Andy Lee
I just returned from my solo retreat. I go away for five days, by myself, for myself. With no electronics, no email and certainly no social media. It was my third time in as many years. I feel recharged, energised, and inspired. The first time I heard about going away for a retreat (by yourself), it didn’t make sense to me. “Go away by themselves? To do what?” I asked. “To spend time alone” my wife replied. “I can do that at home, I’ll just lock myself in my office and ask you not to disturb me”. “Okay” she said. As I thought more on the idea, I decided to give it a try. It’s now one of the highlights of my year. Every year. In fact, this year I plan to go away twice, such is the busyness of my schedule.
“I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer” – Martin Luther
For those that forge a path towards a purposeful life, responsibilities are often many. From constantly managing the size of my inbox, to preparing for meetings that discuss anything from cashflow forecasting, digital marketing, stock liquidation strategy, to church multiplication through effective discipleship, it requires the ability to switch focus several times in the space of a week, and sometimes a day, to be at maximum effectiveness. This takes its toll on the mind. Just like the body, the mind also requires recovery time.
To maintain peak performance it is necessary to rest and recover. When you do a lot, you need to be aware of doing too much. But too much compared to what? Well, too much that results in you not being able to give your best. The quality of your output drops as you give more without recharging your tank. This in turn can have an adverse effect on your health, affecting your sleep and mood, as well as exhibiting aches and minor ailments.
Here’s some benefits for taking time off by yourself:
• Reposition your presence
How often are you really present in the moment where you are? For example, many times I catch myself being in one place physically but in another place mentally. I could be listening to a friend telling me about their week, but be thinking about that email I need to reply to. I could be reading my emails but be thinking about the project I need to finish. I could be working on my project but be thinking about my friend that I wanted to check in on. We end up chasing the next to-do on the list, that we lose sight of the moment. The problem with that is that we only get one chance to be present in the moment. If we miss it, it’s gone. On my trips, it takes me two days to stop the jitters. As well as the multiple lists I keep in my head, I have to stop myself from checking emails and social media on my phone. Then things become…quiet. There’s a stillness in my mind, and a stillness in my spirit. I wake up calm, not jumping out of bed to rush into the day, but not being unappreciative of the moment either. I take my time, with no sense of urgency or distractions, to enjoy the day ahead which for me consists of walks, coffee shops and journaling. I breathe in the freshness of the morning air as I set off on a scenic walk, with loose stones crunching under my boots being the only interruption to the sound of soothing nature. I feel the sun on my face, and I let my eyes soak in the beauty around me. I am so thankful for creation. I am so thankful just to be alive. I am present in the moment.
• Remembering the why
We get so caught up in what we do, we sometimes forget the reason why we do it. If we lose sight of the bigger picture, life can suddenly seem just like a series of tasks and obligations. It’s so important to remember the meaning behind what we do. It’s the fuel that keeps us going. There are times when we just don’t feel good about what we do, and it’s in those moments that remembering the why compels us to continue moving forward. People who only act when they feel like it, do not reach anywhere near the potential they could do if they acted on their purpose. You get a real sense of the impact that you make through what you do. Take a step back, remind yourself of the why and enjoy the view while you’re there.
• Being thankful for how far you’ve come
Perspective. So vital in realigning our sense of reality. All too often we compare our progress to other people. If you really have to compare with someone, then compare with who you were yesterday. Measure yourself by yourself. Reflect on what you have achieved and accomplished so far. Be thankful for the journey, and for all the great things you have already done. I believe that your best is still to come. You are not finished, but you have started. You may not feel like you’re making much progress and that’s exactly why getting away from the front line for a short while is helpful. You can track your progress more objectively by reflecting on the triumphs and the trials that you’ve overcome. You’re still here. You’re still standing. You’re still moving forward.