Rhythms
There were times when I really wanted to do something but was not been able to make it happen on the timeline I wanted. When I’m not seeing progress I can go from being hard on myself to not caring at all…at least for a little while.
About three or four years ago I started thinking about the natural rhythms of life a bit more. I was at a conference and the speaker mentioned something about sleep patterns and cell phone related attention problems. It had never occurred to me that my attention span could get worse from using my phone so much (but that’s another story).
When I started considering the rhythms and seasons in my life, It made sense it might be something I could piggy back on. I’ve done it in some unconscious ways for years. During the summer we may notice extra energy to exercise and get out more. Physically, we start to crave food that is light, fresh and loaded with water. Sugary treats are traded for crisp salads and fruit. We may not look twice at a bowl of chili by the time temperatures have risen and the trees are in full foliage. In the summer it’s so easy for me to wake up early, stay up late and and want to work out. I feel creative and I have tons of energy. In general things feel easier. However, in the winter we look to eat warm comfort foods and slow down, by the new year we reflect and start fresh. We challenge ourselves with new goals that may or may not take us into the summer.
When I began thinking of how most things in life have their own rhythm I wondered if I could create my own that would help make things feel more natural and inviting to do. A simple pattern for my life. I decided to assign certain days in the week to get specific things done. My hunt for the perfect schedule began… and it’s still going. I’ve experimented with a few things over the last few years. I’ve discovered early mornings and weekends are the best time for me to exercise and write. If I wait till later in the day it won’t happen. After a long day of work it’s difficult for me to focus on things like writing and everything takes longer. But those times are perfect to do chores, grocery shop, cook and connect with people. Weekends are the best time for me to have blocks of time to write or rejuvenate. For the most part these patterns have been helpful but things are always popping up that can throw things off.
This winter I had hoped to finish a few projects, but after a stressful fall season I felt sapped of my energy. I feel in some ways like I’m still recuperating. Now that it’s colder I anticipated that it would be the perfect time for focus, but the prolonged darkness of the days makes me want to become a sloth. It would be great if my body co-operated with all of my intentions but it doesn’t. I decided not to fight it too hard. Clearly I’m tired and so it’s important to listen to my body. I want to be able to challenge myself but also really pay attention to what’s happening within. What does my body naturally want to do?
To be continued.
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