Oral East Africa>My holidays season plan is to slow down, rest, and just be. At the hut of the story

Written by Florence Riako Anam

“Tired, bruised, tender, and in desperate need of a break now” has been my answer for those asking me how I am doing lately.

I tried it once and it grew on me in what sums up my view of 2024. This has been an intense year for me on all fronts, and I can feel the weight of it all take a toll on me, physically, mentally, and psychologically.

Like many of you, I am a goal-oriented person, and this contributes to some rather intense and sometimes unhealthy work practices I must admit.

Well, I doubt we have much choice sometimes as the nature of our work life is goal-oriented, or output-driven often keeping us in a constant state of fight, fright or flight. There is always an anxious fear that we have not met our goals, scared we won’t meet set goals or scared of the many things that may go wrong.

Whereas across the months these moments are either high, mild or low, they all leave us in a constant state of anxiety and stress. In these times we experience pain and anger and fear, are feeling powerless, violated or misjudged. Yet, because we are in the constant state of hustle and survival, we do not allow ourselves time or opportunities to feel or address these emotions, so we numb them to keep going.

Ambitious about rest

“Everybody’s always saying ‘you got to be ambitious.’ Sometimes you got to be ambitious about rest. About nurturing your soul and your heart.

They say that the only way to treat being overwhelmed is to do absolutely nothing. It’s in those spaces that you find who you are. You connect with your life.” – Viola Davis.

Inspired by these wide words by Viola Davis I am taking off from work this week grateful for the opportunity to serve and give my best in 2024. Optimistic about the times ahead. It would be remiss of me not to have an ambitious plan for this period, I can’t help it. So below dear reader is Flor’s plan for the holiday break.

Slow down

I have been on high-speed mode all year; I need to slow down. I mean, it’s getting harder to complete tasks taking longer than I would normally do it. It’s the sign. I must slow down.

One of the things I have learned to do this is year is that it is ok to ask for help. Ask for someone else to hold things together, ask people including my children to find other sources of solutions for their issues whenever I was overwhelmed. I am no longer a ‘strong woman’ capable of ‘doing it all’. I ask for help, and I say no.

I have learned that people are always willing to help or get things done if you as a leader, step away and trust them to do it.

So now, I can slow down because I am delegating more and planning my holidays in alignment with others so they can hold things together while I am away and moving that which I deem can wait into the next year. As I am no longer in the ‘threat zone’ and I feel secure in things being okay, I find I am not anxious, or in need of speed. It’s a great feeling.

Rest

According to Merriam Webster dictionary, rest is “specifically : a bodily state characterized by minimal functional and metabolic activities: freedom from activity or labor: a state of motionlessness or inactivity: peace of mind or spirit” I do not need to add more to this list. In order to recover, and repair my body I will rest.

No work, but also, not engaging with other forms of work that come with being on Christmass break either. I do not know about you, my family is vibrant around christmass and we have a lot of activities that could equally be energy draining. Very filling in other ways but totally energy draining.

I plan to keep these engagements to a minimum. In general I will sleep, move less, read my books, write and journal, binge watch christmass movies, eat healthy and sit in silence.

Just be

During my visit to Florence, Italy this year, I learned to embrace the Italian phrase and philosophy “Dolce Far Niente,” which translates as "the sweetness of doing nothing."

It could be anything from sitting idly on a bench people watching, or sitting still in nature, leisurely taking your coffee and enjoying just being present, or spending time with your loved ones with no need to rush anywhere. It’s a very freeing act of self-care.

I learned how ‘to just be’ in 2020 and have meticulously found ways of making this a part of my life. I have ‘do nothing’ days and sometimes hours within a day. In these moments, I sit in the present and enjoy the moment. I also sit in reflection, allow my emotions to show up, as raw as they are. I name them and allow myself to feel them.

Allowing myself to go inwards and acknowledge the full range of my emotions including my rage or whatever else I muted to be able to survive the hustle of work provides much-needed release. I am also in a state of contentment and acceptance when in a state of being. It is what it is. I do not have to change anything; I have to accept what is offered or is happening. I accompany this with my attitude of gratitude and find that I am less overwhelmed and have more clarity of purpose.

How do I get to do this, you may ask?

“You do not need to leave your room. Remain sitting at your table and listen. Do not even listen, simply wait, be quiet, still and solitary. The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked….it has no choice.” – Franz Kafka.

What’s your holiday break plan? Do you have one? Many people will be working in this holiday period, I hope you find moments of rest in between and are motivated to slow down, rest and just be in this period you are upbeat, energetic and creative at the start of the year 2025.

Happy Christmas holidays!