Day 160: Recharging
There are times in our lives when we simply need to recharge our mental batteries. It happens to the best of us and when we feel that need arise, it's best not to ignore it. Life can be incredibly draining at times and when we are in those periods, special care must be taken for how we are feeling on the inside.
This last week I attended a conference with over 19,000 attends, which is relatively straining on an introvert to say the least. I got back on Saturday night and haven't truly gotten the time I need to relax and recover from such a mentally taxing event. I love conferences a lot, don't get me wrong, they fuel my heart and send me on a high for days to follow. However, I am also very aware that I just need time afterwards to spend time on my own.
Over the course of my life I have attended several different kinds of conventions ranging from writing to photography to political. They mean so much to me and have led to some of my all time favorite memories. Yet I am aware of my own limitations, there is only so much I can do actively around a lot of people before I begin shutting down. I know I need time alone in order to process everything I am going through.
It is so incredibly important that we figure out exactly how we need to recover. Some people may feel regenerated after spending time with others, some not so much. Tap into yourself and realize exactly what you need when you're feeling drained and disconnected. Allowing yourself the time you need to get back to yourself is important after stressful, busy or adrenaline high times because there are often crashes after they we come through them.
You are so incredibly important and that is all that matters when you are taking time for yourself. Do what needs to be done in order to come back to a place where the world no longer feel frantic or chaotic. It may take a couple of days and that's okay, allow yourself all the time in the world to recover.
For me this looks like spending time alone. Walking around outside, closing the door in my office and turning on relaxing music. I focus on non-draining activities such as writing in my journal (an essential step for me in the process of recharging), reading, or looking out on the beautiful world I live in.
It takes time for me, it truly does. I've been sleeping in to make up for the amount of sleep I lost during the convention and I still feel tired. When talking to anyone, I feel like slinking away to a quiet corner and disconnecting with the world. There are moments in my life where I just have to disconnect in order to reconnect with myself. I've learned that over time and I've come to accept that as something I not only need to do, but want to do after certain events.
There are so many fun things to do in life, I love conferences with my whole heart and still I know that I'll need some time afterwards to process it all. Figuring out where you stand with yourself after certain things is an incredibly vital point to reach in your life. Knowing these parts of yourself will lead to a better understanding on how to life your life. Learning when and how to recharge your mental batteries is a vital part of life.
Until Next Time,
Lillian Merritt
