We have all heard, read and told others about the importance of rest. I didn’t realize how important it was until I went 6 months without a day off. After 6 months of working a minimum of 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, I hadn’t taken a single day off. Here is a sample of my daily routine and the observation to follow.
1. I wake up at 0400 to read my Bible and have a cup of coffee. My morning used to include journaling, but that had gone by the wayside. Observation: I was at the point where I couldn’t concentrate, understand or retain anything I was reading in my Bible. Now I was praying that God would help me wake up so I could hear him speak to me, but I couldn’t close my eyes to pray because my mind would start to wander elsewhere or go back to sleep. My journal had become my daily “to do” list and my visualization time became visualizing the daily obstacles and problems I might encounter.
2. Then I go to the gym. I absolutely refuse to give that up. It’s one of the best things I have in my day and helps me start my day off right. The staff have learned not to start problems until I have completed my training. I’m working on myself not to look around for what needs to be done while I’m on the ladder. Observation: I’m improvising. I go in with only a vague plan of what I’m going to do, but I’ve learned to maximize the time I’m there. My main focus is on the quality of my training. If I work on the bench press, I can do a set of squats or lunges. Working out that way, I also keep my heart rate up at the same time, fat burning workout!
3. After a shower I go to the office. R&R is coming soon, which means I have a mountain of paperwork to do before I leave. I also go to each of the facilities and complete whatever needs to be done or manage what needs to be done. I have a great staff so it helps tremendously. However, he was not using his talent as he should. I was trying to do everything myself until I learned a very important word that I had trouble with before: delegate.
4. After work, I come home and take a shower again (it’s very hot and dusty in Iraq), lie down and read a few pages of a book before my eyes start rolling in my head, I give up , I turn off the light and go to sleep to prepare for another encore performance.
I’ve been doing the same thing, the same way every day, and I keep thinking about that all-important question: Is this all there is to God? Am I following your purpose for my life? The advantage of my routine is that I love my job. I can work with the military and make them happy. I go to bed every night knowing that I am helping to make a difference in their lives and for that I feel so blessed.
The other side of that coin is that when you are so busy with the non-stop daily grind, you end up feeling dissatisfied and wondering, “What about me?” You end up wondering if those lofty goals and dreams you had were just fantasy. It’s sad because if you don’t have dreams and goals for your future, what do you have to wait for?
This may be the same story for many of you. Especially if you are a busy, working mom. You get yourself and the kids ready in the morning, you work all day, take the kids to sports or other activities, cook dinner, put the kids to bed (finally) and before you know it, the day is over There is no time for you. You lie down and do it again day after day.
You remember that you had planned to take a university course, a Yoga class or you just want to catch up with your friends from time to time. You think about it and laugh to yourself saying, “I’m kidding myself. I don’t have time for any of that.”
Today I am observing Memorial Day and enjoying it immensely. I didn’t do anything special, but it was a time to rejuvenate. He didn’t have to go anywhere and he could read as long as he wanted. I had a chance to meditate and although it was hard to slow down and relax (you must see how organized and clean my room is), little by little my mind calmed down and I was able to listen to what my heart and feelings were telling me.
After all, I hadn’t lost my dreams and hopes, I just didn’t have time to think about them or meditate on them. Although I love to write, this was my first time writing more than one to-do list and I really enjoy it.
Now I know I’m not the only one who is so busy and I’m not telling you this to make you think, “poor thing” or “if you don’t like it, leave it.” I tell him to warn him not to head down the path of “burnout.” Take time to rest.
Rest is important. It gives you a chance to recharge and plan for your dreams and goals. God took a day off when he created the world and you can too. In fact, He tells us in the Bible to observe the Sabbath, so take a day off and have fun!