After taking two weeks off, I hadn’t fully realized how much I needed a break until I was in the middle of it. When you’re moving fast, the momentum can keep you going to the point that you lose perspective.
It’s been a busy season. We hosted one wedding, participated in another, traveled to Amsterdam for a third, and returned home for our son Will’s wedding. All of this within the last month. The result? I didn’t write my blog for two weeks—the first time I’ve taken that long a break from it in ten years.
Now I’m not sure that’s something to be proud of. Maybe scheduling breaks would have been the wiser choice.
Here are some thoughts on why taking a break is important.
GIVES YOU PERSPECTIVE
A busy life has had me focused on the next responsibility, and the list was long. Now I can see I was losing sight of the big picture. It took being away for several weeks to regain my gratitude for the many blessings of friends, family, meaningful work, the beauty around me, and the opportunity to travel. Sometimes distance helps us see clearly what constant activity obscures.
RENEWS MOTIVATION
When you’re constantly putting one foot in front of the other, it’s easy to lose track of why you’re doing it. I did. I was simply pushing forward because that’s what I do.
The “why” behind our efforts is the most important aspect of our purpose. It gives life meaning, fueling our drive, commitment, and persistence. Taking a break helped bring those reasons back into focus. Now I’m examining what I want to learn, create, and expand upon next. My motivation has returned.
REJUVENATES YOU
As someone who continually moves forward, I rarely acknowledge fatigue or stress, I simply accommodate it. Even exciting trips and wonderful experiences can be exhausting. Taking a break has meant more rest, slower days, and less pressure.
Maybe you and I need to give ourselves permission to pause before life forces us to? It’s rejuvenating. Your mind and body have a chance to relax, recover, and reset. I’ve concluded that taking a break should happen more than once a year. Right?
What is your experience with taking breaks? Reach out if this is something you’d like to explore.
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Photos:
Taking in the beauty of the canals in Amsterdam, Koi pond at the Gardens of Ray Eden in Louisville, where Will and Markie married.
