I hosted Thanksgiving last year for over 30 of my closest friends and family. The day was full of gratitude and joy in many ways. But, it was also a whole lot of work.
If you’re reading this from the US, you are likely preparing for a holiday week ahead. For some, that might mean extra rest, but for many it will be just as (if not more) mentally and physically taxing as the average week. So the focus of this post is on being deliberate about managing our energy and planning for rest.
We have to prioritize getting what we need to stay spiritually full.
This week’s intention
This week will bring something different for each of us because Thanksgiving experiences are so varied – retail workers barely have a holiday at all, many of us deal with mentally and emotionally challenging relatives, traveling can be physically draining, and even the most excited hosts among us can succumb to fatigue by the time the last guest leaves.
My intention is to make time for rest and renewal.
Before you jump into all the planning, cooking, shopping, working, hosting and traveling that this week might hold, take a moment to consider how and when you will make time for rest.
Journal on the topic of rest and be as specific as possible. Ask yourself:
- When will I be able to rest this week? What days and for how long?
- What do I want to do during my rest time (e.g. read, sleep, watch television, mediate, take a walk, all of the above)?
- Can I rest when I am around others or do I need to be alone?
- Who do I need to discuss my rest schedule with in advance?
- On days when no downtime can be found, how will I steal a few moments to reset (e.g. deep breathing exercises in the bathroom or praying silently for stamina)?
- Is there anyone else I should or could help find time to rest?
I pray you have a pleasant holiday and I’m grateful for our time together. See you next week!