Mentor💜MySister

Learning to Listen to Your Body, Your Energy, and the Pace of Your Life

By Jennifer Rene Owens

I remember a time in my life when I felt as if life was going way too fast.

I would go to work, come home, eat, and then crash.

There was no time to do anything! Nor could I figure out how to manage my time to pay bills, spend time with friends I loved, sleep, or participate in any other activity that made sense.

In fact, I would stay up as late as possible.

Why?

Because I wanted to make it seem as if I had some time in my day to ENJOY!

And what happened?

I would spend those precious evening hours staying up late, only to be really sleepy the next morning.

Sound familiar?

I’m sure it does.

I don’t claim to have any special answers about how to beat the rat race, but I will tell you something.

I prayed for TIME.

I began to pray for time with fervency.

The Lord really impressed upon my heart that His will for my life involved MORE. And that MORE certainly didn’t involve having just enough time to work, sleep, and eat!

I wanted more out of life.

I wanted to feel alive, energized, purposeful, and able to enjoy the life God had given me.

But something had to change.

When I Began to Pay Attention to My Body

Right around this time, I was also seeking to have more energy in my body.

You know how people tell you to “take your vitamins,” but they don’t always explain why?

Well, I became curious.

I began learning more about the nutrients our bodies need, the importance of food, water, and rest, and how the choices we make every day can influence our energy.

I realized I had given so much attention to managing my TIME that I wasn’t paying nearly enough attention to managing my HEALTH.

And these two things were connected.

When I was tired, I struggled to concentrate.

When I lacked energy, I wasn’t enjoying my evenings.

And when I deprived myself of sleep, trying to make up for lost time, I was actually making the next day more difficult.

I had to ask myself:

Why was I expecting my body to give me something I wasn’t making room for it to receive?

Listening to Your Body

I’m not going to give you a full synopsis of what your body needs or tell you everything you should eat and how you should rest.

But I do want you to understand how important it is to NOTICE.

Notice what your body is telling you.

Notice what gives you energy and what seems to deplete it.

Notice how you feel after certain meals, after a good night’s sleep, or after a season of constantly pushing yourself.

About four years into this earlier journey, my life changed significantly.

I stopped eating red meat and began eating differently. I also stopped using condiments so heavily on my food.

You see, I was a taste addict!

I had conditioned my mind to believe that everything I ate had to taste a certain way for me to enjoy a delightful meal.

And I had to reconsider that thinking.

I began learning more about moderation.

I started drinking more water and paying attention to my nutritional needs, including taking vitamins.

And I noticed a tremendous difference in how I felt.

I couldn’t believe it!

I didn’t fully understand all the reasons my energy was changing. Was it my diet? My water intake? My improved attention to my body?

Perhaps it was a combination of things.

But I knew something was different.

I had begun a new journey on the road to good health.

And I LOVED how I was feeling.

Rest and Relaxation Are Part of the Journey

So why am I writing about REST and RELAXATION?

Because rest and relaxation have everything to do with caring for your mind.

And I believe some of our best work comes when we learn how to rest our minds and take care of ourselves.

Pacing is necessary.

To pace yourself means learning how to find balance and preserve time for the things that matter.

I tend to gravitate toward quiet activities when I’m beginning to feel tense.

I might have a cup of tea, take a quick nap, read something interesting, or spend time blogging to relax my mind.

Sometimes my body tells me exactly where it needs attention.

If my feet hurt, perhaps I need to soak them.

If my back hurts, perhaps I need to stretch.

If my mind feels overwhelmed, perhaps I need quiet.

It’s my body calling out to me, asking me to pay attention.

And I am learning to listen.

Making Time for What Matters

I was once reading a book about marriage and quality time by Dr. Steve Stephens, 20 (Surprisingly Simple) Rules and Tools for a Great Marriage.

One of his suggestions involved spending less time watching television and creating more opportunities for meaningful connection.

That really made me think about what my husband and I practice at home.

We enjoy music.

Music has a way of setting the atmosphere for relaxation after a stressful day. It allows us to unwind and enjoy one another’s company.

We also intentionally make time in the evenings to connect and nurture our marriage.

I enjoy my quiet evenings, too.

I love exploring new subjects, researching topics, writing, and cultivating my craft.

I can spend HOURS doing that!

And I recognize that everyone doesn’t have the same freedom or opportunity to structure their evenings this way.

But I believe we can all begin asking ourselves how we are using the time we do have.

Are we spending our time, or are we cultivating a life?

I don’t want to be so busy living that I fail to enjoy the life I have.

And I certainly don’t want to become so exhausted that all I have left at the end of the day is enough energy to prepare for the next one.

I’m learning that caring for myself requires intention.

Not simply wishing I had more time.

But deciding how to care for the time, energy, and opportunities God has already given me.

A Lesson I’m Still Learning

Time is of the essence.

Everyone wants more of it, and sometimes we feel as though there simply isn’t enough of it in one day.

But perhaps the question isn’t always, “How do I get more time?”

Perhaps it’s also:

“What am I doing with the time I have?”

“What does my body need from me?”

“And am I living at a pace that allows me to enjoy the life God has given me?”

I prayed for TIME.

And in the process, I began learning to care for the person who would have to live within that time.

ME.

Selah.

Personal Reflections — To Develop Further

The turning point: What was happening in my life when I realized I could no longer continue at the same pace?

The health lesson: What did I notice about my body, diet, energy, and sleeping patterns?

The spiritual lesson: What did God begin teaching me when I prayed for more time?

The life lesson: How has my understanding of time and wellness changed as I’ve grown older?