The Power of Pause: Unforgettable Lessons from My Two Week Digital Detox
It’s amazing how a few sunsets and rainbows can wash the stress away. I have just returned from the most amazing two-week vacation. The first week I spent quality time with my awesome hubby, Jon, and the second week I spent with my amazing sister, Donna. It didn’t hurt that it was on the beautiful island of Maui. From the moment I stepped off the plane, I felt a release.
I don’t know about you, but daily I have so much information coming at me I feel buried, so I asked myself, “How do I want to be on this vacation? Instead of What do I want to do?” My perspective shifted when I answered: I want to be present, at peace and in awe. I needed to get real about what it would take for me to show up that way. I made a commitment to myself that I was going to truly disconnect. No news. No social media. No work. No agenda. No problem, right?
As I reflect on the trip, I realize how much I gained by reducing all the noise and living in the present. I experienced slow mornings sipping tea and writing in a gratitude journal, I spent in nature hiking the Lao Valley watching the water flow to the ocean, I sipped champagne on the cliffs and ate fresh seafood, I swam with sea turtles and dined with a gecko, and most importantly I deepened the relationships with my loved ones. Vacations and rest are not just for summer, it is a necessity to take time all year round to recharge so you can be at your best.
Self-Coaching Corner: Questions to Plan Time to Pause and Recharge
- When is my next scheduled break?
- How do I want to feel during this break?
- Who do I want to share this break with?
- How will this break help me recharge?
