Reset > Restart > Refocus

We cannot sprint all the way. Yet many of us approach our lives as a prime Usain Bolt would approach the 100m or 200m.

The truth, time for rest is just as important as time for forward momentum.

In a world so often obsessed with getting more done. achieving more, squeezing more in, and chasing success, we often lose sight of the importance of taking time to refresh and recharge.

Resets are time for us to reset ourselves in some way. This can be physical, it can be mental, and often it can be a combination of both.

When we talk of resetting and recharging, many of us will immediately think of travels to far off lands. Extended time away from work and our day to day responsibilities. That’s one type of reset but there are others, that are more accessible to us on a daily basis.

Here of four simple resets we should all be making some time for.

1) Rest

So simple, so obvious but how many of us make rest the priority it deserves to be?

In our busy and rushed times, restoration suffers in our attempts to squeeze more and more into our lives. This has a lot to do with why burnout and stress are on the rise.

We need to prioritise rest as well as action in our lives. They share a Yin and Yang relationship that we must do our best to balance, to thrive.

How do we prioritise rest?

We can get into a regular sleeping habit and make sure we’re waking up feeling refreshed and rested most of the time.

For restoration – massages, spas, a little pampering all count but so does just putting your feet up for ‘me’ time.

The message is clear, we need to take our rest seriously.

2) Movement Practice
Days spent hunched over laptops cause tightening in our muscles. The aging process can also make us much tighter than we used to be. Aches and pains appear where there were previously none.

We can alleviate these problems by making time to move. This doesn’t have to be complicated and can be as simple as just making space for some regular walks and basic stretches throughout our day.

Mobility, the degree to which we can move freely without discomfort, along with strength and health (mental and physical), are some of the most important functions that can add life to our years. Mobility is distinct from stretching. Stretching is often static and passive in nature, mobility is not. It’s moving, it’s about keeping our joints and ligaments well-oiled and practised in movement.

We can build mini-mobility sessions into our days or set aside designated time for a more structured practice. Certain forms of exercise (yoga, full range strength training, Pilates, martial arts, climbing steps two at a time) are great mobility work, along with the other benefits they offer us. There are many options.

As with the other resets, make time for regular movement.

3) Walking — Moving Meditation
I love to walk. I love to walk early in the morning as the day is breaking or later in the day as the sun starts to set. I like to walk to get somewhere and sometimes I just like to walk for the sheer joy of the walk itself. I like to walk with a companion or two and other times, I love to walk alone.

At its best a long walk can feel like moving meditation. The ultimate reset.

It rejuvenates a tired mind. Providing stimulus and fertile ground for new ideas.

Complex problems we’ve been struggling with suddenly fall into place.

There is something transformative about a good walk.

4) Being Mindful

Mindfulness might be one of those words that makes some of us nervous. Perhaps it feels a little ‘out there’. All it really means is taking the time to get in touch with our own head space and thoughts. It’s about cutting out the external world, and noise, for a while and turning within.

This is a time to:

Turn off the phone
Unplug from the internet
Shut out distractions

It’s time for us to disconnect a little from the world around us to reconnect with ourselves.

Reset, Restore, Reconnect
Resets are a necessary part of our lives. Quietness and calm can come to a busy mind. A fresh outlook can present itself. A tired mind can feel reinvigorated. A stiff and tight body can become lithe and adaptable again.

Resets don’t have to be complicated or time consuming to be effective. In fact, the simplest of resets can often add the most value. They also stand the most chance of becoming a habit we keep.

Reap the many benefits of regular resets.

Refill your cup so you can go again.