We have to be stronger,
more precise,
work harder,
stay later,
all to make a name for ourselves.
As I talk with friends and family, so many of us seem to be overworking ourselves to the point of exhaustion.
It's extremely difficult to step outside of our daily jam packed schedules with meetings, phone calls, and routine tasks. But as the stress levels rise and anxiety ensues, it's our body and mind's way of telling us to - take a break. As much as we choose to ignore these signs, at one point or another something has to give. And most of the time our body is the first thing to suffer.
Why do we forget to give ourselves time to regroup, reflect, and relax?
Have we lost our ability to completely disconnect from the world and reconnect with ourselves?
These questions came to mind, as I embarked on a weekend away at Lake Madison, in Wentworth, South Dakota. I am always an advocate for planning a mental release when work gets hectic. If we neglect these signs that we need a break, we lose focus, causing our work and health to suffer. Regardless of how busy our schedules can be, there is no reason why we cannot take a day, a week, or a month to regroup. Finding the time to step away may call for us to restructure our lives. Instead of focusing on temporary wants, we must adjust our focus to the experiences we need. Keeping things simple and on a budget can be a challenge but not all excursions need to be extravagant. We work hard, sometimes too hard, so that we can play hard. No matter the excuse, lack of time to plan, or financial strains, we must always make time for ourselves.
We have to remind ourselves how important time away can be to our mind, body, and soul. After a busy weekend in DC and a long week, planning a trip to Lake Madison was just what the doctor ordered. It was far enough away from the city and any distractions but close enough at the same time. Being surrounded by silence, nature, and a breathtaking view in our Airbnb, was the perfect combination to fully decompress.
I was able to cook in a beautiful kitchen while listening to soothing music, spend quality time with my love, and let my curiosity run wild in exploring these unfamiliar surroundings.
Embracing the time to disconnect from technology and the world is a necessity. Our phones, tablets, and computers have become a part of our everyday lives. We aren't able to leave the house without one or all of them.
Why?
We want to constantly feel connected to the world through social media and the internet. But we have to put these devices aside to reconnect with ourselves. We must, continuously, nurture the relationship with ourselves to stay grounded. Bring a journal, a book, or those independent magazines you've been meaning to read. Instead of spending an hour scrolling through Instagram, use that time to read, explore, write, cook, or listen to music. Allowing ourselves to fully disconnect from a device, lets our mind focus on those things we've been wanting to do but haven't made the time for.
