Do you ever get run ragged? Ever grow weary in well doing?
One of the key concepts author Stephen Covey talks about in The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is that of sharpening the saw. Everybody needs to build a little time into their busy schedules to refresh and restore frayed nerve endings.
I travel a lot. And with travel comes friction. Flights are delayed or cancelled. Weather slows things down. Crowds are no fun. Hotels are expensive and have those noisy heater/airconditioner things that can keep you up all night. But one of the things travel makes me do is shut off the cell phone and read a good book. Sometimes, my flight time is the only time I can find for my reading! And for me, reading is one of the best ways to stay sharp and restore myself.
Family time is also theraputic. Exercise can be magical at bringing your spirits back to life. Certainly prayer and meditation should be primary, also. Sometimes just hanging out with some special people in your life can do the trick.
The key is to understand how you are wired and what you need to maintain yourself at peak performance. Do you know the leading indicators of frazzled nerve endings? Do you see signs of needing a break? Do you know what activities best restore you to top form? Be tuned in to these and book a little restoration time into your schedule.
There is a difference between being idle and resting, just as there is a difference between being busy and being effective. Idleness and busyness are two sides of the same coin: disorder. Their opposite is rest (read "rest-oration") and effectiveness, which come from an orderly life. Disciplined people have a way of both getting things done and resting once in a while. The two work together like a hand in a glove.
Winston Churchill painted landscapes. In the middle of political firestorms and a raging world war, he would sit serenely and paint for hours. Abraham Lincoln read humor books. In the midst of a calamitous civil war, he would entertain friends with chuckling short stories and witty jokes. Ronald Reagan would chop wood, ride horses, and clear trails. He was the leader of the free world and winning the Cold War, but he made time to swing an axe.
What are your methods of restoration? Do you schedule them effectively? If not, I’ll bet you are busier than you need be, and less effective than you could be.
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