It's ok to take a break. It's hard to do when you have been used to go, go, go. It started in June, on a little vacation to the coast with my husband, when I first thought about making a few changes for the summer.
I decided to flip my routine to off. This brought me great apprehension at first -- would I let people down, would I feel guilty, would it set me back? Now it is midsummer and I feel sense of peace that I haven't known for quite awhile. I feel refreshed, liberated, and I've come to know myself again.
Even though regular daily tasks still need to be tended to, and my small business is still open and operating, turning off my regular routine for these last several weeks, has felt like I am still on my vacation back in June.
Summer
slow mornings, slowing down, slower pace, taking care of self, spending more time with husband and family, tending to the garden, learning new skills, going on small adventures, catching up on favorite shows, reading books, limiting use of phone and social media, living as simply as possible, leisure and relaxation, not getting caught up with what everyone else is doing or where they are going, spending more time in silence.
Sabbatical
taking a break from work, spending less hours working and more hours resting. retreat into a change of scenery away from routine. no routines, making up schedule based on how I feel. nurturing my soul with beautiful vistas and meditation and prayer. focusing on health: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. finding time for things that get neglected when running a business. experimenting with ideas and techniques that I finally found time for. appreciating what is before me. not rushing to the next thing. reflecting on where I've been and where I want to go and what I still want to do this year, next year and beyond. being inspired by little things, tiny things that can only be seen when you slow down.