So last week I made a lot of brain-toast.
What is brain-toast, you ask? Well, I’ll tell you.
It happens when you throw a whole lot of new information, and people, and places at an introverted mind and then that introverted mind tries to continue to focus on the freelance work that needs to be done after processing all the information, people, and places all day long. You keep this up for about five days, and then you pretty much have brain-toast.
On Saturday I slept in fairly late for my usual weekend morning. I then pulled myself together to begin to do some work, and ended up falling asleep for another three hours.
My extrovert points were spent. My mind was exhausted. My ability to relate intentionally with others was stretched to the max.
My brain was toast. Ergo, brain-toast.
A lot of this can be chalked up to the learning curve of the new job, but I am noticing that this is probably going to be the pattern for a few weeks until I find a new rhythm. Early mornings, good, challenging work all day, a break for dinner, a few more hours of work, and hopefully and early-ish bedtime. Hopefully mix in some social interaction, just to maintain some balance and hope for the best.
This seems a little daunting and exhausting right now. I am loving what I am getting to do. I look forward to learning more about my job in the days ahead. I also love the work I get to do with my freelance clients.
But I’m learning that there is a need for balance. There is a need for boundaries. And there is a need for rest.
Since college, I have always tried to take a sabbath. All work can be done Monday through Saturday. Sunday is time to spend in corporate worship and resting with friends or family. Not working. Just being and being so with others.
It is something we’re commanded to do. It is the first thing God did after creating the world. It’s so important for us to take our need for rest seriously.
I’m not saying your should spend the majority of your Saturday sleeping. I did have to (eventually) wake up and get things done.
I am saying that it is vitally important to our relationship with God and our own well-being that we have a day of rest. A day to reflect. A day to relate.
A day to not strive for brain-toast, but instead just enjoy the blessings of our week and of the week ahead.
There are always things that need to be done. We can always work harder, clean more, and do do do. But it is vital to take time out of that.
Setting aside Sunday to focus solely on worship and community had done me a world of good every week and I pray it will do the same for you.
When was the last time you took the time to intentionally rest?
Great thoughts Lex! I'm sorta stuck in the same spot right now with student teaching and just having a workload that's double than the norm. Is it horrible or not that I'm counting the days down to December?
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Sorry for such a lag in commenting back!
I hope you're finding balance as you count down to December. It's difficult to adjust to a new rhythm.
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