On taking a break

Brian Oldham
I might have overdone it this time.  I might have pushed myself too hard finally, and my body has fired a warning shot above my head.  "Pull a stunt like this again and we're going to have bigger issues" it seems to be telling me.  I suppose I've known this for awhile now.  Riding too many horses, running too many miles, working too many hours, and it's all stacking up one gigantic house of cards that's bound to collapse at the slightest breeze.  You all know how much I hate taking a break, how I can't really take it easy, and how I'm all about pushing pushing and more pushing.  And I can't seem to find it within myself to take a break and relax.  And I can't find one thing in my life that I can do less of and still be okay with it all.  What happens when your pie of time can't be rejiggered into another configuration?  How does one sit still or calm the mind?  I feel this desperate need to throw myself into activities to the point of exhaustion for everything to be quiet and for my mind to be at peace with the world.  Can you all tell me how to shut it all down and yet keep it all together?


Comments

  1. i love taking breaks though. breaks are so (sooo) good for you! (: go on vacation. take some time to do things that make you happy. it'll all be worth the while, i promise(!)

    ps: i absolutely love your blog design. just had to say that.

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  2. Ahhhh...completely understand the dilemma, Rooth... but remember, health is always #1. I'm giving you permission to relax a bit:P

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  3. I do understand the dilemma but you definitely need to take a break. I am worried about you. You should take one day just to pamper yourself...take a bath, make a tea, order some food, read a book, watch a movie. And don't worry about anything else. I know it is easier said than done, I am not very good at it either. But I hope it will work out.

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  4. I feel you. I can get like this sometimes. My advice would be to JUST DO IT. A break is easy and you shouldn't have to overthink it. Take some time off, from work, from blogging, from obligatory plans. I used to cringe at taking a few days off from blogging (as ridiculous as that sounds). Now, I've done it so much that it's easily the first thing I drop (temporarily, of course) when I'm feeling overwhelmed. As for turning your brain off? Well, I'm still working on that one.

    Good luck and take care of yourself!

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  5. What form did the warning shot take?

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  6. Agree with those above. I think it's much like anything else--you've just got to fake it 'til you make it. Just take some time off -- off work, off the computer. No checking your phone. No commitments. Just time to do as you please. It may feel awkward at first, but eventually you'll find your groove.

    And do not, I repeat, do not worry about the rest. Taking a break, relaxing, it has a funny way of making you all the more productive upon your return.

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  7. I agree with Jillian. It's time to stop overthinking and just do. Ha! I crack myself up. I am SO bad at this. I think things to death and never leap. But taking a leap into a break is fairly benign. You owe it to yourself and your future self to learn how to do this. Mmmkay?

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  8. It's hard to slow down when everything and everyone else around you refuses to. We need a general, worldwide 'pump the breaks' moment I think. xo

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  9. it's so hard to do things that we're not accustomed to. i remember when someone told me to take a chill pill and i was literally forced to take a day off and relax. i ended up not relaxing one bit and my mind was filled with things i needed to do the next day when i would be up on my feet doing things non-stop. i can't help but think how weird i was. :) i hope you find your peace time!

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  10. i'd make a list. i always make lists and it helps. write down no more than three things you absolutely can't take a break from. write down three things that you don't want to take a break from. write down three things that make you feel relaxed. then write down everything else you do.

    now, prioritize everything on those lists with the intention of letting go of anything extra that weighs you down, that takes away from the things that relax you. eliminate them for one week. it's a challenge so you know, challenge yourself to relax ;)

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  11. The Husband started meditating a few months ago to help with exactly this issue. Right after he wakes up in the morning, before showering or eating breakfast, he goes into the living run and turns on his sounds of nature app then sits for 10 minutes to meditate. He says he really just thinks of a peaceful place and pictures being there for that time and when his mind begins to wander to mundane things like to-do lists and daily tasks, he just focuses on recreating that peaceful place in his mind. He said it was really hard at first because he felt like he was just wasting 10 minutes that he could be working, but now it's what helps him stay calm and focused throughout the day without getting overwhelmed and exhausted from the constant go, go, go. I still haven't gotten into meditating but I try to do something similar when the weather is nice by going for a short 10-15 minute walk where I only let myself focus on what's happening in the moment (cars going by, birds in the trees, other people I walk by). Getting away from my business tasks and focusing just on my immediate environment outside always makes me feel rejuvenated and more productive when I get back inside to work.

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  12. thats just what I am right now, I haven't got breaks over the weekend, now I am aching all over and feeling *really* run down. I guess my advice would be taking a time off and rest.

    Katrina Sophia Blog

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  13. do take a break. it might also be time to find out why you need this flurry of activity to calm your mind. what is it you don't want to feel or think about? you know, life will force you to deal with it. you know what it just did to me... thinking of you xoxo

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  14. I have no advice for you because I'm struggling with the same thing myself. I was getting up at 3am to get everything done last week and it was ridiculous. I think we both need to figure out what it will take to slow us down to a more manageable pace. Vacation can't come soon enough...

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  15. Oh Ruth hun, sending you a big virtual hug. Take that break, put your feet up, indulge. After all, a woman with arms as impressive as yours deserves a little rest every now and then.

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