Wouldn’t it be great if our bodies came with the option for automatic “Low Power Mode” just like our iPhones?
This is the definition on Apple’s website:
“Use Low Power Mode to save battery life on your iPhone. Low Power Mode reduces the amount of power that your iPhone uses when the battery gets low. When Low Power Mode is on, your iPhone will last longer before you need to charge it, but some features might take longer to update or complete. Also, some tasks might not work until you turn off Low Power Mode, or until you charge your iPhone to 80% or higher. When Low Power Mode is on, the battery in the status bar will be yellow. After you charge your iPhone to 80% or higher, Low Power Mode automatically turns off. ”
How great would it be if our bodies had a setting for that?
Like before they forced us to rest from illness, depression, or debilitating anxiety. What if somehow our bodies could simply override our brain that keeps driving us forward by shutting down all the background apps, closing all the extra windows and tabs, to somehow force us to focus on only the required, mission-critical, life-sustaining activities? And then, just like our phones, there was an indicator light for everyone else to see “I’m in low power mode.”
As women in today’s world with all the hats we wear, making time for rest seems nearly impossible.
Then if we do invest in rest, we feel guilty about it. Like there is some badge of honor awarded when we’re worn completely out, and a walk of shame is the only reward we get for saying we took a rest. This time of year, almost every woman I talk to is worn completely out. In the last 24 hours, when women have described how they’re doing, it’s “I’m tapped out” “Are we there yet?” “I need a self-care day like nobody’s business” “My head is spinning” “Busy as a beaver!” “I’m having panic attacks because it just seems to be never-ending.”
How often do you tell yourself, “As soon as I ____ . . . then, I will rest”?
I’m just as guilty as you and every other woman I know. It seems that most of the time, the only setting on my brain is “Go. Go. Go!” But in January of 2019, my friend Wendi encouraged me to select a word for the year, and it was like my spirit already knew. My word was “rest“. Even though in that moment I wasn’t even exactly sure what rest could possibly look like, let me assure you, I’ve found ways to rest.
I can truly say that “rest” was my guiding word for 2019.
I held myself to a much less stringent blogging schedule, I said “no” a lot more often. I gave myself more grace, even against my nature. In fact, I chose this picture for this blog today because, even on our transatlantic flight over Thanksgiving, my brain was telling me to “keep working” “use this time to get caught up” but my body was tired. My body was screaming “Low Power Mode!”. I finally gave myself permission to rest. And it was wonderful.
Both, on the flight and throughout the entire year of 2019.
I know that your body is already begging you to close this post. Screaming all the reasons you do not have time to rest. But hear this:
“You have permission to rest. You’re not responsible for fixing everything that is broken. You do not have to try to make everyone happy. For now, take time for you. “
You must find big and small ways to replenish.
Create your own “low power mode”. Even if it’s just for 5 minutes. You can’t serve anyone unless you replenish your body and spirit. Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is to take a rest.
The world will go on while you rest.
to more love,
Crystal
P.S. Even just looking back at the blog I wrote then, “What does rest look like?” – a year in advance, I unknowingly also chose my word for 2020. If you haven’t chosen your word for this year, or if you want support in holding to it. Join us on January 9th at One Word GNO – An intention setting workshop to reveal your guiding word for 2020.
