A few tips on rest and recovery from a chronic overworker
.
Steve and I devoted a big part of our book,
Superabound, to the Tending Triad (aka. the three things you need to keep your inner flame burning bright) because I used to be so bad at resting that I burned out and was forced to shut down a business that took a decade to build.
So here are a few tips from someone who truly understands how hard true rest can be.
1. Start small
It can be painful to go from working 7 days a week (feeling accomplished and important while doing it) to taking weekends off and “doing nothing”. Start by committing to something restorative at least once a week.
2. Use Smart Accountability
When I was a yoga teacher, I found it hard to get my early morning practice in. But if I knew I had students showing up to a class with me, I was out of bed and at the studio because I knew they were counting on me. Smart accountability might mean booking an appointment that you have to show up for like a massage or asking a friend to meet you for a walk. Lean on your wish to show up for other people and use it to support yourself as well.
3. Don’t expect to feel relaxed…..for a really long time
Having gone through this personally and after years of guiding my clients on their own self-investment journey I can say this with certainty. Don’t expect to feel relaxed for a while even when you are doing “rest and recovery.” If you are a life-long worker like I was you may find it hard to just sit down and meditate. You might be working in your mind all weekend even if your laptop is locked away in a drawer. It might honestly feel uncomfortable to relax and restore for awhile because it is so counter to the pattern you have been in for much of your life. This is normal and expected.
