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Mini-Retreats in the Nick of Time~ How to Create Time through Rest and Relaxation
Contrary to the widespread belief that rest and relaxation takes time, the opposite is true: rest and relaxation make time.
Recently I was in a rush, riding my bike to an important appointment downtown. On my way over the bridge, I noticed that my tires were low. How frustrating! I knew a bike store on my way where I could fill up my tires, but did I have enough time? I didn’t want to risk being late at my appointment. Even though I felt pressured for time, I decided to stop at the bike shop and fill up my tires. Biking was a breeze with my freshly pumped tires; I was happy about my decision and arrived at my destination in what seemed like “no time.” To my great surprise, I discovered that I was five minutes early. This anecdote is a perfect analogy to what happens when you take the time to relax and refresh with Mini-Retreats. The 30 seconds to 5 minutes it takes to relax your body and mind are similar to my stop for air at the bike shop. You are taking time that you don’t really have, since you are already running late (just like me on my way to the appointment). So next time you start to feel too busy, stressed, or overwhelmed, take time for a few deep breaths, do a few simple stretches, shake your body, laugh out loud, jump up and down or try any other Mini-Retreat that inspires you in the moment. Then as you return to your task, with your mind and body refreshed and fully functioning, the challenge that seemed hard or even insurmountable becomes manageable and might even seem easy. You’ll be surprised how much more effective you’ll be in the next hour, until it’s time to take the next Mini-Retreat.
Give it a try and witness how you can create more time and ease in your day by making Mini-Retreats a healthy habit. When you find yourself staring at your computer screen for hours and pushing yourself through the day tired and exhausted, surviving on coffee, please know that you have chosen to hurry past the metaphorical bike shop. Imagine a biker pushing uphill with almost flat tires, huffing and puffing, arriving late at her/his appointment. Know that this frustrated and exhausted biker is you.
Which ride would you rather choose?
Do you always find excuses when you need to take time to take a break, relax or meditate? “I’m too busy” “I have to meet this deadline” “They’re waiting for me” “I’m running late” “I’m too tired”… Sounds familiar?
I had always found I was too busy to take a break because I thought I needed to free one or two hours of my time. That almost never happened.
With the “Mini-Retreat Solution” there aren’t any excuses anymore: even if you only have a couple of minutes, you can take any of the ideas presented in the book and take a break at home, at work or even during your commute!
Thank you for sharing Lucia!
I am glad to hear that my book inspired you to let go of your excuses and enjoy frequent Mini-Retreats throughout the day. Thank you for mentioning your old belief about needing a big chunk of time to relax. You are not alone!
I hope many people will read your comment and feel inspired to take Mini-Retreats!
Julia