Something Quite Beautiful is Just Waiting to be Found in Stillness
“Something quite beautiful is just waiting to be found in stillness." — Henry Shukman
Back in 2020, when the world shut down, many of us took a collective sigh of relief. At the time, I was teaching half the classes I am now, to triple the number of students, in a vastly smaller space—without a class plan in sight. I was exhausted.
When the world required that I shut my business down, I had a huge compulsion to just lie down, and lay down I did, every day for months, for at least 20 minutes. I’d just lost my job and had time. No guidance. Didn’t call it meditation. Didn't care if I fell asleep or thunk my way through to eternity... my lie down was non-negotiable.
Cut to 2024... the way we feel now begs the question: did we learn anything from 2020? I know many of you struggle with work/life balance. I, too, recently felt myself slipping back into burnout. So I thought I’d share my latest secret weapon, ensuring I can always show up as my best self when teaching... well, for the most part.
Many have noticed I’ve stepped away from social platforms and set clear office hours. This is part of my “Deep Work” strategy, inspired by Cal Newport. I began his course earlier this year, "Life of Focus," and revisit it regularly, always learning something new. One of his key concepts is the daily “shutdown,” where I end each workday with a clear boundary, allowing me to switch off completely.
This approach means I focus on deep, meaningful tasks, in favour of shallow and unwanted distractions (bye-bye, wifi). I'm far more productive and present, both in my work and with my family.
Surprisingly, while my working hours are technically less, I achieve more than when I was tethered to my tech. It also means I enjoy more quality time outside of work. My phone and laptop have been relegated to another area of the house, and I’ve returned to reading actual books (I had to start reading aloud to get back into the habit! 🗣️🫣).
This balance, (Buddhists call it "boundaries" and are into it, big time) although always a work in progress, ensures that whenever I step into the studio, I feel refreshed and fully present, excited to give you my absolute best.
How do you cope with burnout? Do you have any strategies to share? I find simple changes, like putting my tech in a different room and only using it there, make a huge difference. Anyone?
Much Love,
Sadie x