In recent weeks, I have been feeling very busy—and a little bit stressed. Escaping the busyness has been top of mind for me this week.
Welcome to the 107th edition of The Sunday Spark, a series with weekly thoughts and highlights, nuggets of learning, and a simple living challenge for the week. This week’s edition is all about escaping the busyness and finding ways to recharge.
On my mind this week: Escaping the busyness
Between finishing up the plain language final project, preparing for the conference presentation I’m delivering in April, doing the work for my part-time curriculum development job, volunteering with the Alpha Course at church, preparing the choir for Easter, and trying to keep moving forward with my retirement coaching business, life has been a little hectic. Add to that the disruption from our bathroom renovation amid trying to keep up with my writing projects. It’s a lot.
I’m supposed to be retired, yet I feel busier than ever. Busy is good, but I keep asking myself if this is the right kind of busy.
As I read Greg Wells’ book Rest Refocus Recharge this week, I wrote down a couple of quotes that made me pause.
A life of connection, purpose and meaning cannot be built on a foundation of busyness.
Greg Wells, Rest Refocus Recharge
A busy calendar will destroy your ability to do great things in this world. … You need free time and a free mind.
Naval Ravikat, as quoted in Rest Refocus Recharge
Escaping the busyness and freeing my mind
As I seek to live more intentionally, I’ve done a good job of clearing away distractions. In February, I gave up playing mindless online games. Then, I paused my personal social media activity for Lent. Even with the time I have freed up, I still feel I may not be focusing on the right things.
I need to escape for a while. It’s time for a reset.
Next weekend is our Alpha Weekend away. (I shared details about that in this post last year.) Even though it will be a busy weekend for our team, it’s a chance to step outside the usual routine, disconnect from the world, and focus on faith and service to others.
Another quote I wrote down from Wells’ book:
When someone else is looking after your stay and food and schedule, you can go deeper inside and really process your thoughts.
Kunal Gupta, as quoted in Rest Refocus Recharge
The timing of this weekend away is perfect. Wish me luck with escaping the busyness and processing my thoughts! I’ll report back in two weeks.
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Three highlights of the week
It’s important to celebrate big milestones and simple pleasures in life. Keeping the trend going, here are three highlights and simple pleasures of the week gone by:
- I got the final mark on my Plain Language Final Project—99%. I’m so happy about that. I submitted my graduation request so I will receive my certificate soon.
- On Monday, I savoured the last serving of asparagus soup made last spring with farm-fresh asparagus. I’m grateful that asparagus season is just a few weeks away. Time to make a new batch!
- I got a lovely card and handwritten note from my daughter Laura. I’m so looking forward to seeing her in April. It has been too long!
Things I learned this week
All this busyness has disrupted my usual reading and learning. But here are a few interesting nuggets from Greg Wells’ book Rest Refocus Recharge:
- “Green exercise” or exercising in nature improves our mental wellbeing and self-esteem. And the benefits start after just 5 minutes.
- Sugar reduces the size of the hippocampus—the structure in the brain responsible for learning and memory.
- Meditation creates something called BDNF— brain-derived neurotropic factor—a protein that helps neurons survive and supports growth of neurons. Regular meditation also results in a 23% decrease in all-cause mortality, a 30% decrease in cardiovascular mortality, and a 51% decrease in cancer mortality. I’ve written before about my experience with meditation. Maybe I need to give it another try.
This week’s simple living challenge – Make a shopping list
Simplifying life is a big part of living more intentionally. With that in mind, I kicked off the year with 52 ways to simplify your life this year, including a downloadable checklist of weekly tasks.
This week’s challenge is to make a shopping list. More importantly, make sure you stick to your list. This, combined with mindful shopping habits, has helped me reduce impulse purchases. When I go to the supermarket, if there’s nothing on my list from a specific aisle, I skip that aisle. If I don’t see it, I can’t buy it.
I’d love to hear what you think about any of this week’s topics. Drop me a comment below and let me know your thoughts and ideas.
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I’m all about the anti-busyness movement now too. The brain and body need rest and time in order to be productive.
Thanks, Ab! Yes, rest is so fundamental to our overall wellbeing yet we treat it as a luxury. We definitely need a mindset shift. I wish you a terrific week!
Love your quotes about busyness! How great that you are going away on your retreat. I couldn’t agree more about the creative potential that is unleashed when we intentionally create space for it.
And I love green exercise AND meditation! You’ve given me a huge boost with those stats!
Have a great week, Michelle!
Thanks, Wynne! Yes, intentional is the right word and it’s so important. I hope this coming weekend will be the reset that I need.
You are faithful at meditation. I definitely should give it another try.
I hope your week gives you time and space to fuel your creativity!
Oof! The Ravikat quote is a stunner. Such simple, straightforward wisdom. Cautionary, even. Here’s to you, Michelle, for sharing a message I can absolutely use today. xo! 🥰
It is powerful, and an important reminder in a world that glorifies busyness. We all need to free up time to think and reflect. I wish you an “unbusy” week, Vicki! 🤗
Same to you, my friend! 🥰
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Busy is good if it’s the right kind of busy. I think about my activities all the time in the same light. My three older brothers and I often joke about how we ever found the time to work.
Ha ha. I hear the same thing from a lot of retired people, Pete. I think it’s all about finding the right balance of leisure and productivity. I will get there. Although I do admit the part time curriculum development job has opened my eyes to the type of work I will be willing to take on in the future.
You need a holiday. I need green exercise.
You’re right. I think that’s part of my malaise. I was supposed to be away this weekend but I cancelled my trip because of the chaos in America. We are going out to see our daughter in BC in a few weeks, though. That will be a nice break.
Good luck!!
Thank you!