As I write this, the federal government is shut down. Whether you think that this is a good or bad idea, what if you took this concept and applied it in your personal life?
Plan a “shutdown” of your own. Here are some ideas, and I think you can come up with your own:
- Spend a weekend without checking e-mail.
- Take a weekend trip to a retreat center where you spend time in quiet contemplation or meditation, away from electronic devices.
- Abstain from television for a week.
- Take advantage of the six-month sabbatical offered by your employer.
- Take an hour walk along a beach, nature trail, or similar quiet location.
In other words, find a way to step away, even if briefly, from the stress of your everyday life. Thought leaders in such diverse areas as spirituality, physical health, and mental health, are in virtual agreement that taking time to “shut it down” is a healthy and beneficial activity.
What could you plan for your shutdown?