Recognizing When It’s Time to Step Back and Rediscover Balance
On the heels of a busy holiday season, I transition into my busiest season at work – Q1. From November through April the rhythm of daily life beats relentlessly on and demands seem ceaseless. With my new normal, living with the side effects of cancer meds all the time, this is challenging. It’s too easy to slip into a state of overwhelm when demands on me ramp up. I live with a subtle, insidious fatigue that seeps through both my body and mind. I have come to recognize the signals when it is time to unplug and recharge myself.
If I am not careful, my body just shuts down, and I will fall asleep wherever I am, no matter what I’m doing. Often, the first hints are a more heightened sense of malaise: I start to feel overwhelmed or stressed out by my daily routine, as though life has become a repeating pattern with little promise of newness. Sleep eludes me, rest feels shallow, and I find myself treading water in a rut, longing for a sense of renewal. This is when escape fantasies begin – laying on a beach alternating between reading and sleeping or selling up everything, quitting my job, and hitting the road.
When these signs emerge—when stress overshadows joy, when my energy wanes and my thoughts are clouded—I know it is time to pay attention and take deliberate action to care for myself. The art of self-care is not a luxury, but a necessity, especially in the face of mounting pressures and persistent busyness. For me, the path back to equilibrium begins with conscious acts of unplugging, moments in which I step away from the cacophony and rediscover the quiet pulse of my own being.
Listening to the Signals
The body and mind are wise—they whisper, and sometimes shout, when something is amiss. We just have to pay attention. I have learned to recognize my own signals: the racing pulse when my to-do list feels unmanageable, the heaviness in my limbs after a run of sleepless nights, the dull ache of monotony. These are not just symptoms to be endured; they are messages, gently—or forcefully—reminding me to slow down.
Often, the first symptom is restlessness. My thoughts scatter, I find it difficult to focus, and the smallest tasks become Herculean. The patterns of my routine, once comforting, start to feel confining. My body manifests its discontent as well: headaches, tension in the shoulders, and a sense of malaise that colors even the brightest day. These are my cues to unplug.
The Power of Unplugging
Unplugging is more than stepping away from screens or silencing the constant stream of notifications that punctuate my every hour. It means making a deliberate effort to detach from the routines that have quietly become shackles. It is an intentional pause—a chance to breathe, reflect, and restore.
My journey toward restoration begins with small, sacred rituals. Yoga is at the heart of my practice. On days when time is short, I do not feel pressured to complete a lengthy routine; instead, I allow myself the grace of just a few poses, chosen for their ability to ground and soothe. Mountain pose, with its steady strength and quiet dignity, reminds me to stand tall in my own presence. Child’s pose offers a moment of surrender—a gentle folding into myself, away from expectation and obligation. Cat-cow stretches soften the tension in my spine and invite a sense of gentle movement back into my body. The warrior poses call forth resilience, helping me reclaim my inner strength. And the cosmic dancer, a favorite, weaves balance and grace into the fabric of my day. Even a few minutes spent in these postures brings an immediate sense of relaxation, as though I have pressed a reset button deep within.
Yoga, for me, is more than physical exercise. It is a dialogue with myself, a space where I listen and respond to my body’s needs with compassion and intention. Each breath, each movement, is an affirmation that I am worthy of care and gentleness.
Music as Medicine
Music is another of my cherished tools for unplugging and recharging. There is a particular magic in the way melody and harmony can soothe a tumultuous mind. When I feel the weight of stress pressing in, I turn to music—sometimes the calming flow of a favorite Pandora playlist, sometimes the embrace of instrumental pieces that transport me to a place of peace.
As the music fills the space, I feel my worries begin to dissolve. The rhythm becomes a balm, coaxing my breath to slow and my thoughts to settle. I am reminded that sound can be sanctuary, and that stepping away from the noise of obligation into the world of melody is an act of self-love.
Meditation and Mindfulness
In my toolkit of renewal, meditation holds a place of honor. There are days when the only thing I need is a few moments in stillness—a chance to sit quietly, close my eyes, and pay attention to the simple act of breathing. In these moments, I try to clear my mind of clutter, allowing thoughts to drift by like clouds rather than storms.
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