A five-minute practice for stepping away from busyness and returning to the present
Something came up in my Spiral group today around busyness, specifically, how we can make sure the busyness in our lives is INTENTIONAL.
It is so easy to become a cloud of busy all the time.
We get used to it. We begin to define ourselves by how much we are doing, how quickly we are moving, and how many things we are holding together.
But is that truly who you want to be as a business owner?
What our discomfort with rest can reveal
Several years ago, I remember watching one of my kids sitting on the couch and playing video games for hours. At other times, that same human who used to live with me might spend hours reading books in the hammock.
And something interesting was happening in my body: I was becoming VERY uncomfortable.
I noticed it in the moment, although I did not do anything about it because I was not as aware then as I am now.
But here is the truth: when we are uncomfortable watching someone else relax, what might that say about our own relationship with rest?
For many years, I would not allow myself to rest. Ever, ever, ever, ever.
Once a year, I would go on vacation and sit beside a river, spend time on the river, relax, and sleep near the river. That was the one time I gave myself permission to slow down.
I simply did not know how to do it any other way (and I know I am not alone!)
Busyness has a cost
When we don’t give ourselves regular opportunities to rest and recharge (not just once a year, thank you very much) our minds and bodies begin to pay the price.
Our mental well-being suffers. Our physical well-being suffers. Our ability to be our WISE, KEEN, and productive selves starts to disappear.
We cannot sustain constant busyness forever.
And yet, slowing down can feel frightening. We may worry that if we stop moving, nothing will get done. We may believe that our productivity depends on remaining in motion from the moment we wake up until the moment we fall asleep.
But what if slowing down actually allowed you to become MORE effective?
Take five minutes to return to the present
Today, I invite you to take one small step toward becoming more present.
It can be as simple as stepping outside for five minutes and noticing five things around you.
What do you see?
What do you hear?
What do you smell?
What do you feel in your body?
While making this video, I stepped outside and noticed what I thought were grasshoppers hanging out nearby. When I moved closer, they flew away. I could hear insects, watch the birds, and feel the sun on my skin.
I NOTICED everything.
That’s the point.
Rest helps you become your greatest self
Pausing to notice nature brought me back into the present moment. It slowed me down, took me away from my to-do list, and gave me space to reconnect with myself.
It did not require an entire vacation. It took five minutes.
Rest is not something you have to earn by reaching the end of your list. It is part of what allows you to lead, think, create, and make decisions as the person you truly want to be.
If you are constantly moving from one thing to the next, feeling as though there is never enough time in the day, I would love to have a conversation with you.
Maybe you have tried slowing down but cannot seem to do it. Maybe you are afraid that if you stop, nothing will ever get done.
We can work together to change that pattern so you can feel better, have more energy, be more productive, and become the business owner—and the PERSON—you genuinely want to be.
Wouldn’t that be better?
I thought so.
I invite you to click the orange button below to start a conversation with me. I’ll talk to you soon.