We wear “busy” as a badge of honor.
We value productivity.
We emphasize filling every second of every day.
Always working toward something.
Always looking forward.
Always trying to do more.
Training ever harder in the gym.
Working ever longer on the job.
Living with as little margin as possible.
We think this constant effort to do more is how we make the most of life.
Yet, life often has other plans.
Injuries.
Job losses.
Pandemics, even.
We find ourselves unable to keep up our pace.
Facing this openness, we feel discomfort.
So we turn to whatever we can to refill it.
Streaming services.
Substances.
Food.
Whatever we can find to turn our attention from the emptiness we feel.
This might serve as a temporary fix.
In the long-term, though, we lose a tremendous opportunity.
To reassess how we’ve been living.
To examine whether we’re living in accordance with our values.
To explore how we might live better.
We can only do such introspection when we have space.
Even if that space comes against our will.
Sometimes you'll be forced to slow down.
To spend time alone.
To just be.
How will you use that time?
To distract, numb, and ignore?
Or to reflect, learn, and grow into a better life?
What if doing less is the key to living more?
What can you do today to make the most of your down time?
If you don’t have any, what can you do to create some?
To give yourself that space?
To allow yourself some breathing room?
To figure out who you are?
How you want to live?
Take those steps.
You’ve got this.
