My cousin in France is really good at windsurfing. So much so that he spent his military service teaching windsurfing to soldiers on R&R. Pretty nice deal, for him and for the soldiers. Soldiers get R&R. Farmers let fields lay fallow. And yet the grinding rhythm of work and life makes us keep pushing even when we need rest. From colleagues and clients alike I’ve been hearing stories of overwhelm, lack of focus and laziness. One client said, “I don’t feel like working, but I feel guilty about it.”
Here are a few perspectives to help us all take full advantage of summer’s offerings:
- Stick to basics. Normally I am a big fan of identifying the “Important, not urgent” projects to keep them moving. But sometimes you just have to back burner them. So gather up all of your “should” projects and put a reminder on your calendar for end of August. And enjoy the freedom of not having them in your head.
- Find a guilty pleasure. Pick something good and just enjoy it. After writing this post, I am heading to the knitting store to start a project. No it’s not water skiing or parachuting, but it’s me.
- Rest. Down time, gentle exercise, easy social time. Reading the paper, I’m so happy not to be at the political conventions. Much too high context for this time of year.
- Accept the fog. When we are less focused we are open to experiences, observations and insights that we might step over during fast-moving times.
Hang up the guilt and enjoy the summer!
Claire