Skip to main content

Moments of Rest



I am slowly learning to be intentional on building in times of rest throughout my day. Not minutes of "doing nothing" but times to refuel and reflect.

Recently, I began a morning routine that is not "work" but rest that includes yoga and devotion time. I am trying to stop looking at social media in the mornings in order to quiet my mind and energize my soul. At the end of the day, when my daughter wants me to play, I am trying to be entirely present, both physically and mentally. I try my best to take a walk each day at work, in order to allow my eyes and mind to refresh. It's amazing how these moments of rest have rejuvenated me. I no longer feel as though I don't have time to myself or am desperate for a vacation far, far away.

This morning, I read a blog post about "white space" that encourages turning off technology, being silent, and just being and thinking. This is a time that grows creativity, innovation, inventiveness and problem-solving.

Juliet Funt suggested the following ways to create white space in your daily routine, just seconds at a time:

  • 5 minutes of quiet reflection after a meeting to consider what was discussed
  • Turning off the radio on your commute home to ask yourself meaningful questions
  • A one-minute pause when a situation angers you to understand and control your response
  • A 15-minute walk around the block with your phone turned off
  • 90 seconds of quiet ahead of a conference call to think deeply about the needs and challenges of the person you’re about to speak with

One of the ways ICF prompts coaches to create a coaching presence is to adjust and calm your mind before a session through breathing exercises. One thing I have found, is that I have a very difficult time dropping one activity to begin another. My mind often stays focused for a time on what I was doing previously, so the idea of 90 seconds of quiet ahead of a meeting would be a transition time for me that is absolutely essential. Just 90 seconds can increase productivity and make the conversation more effective and authentic. 

Turning off technology is very difficult for me (I know I'm not the only one). I heard that the constant need to check your phone or the absolute panic that bubbles up when you forgot your phone is a form of addiction. Pretty safe to say that our world is now dependent on technology, and beyond that, addicted to it. How many times have you heard in nostalgic tones that life used to be slower, easier? This interconnectedness may actually be creating a sense of discontent and separation from people and the present activity around us. 

Intentionally creating times of rest from technology, times to think, reflect, and focus is essential in order to step outside of the torrent flow of "doing". It may be a process of baby steps or just seconds designated throughout the day. It takes concerted effort to rest! This is almost sad to admit. But these seconds can produce minutes and hours of valuable outcomes. The mind is less jumbled, the body less tense and the heart more open. It will be displayed in the work performed and in relationships, at home and in the office.

So I ask you to think quietly, even now. Where can you squeeze in moments, pauses, seconds to think and reflect, and what do you think would happen when you did?







Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Chosen to Love

Today, my pastor said something profound that was also very simple. That he was chosen to go and love. That he was placed where he was and when he was to love the broken. If we lived like that, like our one purpose in life was just to love, how beautiful this world would be. It also challenged me to think beyond myself, to not see the personal gain or advantage in what I do. I'm at a place professionally where I feel the need and desire for growth. But what if I am placed where and when I am just to love others? To help them feel safe, to help them grow, to teach, to comfort, to love. The young adults I serve every day come with high hopes and expectations for themselves that often fall short within months of their first year in college. Some grow depressed, hopeless, stressed, frustrated. Many walk into my office just wondering what they will become. What an amazing opportunity for me to show them grace and hope. And I wonder, how many times I may have missed the mark becau...
Post a Comment
Read more

Authentic Relationship-Building

Over the past week, I reconnected with an old friend, caught up with a good friend and went out with a new friend. All of these women were relationships I made through current or past work experiences. As strong and educated women, I am able to learn from them and grow with them. I am confident that if one of us needed something, the other person would be more than willing and capable to assist. At a risk of over simplifying, this is authentic relationship-building at its finest.  Of course, I have varying levels of professional relationships in my network, and it is important to identify what those levels are for you. I like to say that there are three degrees of separation: Inner Circle - people that know you well and you know well Intermediate Circle - people you acquainted with or recently met  External Circle - people you want to get to know in the future That Inner Circle is precious and is a core group of people that you admire. These relationships t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fix Your Face

God gave me the gift of expression. In other words, I am ridiculously expressive. It shows on my face, it comes out of mouth, it flows from my hands. It is sometimes uncontrollable, although I am slowly getting mastery over my body and face. It's a process. However, I was just made aware of an odd idiosyncrasy of mine. It was first pointed out by a student, then by a co-worker. When I am listening, really intently, my face becomes entirely intense. Intense to the point of disapproving or angry. My eyes narrow and the corners of my mouth tense. Now, I know it is because I am thinking. The person speaking to me thinks otherwise. In the case of the student, they believed they upset me somehow or said something wrong. In the case of my co-worker, they wondered if I understood them or if they were completely off-base. And I am there - but really not - chasing my thoughts into action. I am always a step ahead, considering how this could work, how to phrase my question, or how we ...
Post a Comment
Read more