Taking a break and not feeling selfish about it

My Own Personal Sabbath

This morning, Niall Breslin on his podcast Wake Up, Wind Down talked about taking a break and not feeling selfish about it. From Ireland, he has been in the U.S. this week, in Los Angeles today, and in his case, he was feeling jetlagged still, so canceled some appointments to take care of himself, including catching up on sleep. He said he was honest with those he had appointments as to why he was cancelling, that it’s better not to “bullshit people,” as he put it.

That concept of taking a break is what I attempt to do each and every Sunday as much as possible with what I’ve been calling “My Own Personal Sabbath.” Sometimes I fail, even though it’s usually in small ways, not that I’m interrupted by anyone, but that I interrupt myself by checking an email or text, going online on the computer even though I am not using browsers on my phone. In my case, it’s more about not keeping to the boundaries that I set for myself than others not respecting those boundaries. Often I’ve assumed people care if I don’t respond right away, then after talking to them (for example, my sister), I learn they know what I am doing, that I take a mostly digital break on Sundays and they respect that. They don’t expect an immediate response.

All that said, once again this weekend I’m taking a mostly digital break, from 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon, after I’m done with work, until 1:30 p.m. on Monday morning, when I return to work. I say “mostly digital break” because I still use my phone for listening to music and podcasts like Niall’s and others’. However, I will have browsers, texts and social media (mainly Instagram, but also Google Chat) blocked from Saturday to Monday so that I can focus on my physical, mental, and spiritual health. This weekend, I have lots of choices to help towards that end, including:

  • continuing to take painkillers and muscle relaxants for my back (a pulled muscle a couple of weeks ago)
  • meditating, using podcasts from Niall and apps, such as Headspace and Shine, and journaling
  • listening to chill music
  • watching a couple of Rifftrax movies with my wife Sunday night
  • reading devotionals I’ve been using for Lent and a book or two yet to be determined. I’ll report back after the weekend on what I’ve read.

Do you ever take a break for yourself? How do you communicate it to others? What do you do when you’re “on a break”?

Published by Bryan G. Robinson

Blogger formerly known as Unfinished Person. Still an unfinished person...

Published

14 thoughts on “Taking a break and not feeling selfish about it”

  1. I am woefully behind in reading blogs! I hope you had a fantastic break from the digital world. No need to feel selfish at all!

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  2. When I was in the office I enjoyed eating lunch at my desk and watching movie or reading but I didn’t have a door so I hung an out to lunch sign. LOL. It worked most of the time.

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  4. I’ve been out of town most of the last two weeks, and I feel like I need a break from my break. This morning I’m hoping to blog, pop into an outdoor library book sale, and then go over last-minute prep for our trip to France with my sister during movie night.

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  5. I believe you wrote about this last week and your post stayed with me. As a spoonie, breaks are very much needed for my health, and I do feel guilty. Your post helped me to continue with mostly guilt-free self-care, especially as I realized the mental, emotional and physical health benefits.
    To answer your question, I mostly slept with my heating pad during my break as pain is exhausting. Other activities include Bible Study, reading and the fiber arts. Now that Spring has sprung, gardening and simply enjoying nature. Thank you so much for enriching my quality of life via your blog!

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  7. I think that’s a good choice to take a break from the demands of the world. Being my age, way before cell phones and computers were a thing, I was able to take at least part of a day to sit alone in my room or out back and read or daydream. Many people these days don’t know they have the choice to unplug for awhile and recharge our batteries.

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  8. I don’t take a break often enough. I usually only do social media/people fasts when we are on vacation. I am trying to get in a better habit of doing social media fasts on Sundays but I typically forget (face palm). Have a great weekend.

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