The more you push, the more you need down time. Also, the more you push, the more difficult it can become to justify slowing down. Momentum breeds momentum.
Even if you can physically manage overworking for an extended period, you may begin to notice it has become harder to stay emotionally engaged, creatively inspired, or highly motivated. Emotional exhaustion can cause you to slowly detach from tasks and friends. Or you may procrastinate in a way you have not previously.
Each step of a project may be preceded by dread or fatigue. You may feel like you’re in slow motion. Or you may make more mistakes than usual, even when you think you’re paying attention and trying your best.
You may be trying your best. There could be some underlying problem that needs to be addressed with a professional. But it could be you need time to rejuvenate.
We have vacations for this reason. But do we have enough vacation days to create balance? Are we able to relax or do we approach vacations like another to do list? I participate in many more discussions about working too much than about embracing stillness.
Perhaps if we explore the benefits of down time, we can begin to explore and embrace it.
Here are some valuable things to be gained:
Your body can relax. This helps heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol levels which helps you relax. See what’s happening here?
Your mind can drift. Someone recently asked me how you start writing a book. My first answer was stare out the window a lot. I often come up with a book idea or a plot resolution when I’m in the shower. Why? Because I’m focused on something else (hopefully, sometimes I forget to shampoo my hair when I have a great idea) and my mind is wandering freely.
Your to-do list can pause. Of course it can pause at any time, but when you deliberately enjoy down time, the pause doesn’t come with guilt.
Your mood can shift. If it’s been a long time since you’ve truly relaxed, you may wander through some difficult emotions before you get to some that feel better. This is especially true when you’ve been through a season of caregiving or loss. A dramatic shift is not always bad because it can help get us past numbing. And it’s unlikely that you’ll have no response to such a big change.
Your sleep can improve. If your mind is constantly churning and keeping you awake, down time can help break this cycle.
You can gain perspective. When you’re in the middle of something, it’s hard to see it clearly. It’s hard to make good decisions because we can’t quite get enough distance to be objective. If we’re worn out on top of this, it can feel impossible to have the perspective we need to keep from sabotaging ourselves.
You can make room for fun and/or joy. Keeping ourselves overly busy leaves no room to feel carefree during pleasant activities.
You can be more present for friends and family. If our minds are always rushing on to the next problem, we’re not really able to be present. Down time can give us the luxury of engagement without being in a hurry.
That’s a lot of pluses. Research says down time may make us more productive and more creative when we reengage. Even so, it may not be easy. But down time is worth pursuing.
