Past Urgency
When everything feels urgent. When we start noticing that things are coming undone - we’re forgetting important events/tasks, we’re noticing more and more simple mistakes, we’re missing the activities we do daily (bathing, eating), our sleep is off, and/or we’re finding ourselves irritated by everything - these aren’t warning flags to slow down, these are bright lights telling us we’re far past our capacity. When we reach this point of stretched urgency, we can trick ourselves into thinking that everything is of upmost importance and that we will have time to rest once xy and z are done. But in the meantime, you’ll find 7 other things that are urgent too.
When you notice these cues (you probably have your unique cues beyond what I’ve mentioned), you need to recharge. You will just keep adding to your pile of urgency and keep making more mistakes. You will do much better moving forward, if you can come back with a clearer view. You may see that things that felt urgent today will be resolved without your intervention tomorrow. Or maybe they will be worse, but you’ll be better able to handle them, because your brain will be able to think clearer.
Rest doesn’t look the same for everyone and it may even feel uncomfortable. If you’ve been hustling a lot, it can feel wrong to rest. That doesn’t mean it won’t benefit you. Not all of us have access to the same resources to rest in the same way. Maybe you have kids that need care or no paid leave from your job. It is important in those moments to look towards your community. Is there anyone who can watch your kids for the evening, so you can have some time to catch your breath and stop doing? Is there a way you can dedicate your whole weekend to rest without doing your weekly maintenance? (As I started writing this, I didn’t realize how much I was going to be writing about rest. I cannot in good faith mention rest so much without also mentioning Tricia Hersey’s work - The Nap Ministry).
And when you come back, give yourself compassion for the mistakes you made and the parts of you that pushed yourself past your limit. And remind yourself to check back in before you get close to that limit again.
This week, I invite you to think about cues that you’re at your limit, past your limit, and close to your limit. Then, check in to where you are in this moment. Next, I want to invite you to think of ways that you can access rest this week and on ongoing basis. As well as ways in which you can access support from your community and offer support to your community when you or they are close to, at, or past your/their limit.
As always, take what is helpful and leave the rest. I hope you have the week you need.
