Although 2022 has felt like a quiet year to me, this last month ramped up real fast, and I lost my balance a bit. Pregnancy has made me very sensitive to pace, to sugar, caffeine, and to my output. Since feeling better during my second trimester, I guess I got a little carried away with all of these things and turned the dial up, playing with fire. So this month I want to focus and explore q u i e t.
Quieting down, turning the dials back to low, letting things simmer and taking a step back….
First, I will invite anyone who reads this to take a few deep, slow breaths. Our nervous systems can use it! It’s amazing what a short pause can do, along with some deep inhales and exhales. How often do we stop and breathe?
And the phone. The emails. The calls and appointments! On top of work meetings, we have to fit in hair appointments, doctors appointments, kids classes, etc. Although it’s wonderful to be involved to “stay on top of things”, it’s helpful to remember that we don’t have to do it all. We just don’t. Sometimes it’s completely ok to take an afternoon off and hang out on the couch, doing quiet things.
I found this article about focusing and reducing distractions, and is actually really great. I’m surprised I found it on the American Express website, a website that promotes being in debt- haha! But the list reflects a very simple regimen of turning things off, taking a step away from the work, and engaging in more play.
PLAY
Play is defined by the Cambridge dictionary as “doing an activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose.” Now, I’m not sure if you play much, but I know I don’t. I just started going to the community pool a couple times a week for some exercise, but I try and allow myself to feel the coolness of the water and tune out the rest of my agenda that day. I really enjoy swimming and even though it’s exercise, it feels more like play than most other things I’m doing lately. Why is this? Is it because it’s active? Because it’s sensuous? Because I literally cannot hold a phone in the water??
I think play has a way of cycling in spaciousness to our psyche so that we can experience stillness. It’s almost as if the play acts as a stimulant, washing clean the ever-talking mind, so that when we relax after play, we truly feel the quiet.
TURN it off
The other point I really like from the list is about Turning Off Distractions. For me, my distractions are all tech related. I do not have any kids (just yet) and I do not work in a busy office. My distractions are self perpetuated because I keep my phone on. But what if I didn’t? And what if I didn’t surf the web for a week?
This article is inspiring- try turning off your phone for an entire week. How would that fair? I’d have to let my family know, but otherwise, I think it might work out ok. One could always check their messages once a day (maybe via their laptop) just to stay on top of important news, but otherwise, be free child! Go play and be well. Get off the damn phone- says Annie to herself. I do long for this.
Once the phone is off, however, the boredom sets in. For a while now, everyone has gotten used to being on their phones, having it near them, checking messages or even sending one to a friend. It’s like an itch that longs to be scratched, when we turn off our phones. I imagine that once we get over the withdraws, the spaciousness sets in and we can seek true enjoyment. I’ve never considered myself addicted to my phone, but I honestly think we all are. It’s such a huge part of our lives, that it’s very strange to live without it for longer than an afternoon. Do I dare attempt this week long shut off? Do I dare go screen free for seven days, including TV and web surfing??
Taking a step back
Lastly, choosing to stop and do something else, can really help us find focus/quiet/peace. For me, this is often a walk, a few stretches, or dancing to a couple of my favorite tunes. It’s always movement for me. The stress builds and I get irritable when I keep my butt stuck in a chair for too long.
What do you do to get quiet, and I mean to reallllly find that spaciousness? Can you go a week without your phone? Do you already do this? How do you play and how often do you do it? I’d love to know, since I’m a bit of a work-a-holic over here.
What’s new:
I’ve been working with local Libraries to pick up a copy of SOMETIMES IT’S BRIGHT. If you don’t mind requesting this title form your library, it would be a huge help!
The new Expansion pack will launch next week! Carrie and I are so excited, after months of delays and printing kerfuffles. The time has come!
I am working on a new picture book about a sweet but eccentric girl who gets sick on performance day. More about this soon, but I’m having fun in my sketchbook, playing with colors and an illustration style.
I added some designs to my storefront. Hope you enjoy!
