The pit stop weekend
The antidote for being over-scheduled
Have you ever written down every detail of your family’s life that occurs over a one week period? Up until recently, I would have told you that no, I haven’t made that kind of list. And why would anyone do that?
It turns out, two months ago I had a very good reason to make just such a list. I was going on vacation with my husband, and my (wonderful, amazing) in-laws had agreed to stay at our house and watch over our kids. I don’t take this gift lightly. The chance to get away to Greece and have quality time with my husband was amazing.
In order to prepare everyone for my absence, I had to document all of the details that normally just live inside my head. You know . . . all of the band concerts, carpools, soccer games, doctor appointments, playdates, school assignments, snack sign-ups, house maintenance, car maintenance, etc.
I could go on and on. And I did. The list was more than five pages, single-spaced.
I finished the list and stared incredulously at the startling, rather grotesque representation of my life. Pervading thoughts:
How is this my life?
How does all of this exist in my head? Is there room for absolutely anything else in there?
No wonder why I’m always tired.
No wonder why the list is never checked off.
Chances are, you are an equally busy person. Maybe a high-functioner. You probably know what I’m talking about.
The list is a symptom of the brain fog we feel. The fatigue. The sense at the end of the weekend that we’ve been run over by something heavy and maybe if we lie still, Monday will come and then we can recover.
The antidote is not a vacation. Those are magical, but they are a band-aid. A single shot of relaxation that will last until you walk back into real life and that damn list.
I started thinking (mostly on Sunday nights, after being run over) about what the antidote could be. It led me to the concept of the pit stop.
In motorsports, a pit stop is used to refuel, change tires, make mechanical adjustments, and more. In the middle of a competition that is all about speed, the car comes to a complete stop. The pit stop is an important strategic element of the competition, and without it, a driver can’t possibly win the race.
My antidote to a life that is over-scheduled and exhausting is a Pit Stop Weekend:
One weekend per month that is protected on the calendar as a “do not schedule” zone.
There are no set plans that weekend. If you do something, it’s a decision in the moment.
The emphasis is on unstructured activities and relaxation time.
My first pit stop weekend was two weeks ago. I slept in. Milled around the house. Played board games with my kids. Read a book. Took a bath and (horror of all horrors!) a nap.
By Sunday evening, I felt sightly bored and incredibly self-satisfied. I had lazed about long enough to feel bored! When was the last time that happened?! I went into the week feeling more balanced, energized and generally devoid of the usual feeling that I had poorly attempted an Ironman race. I was ready to take on that week’s list, and determined to repeat the Pit Stop Weekend in another four weeks.
How do you find balance in your personal schedule? I’d love to hear what works well for you!
