Are You Getting Enough?
I know; you have no idea what I’m referring to in this article’s title, do you? I’m not really trying to be coy, I just couldn’t think of any other way to speak to a learning which I had this week. As so often happens for me, the actual information wasn’t new. But the concrete experience was like none I had ever had before. Let me explain. Obviously, I’ve had an epiphany of sorts over the last week. Something that allowed me to know beyond a shadow of a doubt what was missing before, and what I’m slowly but surely getting enough of now. And, I know that if you allow yourself the opportunity to get enough of this thing, you’re life will be easier all around. Want to know what it is? It’s unscheduled time.
Think about it. Take a look at a typical week in your life. How much of it is “unscheduled time?” My guess is that there’s not very much “open space” in your calendar, daytimer, blackberry – whatever it is you use to keep yourself organized and your time accounted for. Between personal appointments, children’s activities, work meetings, projects and tasks you’re probably scheduled to the max. And that’s not including time to eat, bathe, sleep and tend to other basic essentials. Let’s face it; you’re a pretty scheduled person. I know what that’s like; my schedule can look the same way most weeks.
Last week, however, I had the opportunity to take back some time. This was possible in part because of a couple of appointment cancellations. Ordinarily what I would have done in that circumstance is fill the suddenly opened time with other tasks; goodness knows there’s always something to do. But last week, I chose to let the time and space be open. I could feel a cold coming on and, given the time that was suddenly available to me, I chose to just be. No writing, no talking, no reading, no nothing – just being. Letting my mind wander, I was amazed to experience a degree of grounding like I hadn’t felt in a long time. And I confirmed for myself something I’ve known intrinsically for a while: as human beings, it really does serve us to just “be”.
I know, this can be hard to do. But that’s the point. You don’t have to “do” anything – just “be”. For a while. It doesn’t have to be for long, it just has to be for a time. A small amount of time can revitalize you in a big way. Giving yourself time to go for a mental walk of sorts – which is what I’m really talking about when I say “just be” – fills your life with clarity like nothing else can.
For me, this is taking the 80/20 rule of time management one step further. If you’re not familiar with it, the 80/20 rule advises that you schedule 80% of your time, allowing 20% to be unscheduled so that when things take longer than anticipated (which they inevitably will) or when crises arise (which does happen from time to time) you won’t fall behind or become overwhelmed. My suggestion to you is, in addition to allowing for buffer time in this way, you also allow for “being time” – wide open space in which nothing is scheduled and nothing gets scheduled, which allows for you to just be.
Bottom-line, just like you need sufficient doses of various vitamins to function properly, you also need sufficient amounts of unscheduled time. This is time for you to just be free – not in front of the tv or cuddled up with a book, but rather time to be free of any and all tasks and agendas, allowing your mind to wander and your brain to slow down a bit. As a chronic thinker, I know this can be challenging. And at the same time, what I know for sure is that there’s a reason you’re called a human BEING as opposed to a human DOING – time to BE is far more important to your life than time to DO. So create some time to BE and watch your life improve.
Your blogpost was forwarded to me by a friend and I had to comment. A few weeks ago I also wrote an article inspired by my yoga instructor about too much doing and not enough being for my bi-weekly column in The Herald Homes section here in Halifax. What a coincidence. And then again a few days ago one of my yoga instructors made a comment that she thinks perhaps being busy is a form of addiction and that coming to your yoga mat is a way to balance it all for at least 75 mins. a few times a week. Great subject matter!
Hi Gail,
So true about taking the time to just BE. One of my favourite places to just BE is in nature, enjoying the fresh air and nature’s colours. It’s important to take time for yourself…in this crazy busy world we need to rest our busy minds too. Thanks.
Hi Mary — thanks for your comments! Yes, being in nature is a fabulous way to connect with your self and rejuvenate. Very peaceful and invigorating. Thanks for sharing!
Yes Jane, I agree with your yoga teacher about “busy-ness” being an addiction of sorts. I know so many people who struggle to just “be” — at substantial cost to their health and well-being. There’s a great line in the movie Sound of Music when Captain VonTrapp says “activity suggests a life of purpose” — and I think that is the mistake that so many make. There’s a belief out there in the world that “being” is equivalent to laziness, and in my opinion, this myth needs to be busted. There is a difference between lazy and recharging. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Not enough “be time” or “me time” is a chronic problem these days. I think a large part of that is due to so many of us having the notion that we must be connected at all times.I can still recall the pre-cell phone days when I drove across the U.S. without a care in the world. It was a wonderful thing, being unscheduled and free. Thanks for your thoughtful post, Gail.