I have been up for about an hour already this morning. One of the first things I did was exercise, and today included a “high intensity interval training” workout. A lot of people have heard of this, which is also known simply as “HIIT”. Regardless of what you call it, it certainly lived up to its name – my heart was pumping, and it felt like it was high intensity to me.
As I finished the workout, I started thinking about the term “high intensity”, and I started to realize that it seems to describe my life right now. The last few weeks have been very busy, and if you have read my last few posts, you know this is understandably so. However, I began to think that this “high intensity” can only last so long. “High intensity” can be great for short intervals, just like in the exercise workout, but it does not seem all that healthy for sustained periods of time.
Of course, the question becomes, how do I ease into a less intense schedule? That is what I have challenged myself to think about today. Of course, I think some of the activity will naturally slow down because the last few weeks have not been typical. But, this seems like a good time to reflect on my life. Are there activities I need to say no to? Are there activities I need to do less of? What are my priorities and what can be left out if there isn’t enough time? When and where does down time fit in? What makes sense for my family? I am sure I could ask even more questions, but I think this is a good start.
One thing I do know, however, is that I believe everyone needs time for rest. There has to be time to just “be” and not have to worry about getting something done. I know my days are better when I find this time, and I hope you can find some too.