DOWNTIME IS NEEDED
Downtime is needed to be creative.
There is no way for me to develop and follow through with my creative ideas when I am constantly on the go, always busy working in the digital world, or spending all my free time with others.
How I spend My rare free time is crucial not only to My creative productivity but also to the health of My mind.
Last month, I was sitting on 8 different airplanes, flying almost 14,000 km around Europe, and this in just about 3 weeks. Gladly, one trip was a personal one, but the rest were for business. In those weeks, it is impossible to follow my routine of downtime or workouts, and I often need another 2 weeks to get back into my rhythm.
You won’t find me being very social in those times, and taking more time for myself. I am single with no kids, and still, I have limited downtime, as a lot of us have. This is why I am very protective of it. The intention is never to be unsocial. But during the pandemic I have learned to regularly check in critically.
I ask myself questions:
How do I want to feel? Content, inspired, relaxed, productive, healthy, awake, energetic, heard, seen, safe etc.
Will this support me in feeling as I want to feel? Will I gain or lose energy?
Do I have enough energy when it will cost me energy?
What happens when I say no to others, but yes to me? Do I feel FOMO or JOMO
I won’t please everyone? Am I ok with that?
What is it that I really want to do? How much time do I got?
How many hours per day do I allocate to work on what I say my goals, dreams, plans are?
I regularly give myself downtime in my daily life, and not just when I go on vacation. By the way, the pictures above were taken on my last vacation in Sicilia. I do need longer, analogue switch offs, of course. But for me it is important that I don’t “wait” for the vacation to unwind and celebrate time off. You will hear me say, that I have plans, and think she’s busy but what I often do is, slowing down, reconnecting with myself, and taking care of my energy. And that way, I feel, I can bring a more positive and relaxed self to any circle, any conversation, any dinner, any meeting.