š¬ What restores you?
Iām off to take a few days totally offline
Iām curiousā¦ what do you do when youāve overdone it, and need to refill your cup? Are there books you re-read (I tend to re-read rather than starting new books when Iām wiped out), or are there rituals you turn to to restore?
Letās make this discussion a resource we can all return to when we need to give ourselves some TLC.
I've bought a regular old fashion alarm clock for those days. This way I can keep track of where I am in my day, yet can turn off my phone and computer. I check in for important calls a few times in the day.
I always try to have a jig saw puzzle going for times like this. I store it on a board on top of my refrigerator and pull it down when I need to zone out. We will be traveling to Amsterdam next year so I have started a map of the city puzzle to familiarize myself with its unique layout. I find that working maps of the city I will visit helps to anchor it into by body before I get there.
Walking is the most effective way to restore equilibrium for me, especially in forested areas with streams. Time away in the African bush is a very close second, just not as easily accessible as my own two feet. Working in my garden is another activity that is perfect for restoration. If itās wet and miserable, reading is my natural default and if the household is unsettled I set up a jigsaw puzzle that gets worked on over the week by everyone whenever they have a spare moment. Amazing what conversations are sparked over a puzzle. Daily yoga and deep breathing also help. If I really need to free up some headspace reorganizing a space, my study or cupboard, is oddly effective.