My boys and I struggle as we get toward the end of February, living in the Midwest. We’ve been grinding hard at work, school, and sports. It’s been so cold, and we’ve been bundled up. Our exposure to light has been minimal.
This year, I decided to schedule a mini vacation to take a break from the doldrums of winter. Don’t get me wrong, we’ve had plenty of beautiful days, and I love having the seasons. But we needed a reset.
The concept of Sabbath or a sabbatical.
A time of rest.
Many of today’s Jews still practice Sabbath, fully embracing rest for 24 hours—spending time with family, resting, and connecting with God.
Today’s society pushes us to keep going, to work harder, to do more, to be more productive.
I easily fall into that seduction… and then I start getting short with my kids, irritable, and unmotivated.
Giving ourselves time to rest (and even play!) is just as important to our health as working out and eating well.
Health continues to be about balance.
I write this on the fourth morning of our vacation at the beach. We’ve enjoyed warmth, playing in the ocean, indulging in sleep and good food.
Our “hustle” will be ready and waiting for us Monday morning—lunches to pack, schedules to coordinate, dinners to plan, workouts to fit in, school and work to do.
But we built up some reserve, brought our nervous systems down. And I think about how I can bring the pace of our busy lives down just a notch.
How is your pace? Are you burning the candle at both ends? Are you finding time for rest and play?
It can be challenging to find the time to take a vacation. So where in your day or weekend can you make time for rest—and a bonus of play? Maybe it’s curling up on the sofa with a book, a cup of tea, and a cozy blanket. Maybe it’s taking an afternoon nap with the windows open. A slow walk, enjoying nature, finding time for your breath and allowing your mind to clear. Maybe it’s having dinner with friends who make you laugh.
Take a look at Brené Brown’s book Daring Greatly—it’s one of my favorites. One of the guideposts is rest and play, which has always been a challenge for me.
I’d love to hear how you’ve found some rest and play. ❤️
The opposite of play is not work—the opposite of play is depression
Brené Brown (Author, Daring Greatly)