It’s challenging to walk away from work, isn’t it? This past weekend I spoke at Invesco’s Financial Boot Camp for Women for the Opening General Session. It meant being at the event at 7:00 a.m., requiring a 5:00 a.m. rise time on Saturday morning. Being an early riser that was not an issue. The Boot Camp was a great event and I enjoyed seeing long-term acquaintances and making new friends. However Sunday, my day for relaxation, proved to be a mildly frustrating day.
What I couldn’t shake on Sunday was the feeling that I needed to work. That I needed to go ahead and follow up with all the people I had met and work on some projects for the upcoming week. The Texans game was on and I deluded myself into thinking I could work and watch the game at the same time. I finally gave up that struggle, it was exhausting, when my husband returned home from his golf game. I then proceeded to enjoy my time with him, watching football and then getting a pedicure.
Although I knew I needed a break on Sunday, I had being going, going, going all through the week. I prepared for my presentation through Friday afternoon, pausing only long enough to slip into a pair of jeans to host a dinner for my husband’s family at our home (we celebrated his birthday all weekend!). When Sunday and my relaxation time rolled around, I had a hard time shaking loose that feeling of needing to do something when what I really needed was to do nothing.
This week I am scheduling “white space” back into my calendar. Yep…there was none of it last week. I was a doer, doer, doer last week with precious little time for creative thought. It happens to all of us from time to time — the tasks and to-do’s and events take over the calendar. Sounds like the holidays, doesn’t it?
What can we do to maintain the balance and the ability to relax?
- Schedule white space.
- Go someplace different, even if just another room in your office or home.
- Be quiet and let your thoughts carry you. 10, 15 or 30 minutes — whatever period of time you have uninterrupted.
- Repeat — 2 or 3 times per day or week, whatever works for you!
What works for you to put it all aside? Share your thoughts by e-mail at barbara@acceluspartners.com or comment below.