“Beware the barrenness of a busy life” (Socrates)
It happened to me again. It kind of sneaks up on me every once in a while. I like to be active, and I want to do so many things, so I fill up every last minute of my schedule. If I see that I have a free hour between 2 pm and 3 pm, I’ll fill it with something.
Then I start doing that for evening hours as well: 8 pm to 9 pm, or even later. "What, nothing planned? OK, I'll just take notes on this podcast about social media."
I find that I can easily get attached to busyness. It's like an addiction… until all of a sudden, I find myself doing so many things that I spin out of control. The result is that I end up un-centered and overwhelmed, depleted, and usually sick as well.
Then I remember about balance. It's not easy to get back in balance, and sometimes takes me a few weeks, but when I do I feel so much better! I have found that in order for me to keep space and down time in my schedule, I have to actually write in my schedule, "Nothing", or “Down Time" so that I don't fill that time slot with another activity.
One other important part of scheduling down time: I found that I have to give myself a set of guidelines of what qualifies as "nothing" or "down time.” Otherwise, it’s easy to sneak in some work under the disguise of down time. "Oh this web site on Yoga Theory is not work!" Um, right…
The way that I know that it's TRULY "nothing" or "down time" is that it just serves ME. For example:
- Reading a magazine or book, not to prepare for a class, but for my pleasure or for my own inspiration.
- Taking a leisurely walk in nature, not for exercise, but to feed my soul by communing with nature.
- Taking a bubble bath, not because I haven't showered in 2 days and need to clean up, (which happens when I get too busy), but because soaking in a tub feels good!
- Going to a Meditation session, watching a movie that serves me by making me laugh and feel good, sitting outside to admire nature or meditate, etc.
We all need time for ourselves, time to relax, recharge, and take care of ourselves. Join me in the fight against busyness and schedule your down time today.
-- Bani Aello