I've lived a whirlwind of exciting travel the since mid-January, and I am deeply grateful for the amazing experiences I have enjoyed.
Living in Paris, then attending a life-changing retreat in Texas, and now spending time in Arizona, I have seen heart-stopping art, been in gorgeous urban and natural environments, shared time with people precious to me, and eaten wonderful food.
For most of these weeks I sustained a “normal” work schedule, coaching clients, speaking virtually, and attending meetings on Zoom.
I have also made art with a limited set of materials that I could carry with me, and have enjoyed quite a few surprises as I created in new ways.
And now, I am (finally) slowing down to give myself the gift of rest.
We are humans, not machines
My natural inclination is to be in motion, to do.
I have an abundance of ideas. There is so much that excites me. I love my work and love connecting to new people.
And paradoxically, one of the big messages I share in my speaking appearances and writing is that we need to slow down and be still. I teach that that ability and practice is the foundation of Living Big!
“Slow Down and Be Still” is the title of the first chapter of my book, and the entire first half of the book is about the being of Living Big! Of course, there is a natural rhythm for being and doing, it’s just that I often am out of balance. And I know I am not alone.
To quote myself, we are human beings, but we spend too much time doing and not enough time being.
And even machines need down-time, and routine maintenance!
We need to return to the basics, over and over
In conversations I have had recently, a number of women have shared that their crushing schedules and pressures at work have led to burnout.
A big contributor is that many women put everyone else’s needs ahead of their own.
I am not pushing as hard as I have in the past, but I have slipped, bit by bit, into too much doing without adequately focusing on my wellbeing.
I have reminded myself that “we teach what we need to learn.” For me, it is time to get back to the fundamentals.
Small ideas for slowing things down
The key for me, and for most women, is to start making really tiny shifts. We often underestimate the impact of making small consistent changes.
You may want to pick from these ideas and see what happens.
1. Make a bedtime shift
Many women tell me they stay up late and are exhausted in the morning. Why not adjust your evening routine and go to bed 10 or 15 minutes earlier? After a few days or a week, you may try for another 15 minutes earlier.
2. A little movement works wonders
Set a reminder on your phone to go off at least once an hour. Turn away from your computer and sit and breathe for 2 minutes. (Setting the timer for two minutes will allow you just relax and breathe!) Then stand up and stretch for another minute or two.
3. Fresh air is a game-changer
So many people spend their days inside buildings and cars. Get outside and walk at least once each day! It can be to the corner and back, a spin around the block, a walk to a lunch spot you usually drive to, following on a path in a nearby park, or walking down a city street.
4. Create more “white space”
If you look at a magazine layout, the page is sure to have margins that designers have created to make the page easy and pleasurable to ready. Nobody wants to read a page crammed with solid text! That “white space” is important in life, too. Look at your calendar and create some “white space” for yourself this week and looking ahead. What have you said “yes” to that you can you skip? What can be delegated to someone else? What can be deferred?
5. Schedule something just for you
Look at your calendar and schedule in time (anywhere from an hour to a day!) for something that will make you happy! Who might you play with? What might you explore? What will light you up? What will make you feel great?
6. There are endless possibilities!
If nothing on this list especially sparks your spirit, or you want to do more for yourself, think about something small that will do it for you. It could be eating a fresh salad with flavors you love, or getting tickets for the theater, or making a call to someone you miss. Find something that is just for you that you can make space for now.
It is important to be mindful about these practices!
If you see the busy creeping back in, return to the awareness of how you are living — and see if you can expand on these new ways of making space for yourself and your wellbeing!
The changes I am making now
I have one more week in Arizona before returning home. I am slowing down and it feels wonderful.
I have a bit of work on my schedule this week, but I have planned to do far less than usual.
I started getting more sleep.
I now start my day listening to music I love, rather than the news.
I am walking in nature every day.
I am making time to write from the heart.
I have set things up to be able to play and make art with ease. (While my new creative experiments are not yet posted, you can take a look at my artist website here.)
And I am firmly committed to sustaining my focus on slowing down and being intentional about my schedule when I return home next week!
If you want to share your favorite small self-care tips — or you want to share your struggles to slow down — I invite you to email me, or book a call and we can talk.
