In a world filled with digital advancements created to make our lives easier, we often find life more complicated. In a pure analog world, you had time to think before making a decison. The mail was much slower than email. There was a cost to all phone calls, so they were brief and to the point. To learn something you had to do research in a library, then read books or learn the information from someone you knew. We asked a lot of questions and had to be okay with not having all the answers. Today, everything is at our findgertips. Ask a questions to your phone and get an answer that includes multiple sources of information. Have a business dilemma? Send an email and you'll get an answer by the end of the day. Without time to think, we are expected to have better answers - the perfect response, the most economical plan or the most efficient way to handle the situation.
The 2020 pandemic caused us to slow down whether we wanted to or not. Hobbies were started out of necessity, meals were once again made at home, and off-line games and puzzles found a new generation. Our work life balance was finally in balance. Then the pandemic ended, and as we got back to work, the things that had filled our days were moved to the back burner as we once again plugged in and worked the pace of a digital world.
Since the end of the pandemic mindfulness and self-care have become the newest old trend. Mental health concerns are no longer considered unspeakable or something to be embarrassed by. We live in a world trying to regain what a pandemic forced. We long for balance once again, this time on our terms, without fear of disease of loss of life. We miss having clear calendars, doing things with our hands, and listening to the sounds around us. We long for a time when we can choose to be still - to truly rest.
In the book, Your Brain On Nature, by Eva Selhub and Alan Logan, they suggest gaining balance with exposure to nature. If you have a chance to read the book, you should. I read it right before the COVID pandemic and it helpd me navigate this tricky world of modern conveniences and human connections. My biggest take away form the book is to accept where I am in time. To accept that I live in a technology and nature filled world. That embracing the modern doesn't mean letting go of the natural things still in place around me. Nature is after all, all around us - from our bakyard to National Parks. It doesn't take much nature to help us breath better or lower our blood pressure. The book suggests many ways to "sneak" in nature during your everyday routines. Personally, I use walking around Brenham and long drives through the country as my nature fix.
Practicing mindfulness is another way to find balance. Mindfulness is defined as "maintaining a moment by moment awareness of thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment through a gentle nonjudgemental lens"(Google AI). In a nutshell, mindfulness is intentionally focusing on being present without judgement. Often paired with yoga or meditation, mindfulness requires some guidance and regular practice. The book, Take A Breath, published by Peguin Random House in 2024, does a great job of providing mindfulness exercises from breathing techniques to creative activites. I like to think of mindfulness as intentinal moments to be true to myself. When I'm in a stressful situation I take several deep breaths and think about who I want to be in that particular moment. Of course, sometimes I miss the mark, and must remind myself that perfection is a myth.
Scheduling time for yourself, or self-care, is another way to create balance in your life. In the past I struggled with this concept. I confused self-care with selfishness. After many hours of talk therapy and being kind to myself, I learned the difference. Self-care allows me to care for others. Selfishness starts and ends with myself. I can't care for others if I am physically exhausted, mentally spent or spiritually empty. My mantra has become "puddle now, pillar later"; meaning I have to be vulernable daily so I can be strong when needed. Self-care means doing things that make you happy and relaxed. This is often presented as spa days, long baths and shopping. Those things make me anxious, so my self-care involves puzzles, projects around the house, playing American mahjong, visiting with friends or baking. The point isn't what you do, it's why you do it. It's about putting yourself frist for a short time, so you are avilable for other later.
I'm sure there are many more ways to balance your work and life, but these are my top three. (Funny fact, at the time I wrote my inital draft for this post my internet was out, so I couldn't Google the topic. Which was a great practice in balancing new technology with old philosophy!) At Main Street House we try to incorporate ways to practice living, even if just for a day or two, in a balanced world. While we have smart TVs for streaming services and coded door locks, we also have books to read, puzzles to put together, games to play and coloring books to fill. Our front porch is a favorite place to linger over a second cup of coffee or afternoon snack of ice cream. Our Sunday noon checkout time allows for an early church service or after breakfast nap. If you need some help getting started we have add on packages centered around self-care through pampering, creating or indulging. Most guests choose to stay with us the first time because of our location (we are walking distance to downtown Brenham), and they leave feeling calm, rested and relaxed. But they come back to get their dose of rest through relaxing, reconnecting andreflecting which leaves them feeling refreshed and balanced. No matter where you go to find balance and rest, schedule it often! You are worth it.
May you have a day full of balance and peace,
Suzy