3 Steps to the Art of Downtime

In Wayne Muller’s book Sabbath, he speaks about the fact that dormancy is an important part of nature. The time of dormancy is a time of renewal and rejuvenation. Without this time, many species cannot bear fruit, or they simply die. He also points out that human beings seem to be the only species that does not honor stillness and downtime as an essential part of living. He describes this time as Sabbath, a time of taking refuge and opening to the stillness that lives within us.

The concept of downtime has been on my mind a lot lately. I am extremely grateful for the myriad of ways I get to serve and share my gifts. However, as I have become busier, I often question how to keep the balance. Thomas Merton said, “To allow oneself to be carried away by a multitude of conflicting concerns, to surrender to too many demands, to commit oneself to too many projects, to want to help everyone in everything, is to succumb to violence.”

That is a powerful statement; he is guiding us to consider that if we do not stop and anchor in the center of our being, we are actually creating a state of turmoil, pain and exhaustion. In such a state of chaos, we cannot take care of ourselves, we are not totally present in most situations, and our ability to fulfill our purpose is lessened.

So, what stops us from taking time to refresh? I witness belief systems that state that we must hustle to take care of ourselves, we must work hard to be successful, and we must not waste any time if we want to win. What if those beliefs are not accurate? What if taking time to meditate, become still, contemplate and be away from the anxiety of survival could actually fill our “cups”? What if the thing you are seeking cannot manifest because you have not created space for it to move into your life? How can you be available for an expansive and joyous life if you are depleted and exhausted?

3 steps to help you just “be”

I invite you to …

1. Look at your life honestly and see how much time you take off to just “be.” Don’t judge, just examine.

2. Consider the possibility of taking one day a week that is your time to refuel. That means no e-mail, no cell phones and no texting. This is a time for you to rest, be in nature or do something that supports your inner peace.

3. Now, if you are willing, calendar it. Put this time on your calendar and treat it as a priority appointment. Do this for one month, and you will discover that you have more time, more energy and more creative spark in every area of your life.

Take a moment to say this out loud to yourself:

Today, I choose to honor myself by consciously resting.