This weeks Modality Monday is about downtime: I am on vacation this week! My husband and I are going to the Outer Banks for a week with a group of friends. I am so thankful for the chance to get away, relax and recharge.
As I prepared to be gone from my home, work, etc. for a week, I felt a bit overwhelmed. Have I thought of everything? Did I tell the house/pet sitter EVERY tiny detail that they need to know about how we take care of our pets, house, pool, garden? I'll miss a week of work, and even though I am prepared, it does brings some financial stress. Having my own business is great; I have a lot of freedom but there are no paid vacation days. I'll be away from my family. What if someone needs me while I am away? I'll miss my my middle granddaughter's first week of preschool! We just got a puppy, will she be ok? My garden is finally producing veggies - will I miss everything????
I could let the notion of stress stop me from going on vacation altogether. I could certainly make the excuse that there is too much going on, there is not enough money or time. If I choose to do this (and it is a choice), I will miss out on something that we all need: Downtime.
I love this picture that has been circulating around Facebook (I don't know the source):
Self care is so important. If you drain the battery of your smart phone, it simply doesn't work and you have to wait until it is recharged to use it again. Our body is different in that it will compensate for us letting the battery get low. We can do the bare minimum to give ourselves a charge (eating unhealthy food, getting little sleep, foregoing true exercise) and still function. I know for myself when I continually do too much, eat poorly and ignore exercise my body will say "ENOUGH", and I will get sick. It might be the flu, a cold, or some other sickness that forces me to lay down and rest for days. That is not self care and not the kind of downtime I want.
Downtime does not have to be a week's vacation away from home. It can be a stay-cation or a day trip. It can be simple, like getting a massage or pedicure, or playing a round of golf. Money tight? Take a walk in nature or go to a park. Find free events in your town and attend. Take a long bath, read a book, write in a journal or draw. Give yourself time to meditate, even if it is for 5 minutes a day. Exercise. If you don't belong to a gym, no problem. YouTube has so much content, you can find something to watch and move along with for free.
So the next time you think you don't have the time, the resources or the energy for downtime and self care, snap out of it! Make yourself a priority your body will thank you!
**Body Wisdom Wellness will be closed from Sunday, August 11 through Sunday, August 18. Online booking is available at www.bodywisdomwellness.co/book-online.
See you in a week!
~Kim