Earlier this summer I had grand plans to launch a Creation Before Consumption challenge for the month of July. Instead I wound up facing some real life challenges, which resulted in a lack of bandwidth for a challenge of my own devising! I also took an unannounced hiatus from posting on social media and from my weekly newsletters.
There are times in life when large amounts of our creative energy needs to be diverted to daily problem solving and decision making, and this is what was required of my creative capacity throughout the month of July. My creative outlets became quieter and more intimate: gratitude journaling, hymns on my late Grandma’s piano, gifts procured and gifted, a simple watercolour sketch. These small creative offerings kept me grounded – breathing deeply, observing the world around me, moving slowly, listening to God’s whispered voice in my heart. They helped me to find moments of deep joy even on the days when I felt I overwhelmed with anxiety.
Thankfully, amidst our summer plans taking some unexpected twists and turns, there were also threads of great delight woven through never-ending challenges. Leisurely visits with dear friends, glorious time in and on my favourite lakes, breathtaking views, fantastic food, and sweet memories made with my family speckled the July landscape and I made sure to list them and recall them so that we could treasure the good times and ensure they would surface repeatedly over time.
At one point I sat with our kids and discussed the merits of difficult seasons and unexpected challenges: that the good times are rarely what shape our character, that struggles provide us with opportunities to empathize with others, that trials can draw us closer to God as we rely on Him, that perseverance prepares us to face future obstacles with the tools we need. Of course this discussion came during a moment of peace and clarity, not when I felt like I was drowning in my fears. July was an exercise in recalling Scripture that supported me in order for me to support others. It was difficult and divine all at once.
Now that July is over and August has arrived, I feel like I’m still craving a slow summer experience. And yet around me families are preparing for school, extra-curricular activities are starting, and the calendar is filling up. I’m also getting ready for my next Women’s Walking Retreat through the Cotswolds at the end of the month. But my body, mind, and soul are in need of deep rest. So what to do?
Here’s what I’m aiming for daily during the month of August:
- Movement every day. A walk, an at-home workout, a hike, or laps at the pool.
- Keeping up with my vitamins & minerals.
- Bible reading with the kids every week day at lunch (we’ve been doing this for years, but got out of habit in July).
- Not checking email, texts, or social media until I am actually prepared to sit down and reply or engage.
- Sitting down to rest or laying down when my body is begging for a break. I don’t need to push myself this month. My best work and most productive efforts always come from a place of rest.
Does the month or season ahead feel overwhelming to you? What can you do to prepare yourself for the upcoming season and give yourself the opportunity to slow down and integrate sustaining practices into your daily rhythms that will help sustain you in the days and weeks to come?
Here are 5 ways you can slow down that require you to add NOTHING to your calendar:
- Don’t sleep with your phone in your bedroom. Avoid the habit of picking it up first thing every morning.
- Next time you get in the car, don’t turn on music, a book, the radio, or a podcast. Observe how your body is feeling, let your thoughts meander, and contemplate the world around you.
- When you lay down at night and wake up each morning, engage in some deep breathing.
- Eat sitting down rather than on the go, and eat more slowly, savouring your bites. When nearing the end of a meal, ask yourself if you’re still hungry rather than whether you are full? The western mindset of eating until we are full means we tend to overeat, compared to the more ancient philosophy of eating until we are no longer hungry, which aids in optimal digestion.
- Sing, hum, or breathe deeply in order to activate the vagus nerve. This lowers stress, reduces inflammation, and brings the body out of ‘flight or fight’ mode.
These photos were taken from the Point Arenas Lighthouse on the Mendocino Coast in May of this year. The beauty and the ferocity of the water crashing against the rocks reminds me of how the destructive and the divine can co-exist both in nature and in our own lives.
If you are longing for an opportunity to slow down and explore life at a slower pace, both at home and abroad, subscribe to my regular newsletter for slow living strategies and travel opportunities. Click HERE for details.