Spiritual Rest for Success

​by Jojopahmaria Nsoroma, Be Well Publishing Partner

Now, everyone knows that vacation and travel breaks are so essential to our well-being and experiences of entrepreneurial success. Countless studies now give evidence of how taking a break from our daily grind helps to restore balance physically and mentally. Taking time off for relaxation and fun can actually heal our bodies as we eliminate known stress. But, there’s another part of the vacation break story we often overlook. Your 355 days of grinding behaviors will not stop for your 10-day time off –unless you take what I call a spiritual rest before packing and getting on that plane.

Many years ago I learned how the relentless grind had hold of me when I missed my plane to Mexico, turning my 5-day escape into only 4. Also, it took me 3 of those 4 days to finally allow myself to fully relax, and then it was time to go home. To unwind from the grind before vacation I now practice spiritualrest, my conscious method for unplugging my mind from everything and everybody so I can be more able to relax and play from day one.

So here’s how it goes:

• At least a month before you leave on vacation, set aside on your calendar at least 1-3 hours a day when you will turn off and unplug your computer, phone, television, Alexa or Google Home, or any other electrical apparatus that can distract you as you turn your bedroom, den, or walk-in closet into your sanctuary.
• If you don’t live alone, let your family or housemates know that you are not to be disturbed unless there is a real emergency; I suggest using earplugs or noise cancelling headphones.
• Once you’ve eliminated distractions, set your intention to let go of worrying, planning, analyzing, or anything that would keep your mind busy with the outside world.
• You can lay down or sit comfortably, and I strongly suggest lights off or subdued, which will help your mind to rest.
• In the quiet and aloneness, your mind will definitely fight to disrupt you from relaxing so the work of this practice is to allow yourself to just notice but not engage with the chatter; you can disrupt it’s intrusion of negativity and fear by telling it, “That may be true, but I’m open to learning something new!” Gratitude prayers also helps to quiet anxiety.
• Once you leave your sanctuary, make a note of the length of time you stayed and intend to increase it by 5 minutes the next day.

​
​Practicing spiritual rest will not only ensure relaxation during vacation, it will also benefit your business success because it boosts your creativity, improves productivity, and enhances decision-making.