lynn’s letters Fall always brings to my mind a fresh set of crayons and notebooks ready to be filled with exciting new projects. Summer barbecues, pastel skies and sunlight that lasts into the evening give way to packed lunches, crisp air and autumn’s riotous burst of color. For people who juggle work, family and community (that’s most of us), the seasonal flurry of a new school year, project launches, fourth-quarter projections, and the general sense that it’s go-time can easily overwhelm us. Matters that seem so pressing – the overdue report, bake sale cupcakes, committee meeting minutes – often come at the expense of our own self-care. Cell phones, ipads and other digital devices intended to make life easier, don’t help. The technology of busyness follows us everywhere these days. If you’ve ever found yourself in the bathroom stall answering email or crafting a memo in bed at 2 in the morning, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
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It’s easy to let the circumstances of our lives become our lives. Before going into overdrive, try implementing a mindful separation between work time and “other than work” time. Honest to Goodness
Yoga can help. I’m not referring to asana practice, i.e., performing physical poses. Performing poses is beneficial in many ways, but the essence of yoga is about building better relationships—to our selves, our condition, our families, our world. A physical practice can be helpful in many ways, but the deeper practices of self-study and contemplation are more effective tools for evoking a personal transformation. We do this by open and honest inquiry, looking deeply, seeking moderation and acting compassionately. When the world is whizzing by at warp speed, giving priority to the obvious and external can be easier than quiet reflection. But chronically melding our work life into our non-work life shortchanges both. Relationships demand attention and care. How can we be fully present for our families, friends, even our pets if part of our brain is still crunching numbers or perfecting a Power Point slide during downtime? When we don’t allow ourselves to rest, recharge and restore, our productivity may actually suffer. Building a block of time in your schedule for transitioning from work to nonwork should not be overcomplicated or