Confronting the anxiety of inactivity – AHA Moments

Confronting the anxiety of inactivity is scary in a world that often glorifies constant motion and productivity. The fear of inactivity often stems from a nagging sense of unfulfillment, a fear of not doing enough, or the worry that precious time is slipping away. Yet, it’s essential to recognize that periods of rest, reflection, and yes – simple distraction can be just as vital to our well-being and growth as moments of action. By confronting this anxiety head-on, we can reframe our perception of inactivity, viewing it as an opportunity for rejuvenation, self-discovery, and the chance to chart a more intentional and balanced course in our lives. It’s a reminder that using periods of distraction as times of intentional stillness, we can find the clarity and strength needed to make more meaningful progress when the time is right.

This is my first blog after several months of silence.  I have been wanting to write one for a while, but the fear of starting again kept distracting me.  And mostly, the embarrassment and the feeling that I had to justify to you all WHY I had been quiet kept my hand well and truly in the sand.  However, today as I was sitting in my beautiful building site (yes, a half-finished extension can be stunning), looking out over my lovely garden (also half-finished), I WANTED to write to you.

With that in mind, let’s explore how to successfully restart after a period of distraction.

1. Reflect on Your Journey:

• Begin by reflecting on your journey thus far. Understand what led to the distractions and why you decided to stop. Was it external pressures, a lack of motivation, or something else? Acknowledging the reasons behind your pause is the first step.

If I reflect on my journey, I remember having one week without anything that I could justifiably put under an AHA moment.  I simply had nothing to say.  Life was chaotic and there were many wonderful family distractions, which all left no mental space for anything to share.  And then, one week led to another and suddenly, it had been months and I was (see above) embarrassed.

2. Reconnect with Your Passion:

• Remind yourself why you started this journey in the first place.  Think about what made you excited about it in the first place and visualise the benefits of achieving your goals, or simply remind yourself of the joy and satisfaction you got from each little step.

Sitting here after a fantastic canicross run with my amazing friend Melinda, who will always challenge me in just the right way to make me feel excited and motivated again, sitting here in this space that is becoming more beautiful day by day, I am reminded of the joy I get from sharing some thoughts.  And the pride I feel when people respond and comment and tell me how much they value my blog.

3. Start with New Goals::

• Start small and set clear, achievable goals. When you’re restarting after a long pause, it’s important to rebuild your momentum gradually.  It’s okay to go back a step or go slower to ensure you won’t feel overwhelmed.

My first goal was to just get out something – to communicate with you again and to not worry whether it is incredibly deep, meaningful and life-changing.

4. Embrace Imperfection:

• Understand that setbacks are a natural part of any journey.  Don’t be too hard on yourself if you encounter obstacles or slip-ups along the way. Use these moments as opportunities to learn and grow.

See point 3 above – I’m working on letting go of wanting each newsletter to be an earth-shattering, mind-changing event that everybody will read with bated breath.  So, if this newsletter is a bit rambling or slightly chaotic, forgive me – I am in the process of embracing my imperfections and of finding my feet!

Have a great week.