Life often pulls us in many different directions at the same time. And perhaps much of this is simply the result of our modern and fast-paced world. All the same, when we’re constantly on the go we can soon find ourselves just running on fumes and barely able to keep our heads above water.
Growing up, we worked hard during the school year and looked forward to a long summer break. This was a time for rest, recreation, and renewal – to be restored in body and soul before the next school year. And the winter months give nature a similar season of rest before generating new life again in the spring.
However, this is no longer a rhythm most of us get to enjoy in adulthood. The expectation is to work year-round with only weekends off and possibly a two-week vacation squeezed in somewhere. To be fair, most industries still have some ebb and flow between busy and slow seasons. And some of us are privileged to have times of sabbatical.
But the temptation remains for many to work to the point of depletion while merely scratching for moments of relief whenever they can. This makes vacations not particularly restful, and also opens the door for many vices as a way to self-medicate and keep us just afloat.
While meaningful rhythms of rest and restoration might no longer be built into our days, we must find ways to care for our soul all the same. And this might be as simple as finding activities and opportunities that are truly enriching rather than just numbing or pacifying.
For instance, art, music, and literature, meaningful hobbies and chats with our friends, or even just a walk down memory lane looking at old photos of our family history. Whatever it looks like, it’s finding at least a quality snack for our souls rather than the junk food of mindless entertainment, doom scrolling, and the like.
In the end, don’t let the busyness of life cause you to perpetually run on fumes. Fight to protect your moments of true rest and restoration without settling for merely temporary relief.
Photo by Adrian Swancar on Unsplash
