Noticing Your Own Signs of Fatigue
Your body actually tells you when it’s time to take a Mini-Retreat. When you notice a desire to yawn and stretch, get hungry, have a hard time concentrating or notice the inclination to procrastinate or fantasize, your body is giving you the message, that it is time to relax and recharge. Most people have become accustomed to ignore these natural signs or override them with caffeine or sugar.
Cravings
When you feel a craving for chocolate, sweets, coffee or tea, you can use this as a trigger to take a Mini-Retreat. Your body is telling you with the craving that it needs your attention. Rather than giving in to the craving, this can be the perfect reminder to take a Mini-Retreat to relax and recharge. Watch your craving subside as you give your body what you truly need.
Line-ups, Red traffic lights and other Annoyances
Rather than getting ticked off and angry at the delays and waiting periods in your day, choose to accept them as gifts and invitations to take a Mini-Retreat. Breathe deeply for a few minutes and turn inward, stretch or laugh out loud.
Think about other triggers that already exist in your life, that could serve as reminders for taking Mini-Retreats and share them in the comment section below!
Check out the triggers other readers have shared, they might apply to your situation too.
My trigger is playing Freecell. I know that when I start a game, it is because my mind is fogged and I need to concentrate on something else for a while. I should use a Mini-Retreat instead to get moving and get the kinks out of my muscles. I must remember this…it’s so much better for me than staying at my computer after I’m already fatigued.
Great idea, Phyllis! In general terms, what Phyllis shares here is to catch yourself when you do something that’s not serving you and that is a sign for you that you are tired. Think about your own coping mechanisms…. what do you do when your brain is fogged? Once you have identified your coping activity…then you can choose a relaxing Mini-Retreat to do instead.
Hint: choose a Mini-Retreat that you enjoy a lot, so that it will be an easy choice to make in the moment of fog. Make the choice before the situation occurs. Phyllis, you could decide to chase your cat for a moment of purring, when you feel the urge to play Freecell. Give it a try!