Fully Balanced: The quality of your life and work are linked to your ability to give yourself an effective break.
If you would like to speak about a complimentary, 45 minute Strategy Session to jumpstart your transformation please email me (lisa@livingfullybalanced.com) or give me a call (612-702-9848) and I would love to help you live a fully balanced life!
