How to heal without taking a break

[iwillrisenow]

I’m facing some challenges right now…in an ideal world, I’d take at least a full month completely off to do nothing and re-cooperate: physically, mentally, emotionally. Unfortunately, bills being what they are this isn’t an option. I’m left with a moderately busy schedule (though at least not completely consuming at this point), a modest leisure budget, and no formal options for breaks (vacation days, etc.).

I’m putting a lot of my life on hold until I overcome some of these things…at least into the new year. I know, however, that if I don’t do something to revive my spirit I will never be able to face whatever additional challenges lie ahead.

Have you ever gone through a period when you craved rest…yet life did not allow you to take a pause? Did you find a way to refresh your spirit anyway? If so, how?

 

[UpUpAndAway]

Every summer, I go on a silent spiritual retreat at a Benedictine abbey. What you describe is my life the other 50 weeks of the year. My responsibilities swallow me whole and would have me running around from early morning sometimes until nearly midnight every day…if I let it.

I, too, have no option to sequester myself away from it all for days on end (excepting the annual retreat). In order to cope, I set aside time several times a week during which no one and nothing is allowed to bother me. I don’t answer the phone or respond to the doorbell, anything that makes noise (TV, radio, etc.) stays off and I avoid all devices connected to the Internet. During this time, I pray, meditate, nap, and/or simply sit and exist.

Note that we do not have children, so I have a measure of flexibility that parents might not have.

Eucharistic Adoration is a great help here, as ideally it will be drop-dead quiet and all adorers know not to bug the others present during the time the Blessed Sacrament is exposed. I will frequently remain at Adoration for two hours or so.

While I have attempted to have daily down time, I’ve found it more productive to have a couple of hours to myself 2-3 times per week than half an hour every day. YMMV.

Having a regular prayer routine is also helpful, and for this I have found nothing better than the LOTH. Since each office is supposed to be prayed at a certain time, I find the relative rigidity of that helps me to stay focused. In the end, whatever routine works for you is the best option for your circumstances.

Hope this helps in some way. God bless, and know that I am praying for you.

 

[St_Francis]

If possible, spend some time in front of the Blessed Sacrament each day. Even if your commitments will only allow a short time during your lunch break, or 10 minutes on your way home or to work…

 

[AKDee]

One thing that makes a huge difference for me- and I have no idea if it applies to you- is to do a complete blackout on news for a while. I won’t look at news sites, I won’t log into my social networking sites, etc. There is so much bad going on in the world right now, and I find sometimes it’s really helpful to my spirit to go into a period of deliberate silence in that regard.

I agree with the other poster that Eucharistic adoration and regular prayer are very helpful. I also find that reading Scripture daily really helps me.

 

[fred_conty]

Play golf and you won’t know you have any problems for the duration of the game. The game absorbs you and it does give a person a good break from life in a wholesome way.

 

[eazyduzit]

My suggestion is to do what St Paul did every day, pray in the spirit, which is actually is letting the Holy Spirit pray through you by faith.