When’s the last time you took a break?
Maybe it’s time for a vacation. Maybe it’s time for delegation. Here are some journaling prompts for finding out where and when it’s time to rest.
Like you, I am a Very Important Person. This world will screech to a halt without my mastermind to oversee its daily operation. Right? Booking a vacation seems absurdly luxurious, but I did it anyway. I approached the time off with mixed feelings of terror and relief. I didn’t realize how badly I needed it until it was underway.
If it’s time for a physical break but funds are tight, get creative. Most of us can’t afford to high-tail it off to a spa weekend in the mountains. But maybe there’s an Air BnB one town over you could spring for. No airfare needed. Or maybe a friend is going on a spa weekend in the mountains and you can “house sit” for her.
If it’s not a physical vacation you need but a break from a behavior, person, or responsibility, try to get clarity using these prompts. Then brainstorm who you can delegate the responsibility to. You may find it difficult to ask for help. I used to have a hard time doing that. Until I discovered how awesome it is to have your partner do the laundry. I got over it pretty quickly.
Is there a person you need a break from? Sometimes negative people suck our energy away without us realizing it. If you’re dreading your weekly brunch with a friend, maybe it’s time to take a break from that brunch – or that friend.
- I’m really tired of __________________.
- If I could hand over one task, it would be ______________.
- I’m really sick of ___________ saying _____________.
- I don’t want to listen to ____________ anymore.
- I don’t want anyone to know how much I want to stop ________.
- I’m ashamed to admit it, but I really resent doing ____________.
My post What’s Not Working in Your Life? has an exercise I use frequently that you may find helpful in having a look at your current obligations, which actual examples from my own journal.
Sometimes we resent things or need a break from responsibilities that it seems there’s no option to let go of. You can’t drop your kids off at the nearest orphanage so you can kick back in the backyard with Mai Tais and a good Romance novel.
But I’ll bet you can lighten your load in other ways. Trade child care responsibilities with another parent. Hand over the kids for the day to your partner, if you have one. Or splurge on a babysitter. Sometimes it only takes two hours spent on yourself to restore your equilibrium.
Set aside some time this week in your journal to ask yourself where you might need a break. And then be a total rebel and honor that need. It’s weird and scary at first – I know. But we need to nuture ourselves in order to avoid burnout.
Plus once you get a little taste of freedom, it’s hard to go back!
