As Americans, we are terrible at recharging. We are constantly bombarded with notifications and requirements on our time and focus. We may hear people talk about needing a little R&R, but what does this even look like.
When was the last time you truly unplugged and got away in order to seek clarity, have the ability to think, and be able to reflect on life?
I think so many issues come from our inability in this one aspect, as people continue from one decision to the next without taking the time to evaluate whether that decision is actually in the best interest of the vision they have for their lives.
When you look at Webster\’s definition of rest, it\’s; \”a bodily state characterized by minimal functional and metabolic activities.\” That of recharge is even more simple; \”to regain energy or spirit.\” It seems as though rest must come in order to recharge, though, so are these characteristically a part of your life?
This causes so many people to wake up at a certain point in life, especially when they feel burnt out and realize that they are on a different track than they had hoped and wished they would be.
A lot of this comes down to a lack of intentionality.
Intentionally resting and being able to then recharge. Intentionally setting a course or vision for your life and the related goals in order to accomplish that vision, but also being mindful of enjoying the journey.
I use the word margin for including this in the journey. Webster defines margin as; \”a spare amount or measure or degree allowed or given for contingencies or special situations.\”
In life, there are always contingencies; there is always something going over budget, taking more time than you had originally thought, or something that requires different skill sets than you had originally thought, causing you to pivot and make adjustments accordingly. Many situations need a buffer, yet we continue to live maxed-out lives because that is the cultural expectation and norm.
Have you ever thought that accomplishing more may actually come from doing less and doing that less more intentionally? Have you ever thought about the lack of margin your life has and the need to build in a contingency of sorts, to build in time and resources in order to truly enjoy special occasions?
This theme on recharge looks specifically at how to build margin into your life, especially during a time of year when many are typically taking vacations and seeking opportunities to take time off before going into the fall.
CTA:
My call to action is to look at when was the last time you truly disconnected, whereas you experienced rest and the ability to recharge, where you had margin in your schedule to ensure that the most important parts of life are prioritized properly and that you limited, removed, or simply said no to those that are not?
