|
|
 Restoring
Order to Your Home
|
|
CBN.com –
Last summer my husband and I visited family in
Alaska. We stayed in a lodge, caught king salmon,
flew in bush planes, and witnessed awesome
thunderstorms at night while roasting s’mores.
During the day, it was so warm that I tanned on
the deck (in Alaska!). I also had the chance to
visit my toddler nephew. We played at the gym, at
the park, and on the swings.
Accustomed to a hyper-speed life of running my
company, consulting, speaking, writing, and a
hundred other things, I really had to work at
relaxing. Fish don’t bite on demand. Toddlers
don’t walk very fast. Slowing my pace doesn’t come
naturally. Do you have a hard time relaxing, even
when you have time off? If you’re like me, you may
need to purposefully take a break more often.
Since orderly living is about making
room for your priorities, here are a few ideas to
get the most out of your treasured time off:
Determine what kind of vacation fuels
your tank. Are you looking for activity
or some much-needed rest? Do you want to visit
family and friends, or get away from it all and be
alone? Are you ready to explore castles, climb
mountains, and tour museums? Or, would you prefer
to check out of your world and into a secluded
cabin? (You can split your vacation into two parts
if you want both active and restful time.) Do you
want to keep a schedule or blissfully forget what
day it is? Are the kids invited? Too often, we
take time off but return home feeling drained
because our trip didn’t meet our needs.
Dedicate enough time to your plans.
Figure out the number of days that it takes you to
unwind and recover and add those to your
timeframe. I’ve found that it takes me about three
days to let down and really relax. I also need at
least one whole day, but preferably two, at the
end of my time off to unpack, do laundry, restore
my household, deal with e-mail, and ramp back up
for work. If I don’t have time to recover, I feel
unprepared and rushed going back to work.
Determine the ideal time frame for your retreat.
It might be better to use all your vacation at
once but really get the rest you need rather than
split your time. On the other hand, you might be
energized by shorter trips or weekend getaways.
Take time to consider the best fit for your needs
before you make your plans.
Decide whether you will unplug or not.
Do you want to stay connected with work and home
while you are gone? If you are a business owner,
you may need to receive at least a few hot e-mails
and provide an emergency number. The best vacation
of my life was nine days totally unplugged on a
cruise ship. If you can possibly arrange it, and
it suits your personality, I highly recommend
disconnecting and blissfully absorbing the special
moments of your vacation.
Slow down. I admit; I’m still
learning to take my own advice on this point. My
mind and my body are conditioned for speed, and
that can be unhealthy without any breaks. For me,
it is an act of will to slow down, but it is the
only way I can really benefit from my vacation.
During my Alaskan adventure I waved wildly
watching my husband pilot a float plane for the
first time. I warmed my back next to a popping,
crackling fire. I snuggled my nephew, and drank in
his lovely little boy smell. Do you need to slow
down?
Plan and budget for your retreats.
Every time I take a trip, I begin planning my next
vacation. I recommend that you get out your
calendar and schedule some time off to enjoy your
priorities. Your retreat doesn’t have to be a
Hawaiian holiday; it could be simple like a
romantic getaway with your spouse or a camping
trip with the kids.
If you can’t afford a trip, pitch a tent in the
backyard and declare it a work-free campout
weekend. It’s not the vacation destination that
counts; it’s the experiences along the way that
will add meaning and memories to your life.
Remember, giving yourself a break will help you
refuel physically, mentally, and spiritually. When
we are recharged we are more available to take
advantage of opportunities that come our way.
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise
but as wise, making the most of every opportunity,
because the days are evil.” Ephesians
5:15-16, NIV As you get re-energized and
re-focused you will seize your personal,
professional, and kingdom potential.
About the Author: Vicki
Norris is an expert organizer, business owner,
speaker, television personality, and author who
inspires people to live out their priorities. She
is author of Restoring Order™ copyright © 2006 by
Vicki Norris (available now at
www.RestoringOrder.com and in July 2007as
Reclaim Your Life™. Copyright © 2007) and of
Restoring Order™ to Your Home, copyright © 2007, a
room-by-room household organizing guide, both
published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR.
Norris is a regular on HGTV’s nationally
syndicated Mission: Organization, and is a
recurrent source and contributor to national
lifestyle publications including Quick & Simple
magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, and Real Simple
magazine. |
