Taking Time for Yourself – Amidst the Crazy Schedules We All Keep

I’m happy to see everyone during our recent seminars and bowling outing. It’s nice that we can take the time to keep up with happenings in everyone’s lives despite the hurried nature of most days. It’s also important to take some time for yourselves to relax, reflect and just *do nothing* so that you can recharge your batteries and remain in a good state of mind and body for handling all of your tasks at hand – applying to grad school being just one of those “tasks” for most of you at this point in time. Keep going, you are all doing great! Next semester is when your hard work will definitely pay off! Here is a Winner’s Circle from Lou Tice that speaks to this notion of *taking time.*

How can the ancient tradition of Sabbath help you perform better at work and feel energized and much more creative? The ancient idea of Sabbath makes sense in mdern times, too, and not just in a religious way. How often do you set aside some time for yourself where you entirely alter your routines? That is what is supposed to happen on the Sabbath, or on a sabbatical, which comes from the same root word. Sabbaticals are sometimes necessary if we are to stay fresh and creative. A highly successful businessman I know took nine weeks off from his job. He called it a sabbatical, and he went to Maine where he designed a barn and took a photography course. When he came back to work, he told me that he was filled with new ideas and felt much better equipped to lead. Now, perhaps you are not in a position to take nine weeks off. But no matter how busy you are, you can build in some time for short sabbaticals, even if they are only two or three days at a time. Get off the main thoroughfare of your life and live in an entirely different way for a while! Walk instead of ride. Plant trees if you work in an office. Take a computer class if you plant trees for a living. You get the idea. You will find yourself feeling refreshed, revitalized and renewed. Try it and see.

--Lou Tice, The Pacific Institute