118: The Benefit of Taking Time Off - Listener Requested 
Hello, my ah-mazing empty nest friend,
Breaks benefit us. We know this.
Why, then, is it incredibly difficult for us to take the time for ourselves? As mothers, we tend to be experts at not taking breaks. So much so that when we do have downtime, we may not be sure what to do with ourselves.
Hmm, a micro-level of the whole empty nest experience, isn't it?
It might be thirty minutes sitting in your car in your driveway or a parking lot with your favorite music, or it might be more than that. Find something that will rejuvenate you in some way, and do it.
Head to your CEO of Your Life's Toolbox for inspiration.
You are amazing. Now take some time for yourself to uncover a bit more amazing-ness than you are allowing yourself to see right now.
Coach Christine,
Your Empty Nest Coach
"We all know it makes sense to take the break, to rejuvenate, to get the sleep you need, to hydrate yourself, to eat well, but sometimes our protector thinks they know better."
Take a listen or read the full transcript at the bottom of this post.
⇓⇓⇓ More goodies below, too! Scroll down ⇓, so you don't miss anything! ⇓⇓⇓
The podcast episode in which I talk about washi tape and breaks #TakeABreak #TakingABreak #EmptyNest #Podcast #EmptyNestMom #EmptyNestSyndrome
This Episode is Brought To You By
💚 Send audio feedback to Coach Christine now: voicemail/text to 920-LIFEWIN (920-543-3946).
What You Will Learn in this Episode
- A Way To Consider Breaks in Relationship to Your Protector and Your CEO Life's Toolbox
- Reminders for Why Breaks Are Good
- To Consider a Break
Episode Questions for You To Consider
- Are you good about taking breaks in your life?
- When was your last break?
First Time Here? Try This Order of Episodes
- The Your Empty Nest Coach Podcast Trailer
- Series 1: Empty Nest Prep - starts at episode #3
- Series 2: The CEO of Your Life - starts at episode #64
- Series 3 (this one): The CEO Toolbox - starts at episode #88
Episode Resources
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FULL TRANSCRIPT:
Episode 118 of the Your Empty Nest Coach Podcast
00:00:00
Christine: Hi, it’s Coach Christine. This is my podcast, it’s the Your Empty Nest Coach Podcast and this is episode number 118. If you are new here, know that I tend to use terms I’ve introduced in prior episodes. Should you feel a bit lost, use my show notes for best places to begin. This episode is listener requested and I chat about taking some time off. I work with mothers of high school students and beyond, who are in the trenches with sad and possibly, overwhelming thoughts about what their life will look like when their baby heads to college and begins to leave the nest. My clients’ big question is what will I do with my time? Is this you? I’ve been there, and I get it. Empowering you to write the next jaw-dropping, amazing chapter in your life is my passion. I am energized by leading you in the process of exploration and am thrilled when you unlock the power that lies within you. This podcast is my gift to you.
00:00:49
Hello, my future empty nest friend and Conscious Effective Olympian, or CEO, of your life! I’m so thankful you are listening today. Show notes for this episode have links to anything I discuss that is linkable, and of course, you’ll find all sorts of fun stuff, and ways to work with me on my website: YourEmptyNestCoach.com. If you enjoy this episode, I invite you to subscribe to this podcast, and to consider joining the GPS Support Flock. What is that? I’m so glad you asked; take a listen.
00:01:32
Thanks! Thank you! It’s time to thank our sponsor. This episode is sponsored by my membership community, The GPS Support Flock; Your Flight to Success in the Empty Nest. If you are ready to find the GPS of your life, sign up to receive an immediate and free download of my PDF, "How to Find Yourself in the Empty Nest," our GPS Life Principles document. You will also have the opportunity to learn about our community. See the link in this episode's show notes or fly on over to my website, YourEmptyNestCoach.com. Click the GPS Support Flock button. See you soon!
