How to Rest and Reset after a Big Push

I’ve had two extraordinary weeks of high output—leading two Mountaineers seminars, taking online classes, accepting new clients, birding and hiking with inspiring people, watching seeds of change take root in real time. For seventeen months I’ve been laying the foundation for all sorts of great things to happen. And they’re all working. Whenever I travel, I know to include time to rest and reset. I’m thinking that strategy might work well for big pushes at work, too.

Because… yesterday afternoon, I got sick. Fever, low energy, congestion interfering with sleep, forced stillness. I wondered, could my system be reacting to the nettles, mosquito bites, cottonwood trees, and whatever the Spencer Island sewage treatment plant uses to make their plant so stinky? Or something else entirely?

Part of our 8-person group on a Mountaineers birding trip May 13 to Spencer Island where we enjoyed seeing or hearing 45 bird species. This was part of my "rest" strategy, 5.5 miles and flat at a comfortable conversational pace. — Part of our 8-person group on a Mountaineers birding trip May 13 to Spencer Island where we enjoyed seeing or hearing 45 bird species. This was part of my “rest” strategy, 5.5 miles and flat at a comfortable conversational pace.

Life Imitates Art; Art Imitates Life

At first I resisted. But I have a blog post due! Clients to inspire! People expect things from me! My daughter has a big birthday coming up! I need to stay visible!

Then I realized: maybe this is the post for this week. Saying I’m still here, still keeping up with the blog, but at a reduced frequency. Something has to give; you cannot expect to go 100% in all areas of your life and still sleep, take care of yourself, and enjoy what you typically enjoy.

Ajax got to join me and a friend on a hike last Friday to Dirty Harry's Balcony and Museum. It was great to have him out on the trail again! Another "rest" hike for me, something well within my ability at a comfortable pace. — Ajax got to join me and a friend on a hike last Friday to Dirty Harry’s Balcony and Museum. It was great to have him out on the trail again! Another “rest” hike for me, something well within my ability at a comfortable pace.

Like the birds heading to their summer nesting grounds, exhausted from their hard migration, I have had to take a few days to recover from my long, arduous flight. To reflect on what’s happened for 17 months, and what’s to come this summer and fall. It’s all good stuff. But if living life means writing about it less frequently, so be it.

For additional reading while I’m recovering, I thought I’d point you to two other posts on this topic. You may recall a post I shared last November about boosting your energy in a season of change. It seems like every six months or so I go through a season of needing to back off. And a year ago I wrote about the changing seasons and how to adapt on the trail. I hope you enjoy them.

Let Yourself Rest

So today’s message is simple: It’s okay to pause. To gather. To wait until the energy returns. I’m resting. I’m integrating. And that’s part of the cycle too.

My first CHS-2 lead to West Tiger 1 and 2 on May 6 with wonderful, enthusiastic students. This was a "push" hike, seeing if we could maintain a 2-3 mph pace the entire outing. (We did!) Teaching two seminars the following two days led to my needing a reset. — My first CHS-2 lead to West Tiger 1 and 2 on May 6 with wonderful, enthusiastic students. This was a “push” hike, seeing if we could maintain a 2-3 mph pace the entire outing. (We did!) Teaching two seminars the following two days led to my needing a reset.

Five Things to Remember When You’re Sick

What does your recovery strategy look like? Mine is something like this:

I’ve done enough for now. Not every blog post has to be on some predetermined schedule.
Rest is productive. It allows me to come back stronger than ever and model recovery for others.
Creativity returns when I’m kind to myself. I have tons of material, but when I’m not feeling creative, it’s okay to take care of my physical needs first.
Pauses reveal what matters most. Resetting and getting ready for the next thing — because there will always be next things.
My blog posts will come out when I’m ready—and they will be better for the wait.