Summertime and the livin’ is easy…
On a super hot summer day I often think, “how does anyone get anything done in this weather?!” There’s nothing like breaking into a sweat just going to get the mail, right? Then I think about rocking chairs, front porches and lemonade and I’m reminded that it’s OK to slow down and maybe even do “nothing” for a while.
If you are feeling stagnant or unproductive in your promises to yourself, ask yourself if this is a good time to give your body and mind the break that it needs? We often feel like we have to keep pushing through, but what would happen if you shutdown for a bit? I like to think of this time as cocoon time. A comfy little space where are you safe to rest. And we all know what happens when we give ourselves that time in our cocoon, right? We grow wings and can fly!
Not enough time to cocoon? Maybe we can find some when we consider the following from Cleveland Clinic on downtime:
“Research has found that taking breaks can improve your mood, boost your performance and increase your ability to concentrate and pay attention.”
“ burnout and the health problems that go hand-in-hand”
Breaks activate the Default Mode Network part of your brain which is “linked to things like ethics, memories, creativity and how we define our sense of self.”
Now giving your mind a break sadly doesn’t include dinner with friends or even making a puzzle. And it definitely doesn’t mean watching TV, scrolling social media or candy crush. For a real and replenishing brain break you need to let the mind wander.
Gaze out the window, zone out!
Tip: If you’re having trouble letting the mind wander and letting go of thinking, try tuning in to something like…
watching the clouds
or
listening for birds
or
the hum of a fan
or
the sound of your own breath
If that’s still too hard for you, consider some mindLESS tasks like:
coloring
walking (silently)
or even vacuuming!
I see you! I know many of you are still “too busy”, but give it a try. See if scheduling true downtime makes a difference in your productivity. Maybe you can actually squeeze more into your day if you take good care of your brain.
A few reasons why…
Reduces stress
Better sleep
Improves mood
Increases energy
Increases resilience
Strengthens immunity
Decreases depression & anxiety
Helps with chronic pain & disease
SUMMER GIVEAWAY
I am offering a FREE Health Coaching Micro-session to the first 3 people that email me. A standard coaching client will commit to 7 sessions to work through a full process, BUT a micro-session is great when you already know what you want to work on and I help guide you to action steps for that particular topic.
Sessions will be scheduled in August as I will be in my cocoon for the month of July!