Tip 9: A Change is as Good as a Rest

Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.
Ovid

The midst of winter is a time when many people complain of feeling weary and run down. When we feel this way, it’s tempting to want to stay at home, hunker down and sleep more — whereas research has shown that the most invigorating thing we can do at this time of year is not to sleep more, but to take ourselves out of our normal routine and do something totally different.

I really do believe in the value of disrupting our routine and doing something new as a way to refresh and energise ourselves. According to research by Ebookers published in the Metro newspaper, more than a quarter of Britons make life-changing decisions while away and a large percentage find their trips inspirational. Apparently, 15% split up with their partner, 10% decide to start a family and another 10% propose. 10% decide to move abroad, 12% want a career change and 30% will learn a new skill.

We all know that holidays refresh us, but you don’t necessarily have to go away for a week or fly to a foreign country to get the same benefits. A day or weekend away can work wonders — as can going on a stimulating course or workshop; visiting a gallery; going to a new place; trying a new sport or hobby … the possibilities are endless.

At the beginning of every year, my client Lin makes a commitment to do something in the coming year that she’s never done before. She says that it takes her out of her normal routine, shakes things up a bit and gives her something to look forward to. Past experiences have included going for a ride in a hot-air balloon, zip-wiring over the rain forest, and racing in a yacht (having never sailed before). Some of these involve overseas travel and a generous budget, but there’s no reason why you can’t follow a similar path (closer to home and on a smaller budget) and get the same benefits.

Simply getting away from your normal environment can be stimulating. Getting out of the house or office and going for a walk in the country, sitting in the buzz and energy of a bustling café or walking round an art gallery can do wonders for sparking new ideas and connections.

As we shake off the darkness of winter and turn towards spring, there’s no better time to plan things that are new and stimulating and, crucially, get you away from your normal routine — you’ll feel so much better for it.

QUESTION: What might you do this year that you’ve never done before?

Measurement of life should be proportioned rather to the
intensity of the experience than to its actual length.
Thomas Hardy

Change is the law of life.
And those who look only to the past or the present
are certain to miss the future.
John F. Kennedy

You cannot step twice into the same river,
for other waters are continually flowing in.
Heraclitus