00:02:18
Do you feel you need permission to take a break? Isn’t it interesting that often we know we need a break. We can feel it but something in us fights us, we’ll have thoughts such as, “I can’t take off; I’ll miss out on something,” or “The timing isn’t right,” or “It will put me at a disadvantage.” Be curious about these. As I was recording my thoughts for this episode it dawned on me that when we know we need the time off, but we don’t take it, guess who’s in control? Yeah, our Protector. Bossing us around like they love, but we need to train our Protector up, remember? We need to trust that we know what’s best for us, even though they think they do. They’re allowing thought-deliveries to have high-priority status that do not serve us. Sometimes, our Protector makes someone outside of our fence’s thoughts become ours. What I want to say to my Protector is, “Okay, calm down, I know you love your job, but I’m the boss,” try that and explore the fact that something within you is telling you that you need a break, but your Protector doesn’t want it to happen. Be curious about what’s going on. Who has your best interest in mind and are the thoughts that are front-and-center, for you, right now, true?
00:03:40
You may be thinking now, what breaks exactly are you talking about Coach Christine? Well, I’m talking about any breaks: a break from your job, via vacation time; a break from your routine for a few days, or sometimes even hours, or a few minutes; a break from the things that you eat; a break from your current exercise regime, maybe things are feeling stale. Your break here will be yours to consider. What do you need a break from? I bet something just came to your mind. Be curious about that. Maybe, even the question is who you need a break from? And by taking the break, are the thoughts you have about the break true? Interesting, isn’t it?
00:04:24
My friend, you know I like to reference our CEO of our life toolbox. Originally, I thought the “break” would be like us closing the toolbox completely. You have it, it’s there if you need it, but you aren’t focused on any of the tools inside; however, when I was led to imagine it more like that awesome top tray that you’ve stocked with your favorite items that give you energy. Well imagine instead, if along the sides of it, it was covered with a beautiful washi tape, of your choosing, with words such as:
Take a break.
Don’t forget to take a break.
The breaks are good.
Breaks are your friend.
You have time to take a break. Future-you is waiting and she’s not in a rush.
Rest is good.
Choose something here that allows you to feel peaceful and energized as you step into break time, so that you feel good about it.
00:05:20
What is interesting is that this episode was requested over six months ago. Really. And I’m creating it on my break from my day job. I took three days off with no formal plans, no appointments, no calls I have to make, no plans with my husband, for me to do what I want. And as a mother, it’s pretty miraculous, right? For me, the thing I love to do is create things. So I created episodes for the rest of the year and it feels amazing.
00:05:53
We all know it makes sense to take the break, to rejuvenate, to get the sleep you need, to hydrate yourself, to eat well, but sometimes our Protector thinks they know better. Tune in, my friend, to when you know in your bones that you need to take a break, and take it. Give yourself permission, tune into your future self. You know darn well, they’ll tell you to take the break.
00:06:28
As I record this, we are in the midst of a level of physical distancing due to COVID-19 and you may be thinking, well 2020 has been one long break, hasn’t it? Well, have you gifted yourself with time to not worry, to not process the 8 million things that you need to do to change the world? To allow yourself time to process who you are and to move forward?
00:06:50
Okay, so if we’ve made it to this part and you’re still pushing back on me like, “I can’t take the break, Christine,” let’s do some reasons that we all really know, but you know, maybe you need to hear it from me today.
By stepping away, you have the opportunity to see what, if anything you miss about that thing.
Sometimes, you’ll gain a new perspective that you wouldn’t have seen without the break.
By taking a break, you’ll show up better for yourself, and others.
Remember that your break should be your break and look like whatever it is that you need. Figure that out for yourself, open up your life’s toolbox and read your washi tape.
[Music]
00:07:28
The questions I have for you in this episode are, are you good at taking breaks in your life? And, when was your last break? As always, I provide content to make you think, my empty nest friend. My hope is that I am able to provide you with thoughts that positively impact your life. My next episode’s title is: Let's Talk About Divorce in the Empty Nest: Does the Empty Nest Cause Divorce?
00:07:51
Do you know someone who could use this podcast? Did you know that most people only listen to podcasts if they’ve been personally introduced to one? Help me help others by thinking of one person you could share this podcast with, and do it. Thanks! Happy Break Planning my empty nest friend! Please remember, as you plan it and as you take it, that you are amazing!
[Bloopers]
00:08;36
Still listening?
The break is worth it. I can tell you that, because I’m on mine now. Take the break.
[Music]
[End]