Change is Not Always as Good as a Rest – Helen Explains Why
Change is Not Always as Good as a Rest – Helen Explains Why
Helen reflects on the last few months and how she has found comfort in keeping things unusually predictable…
You are probably quite familiar with Team Boo talking about how we need to rest and find ways to renew ourselves in order to be at our best. I sometimes feel that I should be an expert at it by now – however,
what I know is that self care is not something that we do and then tick it off the list. It’s adjusting the way we see things and reminding ourselves each day to be kind to ourselves and notice what is happening.
Over the last few months I have been extra alert to notice how I have been feeling – taking extra care to look after myself.
Over summer, we changed our family holiday from our carefully planned two week trip to France in our recently acquired touring caravan, to a couple of week long holidays in the UK. I loved our week in the Lake District; testing out our caravan and exploring new places. And another trip to Worcestershire; sharing time with my family who we hadn’t seen for months and doing something different each day. Then right at the end of summer, we snuck in a last minute trip to Anglesey – a place we have loved and adored for many years. We stayed in the same place, went to our favourite beaches and trod the paths of familiar walks. This was the absolute gem of the summer – the time that I finally relaxed and switched off. When I found time to reflect, and time to just be. When I could stop thinking, planning, working out. And just STOP!
I’m not normally a person who gets renewed by just stopping. I like to get stuck into a new project, do the garden, get creative. I don’t usually like watching TV or doing the predictable.
What I realised was that there can be such a thing as too much change, and sometimes the predictable and well known paths are where we can find the peace that we need to renew.
The last few months have brought a lot of change. For me personally, and I suspect for many other people, these changes have been both in work and home life. I’ve learnt a lot, planned a lot, and prioritised us all keeping our mental health in a good place. Adjusted to new schedules, new ways of doing things and keeping us and others safe. Used my skills in different ways, rethought communication and connection and been part of launching a whole new project. I have felt a whole spectrum of emotions and experiences; some positive, some not so much. All of these things have been changes. And I got to the point of being ‘changed-out’!
So during that bank holiday weekend in Anglesey I embraced the familiar, the predictable and the total rest that it provided.
As we move into the new autumn and winter seasons, with the new changes that brings, I am rethinking what my renewal time and activities are and looking for those familiar comforts that are not too demanding on my mind!
Though change can be just the thing to renew motivation or clarify our focus (that is a whole other blog in itself!) I can confirm, that not all change is as good as a rest.
Take care
Helen x
