My Week: Sleep, Space, and Stillness

Last weekend was a bit of a whirlwind. I spent a lot of time with family, took a yoga class, worked, and traveled. I wasn’t terribly busy, but my time was fully occupied.

The week before had been very stressful at work. It wasn’t necessarily more stressful than usual, but it was challenging nonetheless. While I usually thrive when I am surrounded by multiple challenges, this past week was different.

By Sunday evening, I felt irritable, drained, and just overall icky. I went into the next week feeling depleted and exhausted. It was another difficult work week, and a bit more so than usual. I nearly fell asleep while out to dinner Friday evening. I stayed in bed with the cats a few extra hours on Saturday. Even going to yoga just seemed too stressful so I skipped it.

This experience has reminded me of the value of sleep, space, and stillness. These are three things that I need in sufficient quantity to function and to flourish.

Having been in school for the past three years, I spent a lot of time in isolation reading, reflecting, and writing. I unintentionally developed the discipline of making time for myself week after week. Now that I am not in school, I do not have the same impetus to remove myself to a quiet space for 10-20 hours each week.

Yet, I think that is why I have been doing so well emotionally over the past few years. Space and stillness are two things that I crave as a highly sensitive, introverted person. Sleep is equally important for my emotional balance and contentment.

Despite my respite from the demands of a structured educational program, I am going to intentionally continue to make time for myself every week, and every day, so that I can not only avoid feeling like crap again, but so that I can live a life full of peace and joy. I am going to allow myself the pleasure of sleeping, resting, and reflecting to my heart’s content.

#sleep #reflection #yoga #space #stress #stillness