Words that caught me: S is for 'the Space After'

The last few weeks have been a little more hectic than usual,

And when the project I was engaged in was complete,

I felt my body go on a limp, literary.

All the physical and emotional weariness of those few weeks

Came down on me like a flu…,

With its accompanying lethargy.

And I immediately sensed that my body was telling me something.

I suspect this must be a familiar feeling

For everyone who has been under the pressure of a deadline.

That’s why these words by Leo Babauta struck a chord:

‘Being sore and tired is not a problem.

What’s important is the space you give yourself

To rest and recover.

This is the part that most of us neglect…

Pay a little more attention to the space after.”

Here’s the truth…

We are never going to completely avoid deadlines, tight time-frames,

Crises and emergencies that call for sudden bursts of energy and focus.

These will surely come and go…,

And will, undoubtedly, always leave us

Feeling exhausted and worn out.

Incidentally, more often than not, this is also the work

That we find deeply fulfilling and enjoyable,

Because it pulls out of us much more than we are used to,

Leaving us with a larger perspective of our potential and power.

So it’s important to remember that being sore and tired is not the problem.

The problem is failing to allow ourselves the space after

To rest and recover.

Are you guilty of neglecting this space?

Psst:

Leo offers the following suggestions to put this idea into practice:

"After a hard event, schedule some time for rest and recovery.
After you achieve a goal or complete a project, create a little space to celebrate. To feel grateful. To reflect on what went well and what you'd like to learn. To change processes if needed.
After a retreat, workshop, conference ... schedule some time to reflect and learn. To integrate practices into your life. To practice.
After a meeting, leave a little space to finish your notes, write a follow-up email, reflect on what needs to be done next, add things to your todo list.
After doing a task, pause for a moment or two to consider what you'd like to do next. To be grateful for what you just did. To check in on how you feel right now.
After reading a book or article (like this blog), take a breath before you rush into the next thing, and ask what you'd like to take away from this. How you'll integrate it."
An the one Leo didn't give but all of us love is the weekend getaway!