(Estimated reading time 1 1/2 minutes)

Last week I gave myself permission. Permission to slow down. Permission to rest. Permission to be unproductive. Permission not to have it all figured out. Permission not to try to manage everything . Permission.

We spent some time at a cottage. It was a holiday; time away from it all with family. A more peaceful setting would be difficult to find. The place felt almost elemental -endless sky and water, trees and a rocky shore, breathtaking sunrises and sunsets. Instead of sinking into rest and rejuvenation, initially I found myself thinking about all the things that I could be, or should be working on – an endless, formless list-of-busy in my head. Why is it so hard to shut down?

I shoved aside my vague unease with unproductive and I gave myself permission to rest. I don’t know why I needed permission but I guess I did. I took the time to write myself a permission slip, a list really, of all the things I had permission to do (or not do) on our vacation. (Brene Brown talks about permission slips in chapter four of her book Rising Strong). Now, I don’t know if you struggle to shut down. Maybe this is not even an issue for you. Perhaps you aren’t influenced by the nagging thought that busy is better – it’s more productive, more valuable, more important. But if you do struggle to take a break, to shut down, to rest … maybe you could try writing yourself a permission slip.

I’m a writer, speaker and coach, who is passionate about helping ordinary people move beyond what is holding them back so that they can live extraordinary lives. You can connect with me here or learn more about coaching with me.