Why you need to ‘deload’ this month

As I shared on my “Simple Thoughts Sunday” post, I am really excited about this “deloading” idea.

I only recently became familiar with the term as it relates to physical training. If you are wondering what it means, it is pretty much how it sounds: A short planned period of RECOVERY! The idea is to take your training a bit lighter, and ease up on your body. In this category it lasts about a week. So, this idea of “RECOVERY” is sounding pretty good right now! Anybody with me?

Why do it? So we can become our best! Seriously, if anyone runs at a reasonably fast pace, you know that you can only do it for so long before you realize you really are not playing at your best every single day. At some point if you don’t stop and “deload,” your body (or mind) will give you a gentle nudge (or maybe not so gently), and you will find yourself crying uncle.

We can do this in a number of ways. Tim Ferriss, the author of the famous, “4-Hour Workweek” shared some insights in his blog on Friday. If you don’t want to take the time to follow the link, I have summed up some of the ideas I loved:

1. YOU MUST SCHEDULE AND DEFEND YOUR DELOADING PHASE! DEFEND! I LOVE THAT!
2. You need room to ask “WHAT IF” without a conference call scheduled in 15 minutes.
3. You must create large blocks of interrupted time….CREATE being the key word!

My favorite idea is his ultimate form of deloading, which is to play hard for two months, bringing your best game to all aspects of your life, and then to deload for a full month. I truly believe I could “up my game” if I was able to do that. Since my leader probably wouldn’t go for the idea – nor would my other obligations for that matter – here are some other thoughts:

1. Screen-free Saturdays
2. Allotted journaling time for the purposes of creative expression – minimum one hour block, daily
3. Wednesday afternoon writing/brainstorming/thinking time – minimum two hour block

You get the idea… I seriously need to “deload” this month and I hope this resonates with you as well! If you are in KC, I hope you take up a Royals game while you are at it!

(Photo credit: My trusty iPhone at the Overland Park Arboretum on Sunday, April 3. Love these three sunbathing turtles! They are “deloading” I’m sure!)