Every morning I make a cup of coffee. It takes less than 10 minutes, and most of that time is waiting for the water to boil. I have realized that this small space is a wonderful opportunity to create a personal energy boost. I can create a bit of order and calm by putting a few dishes away. Bend and twist a bit to give my body a stretch. Breathe deeply and notice how the light comes through the window. Pick a flower and put it in a vase for a bright spot on the kitchen table.
Where are the moments in your life that invite you to take a few minutes to boost your own energy? Here are a few thoughts on making this an intentional practice:
Look for naturally-occurring spaces—short time periods that have a built-in stopping point. Brushing your teeth. Waiting for the oven to warm up or the timer to go off when you are cooking. Driving home from the store.
Create your own spaces—look for opportunities to make “in between” spots. Set a 7-minute alarm on your phone. Schedule a meeting for 20 minutes rather than 30, or 45 minutes rather than an hour, and capture the extra time for yourself.
Attend to your energy—when you come to a space, think about what you might do in that moment that would add energy to your world. It may be different every day.
Treat it as a gift—there is no requirement for you to fill every space in your life with something productive. If the greatest energy boost you can think of is just to lie down on the floor, then that’s what you should do.
There are so very many possibilities for how you might use these spaces to nourish yourself. Here are a few examples of small things that might start your energy into a positive spiral:
Writing a note to a friend you haven’t seen in a while.
Meditating or praying.
Throwing three things away.
Moving through a few yoga poses or stretches.
Looking for a new recipe for dinner.
Walking outside and take a few deep breaths.
Energizing your body with push-ups, sit-ups, or jumping jacks.
This is NOT about building a new habit, pushing yourself to do something that you “should,” or seeing how much you can get done in a day. It’s about seeing how you might intentionally use the bits of time that might otherwise be overlooked as an opportunity to replenish, build, and sustain your precious energy.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this (intentionally short!) issue of the Prosilience newsletter. See you in a couple of weeks for the next installment.
