Article was contributed by: Maria Lees, Team Writer with Sarah Boxx
First and foremost, we hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving! Although I’m sure this holiday looked different this year than it has in years past, I wish you the very best and I hope you were able to fill your day with relaxing and restorative activities.
As we near the end of the month (and year) it’s a great time to take a step pack. Pause. Reflect.
Let’s start small. How has the month gone?
If you’ve been following along with me this month, you know we’ve been on a journey to slow down. In a world as busy as ours, it’s important to periodically set aside time to intentionally hit the reset button and find ways to rest and restore.
I invited you to join me as I take a month to focus on slowing down and creating lasting habits of restoration, creativity, and rest.
So…did you do it?
As you look back on November, I encourage you to reflect on everything that this month has brought.
If you were able to make time to slow down…
- How did you do it?
- Were there activities you added? Things you gave up?
- How did you use your “slow down” time?
- How did “slowing down make you feel?
- How did it offer you clarity? Help you re-prioritize?
- How did intentional rest impact your relationships?
Don’t simply breeze through these questions.
Sit with them. Grab and journal and take some notes or go on a walk and reflect. Allow this reflective work to lay a foundation for continued progress throughout the rest of the year and into 2021.
Maybe in looking back on the last 4 weeks, you realize that you really didn’t take time to slow down? Perhaps things continued “business as usual” or maybe even became busier than normal?
If this was your experience…that’s okay! It happens. In fact, it’s happened to me before. Multiple times.
I still, however, want you to take time and really reflect on how you spent the last month. Here are a few things I’d encourage you to think about:
- What were your original goals for the month? Did you write them down?
- How did you structure your days? Did you take time to intentionally plan each day?
- If your “planned rest” didn’t happen…why? What activities took its place?
- Did any of your existing habits or commitments consistently make it difficult for you to slow down?
Remember: It’s never too late to start (or enhance) your habits of creativity and rest. If you didn’t start yesterday, you can start today! As you think about “slowing down” in the coming weeks (trust me – the holiday seasons requires some extra intentionality), pick one or two of these questions to help you focus:
- What do you want the month of December to look like?
- How do you want to feel each day, week, and at the end of the month?
- What time of your day or week will you intentionally rest?
- What activities (or activity-reducers) will you choose for these “slow down” moments?
- Who will hold you accountable?
Slowing down isn’t always easy…especially at this time of the year. It is, however, always important! If you’d like some extra support as you work to build habits of rest, CLICK HERE to join my 5 Day Challenge Group.
