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4 Ways to Find an Off Switch

Hi I’m Hanna and I’m addicted to information. I recently read that like sex and eating good foods, taking in new information releases dopamine, which effects and controls the brain’s pleasure centers. The Internets proliferation of information is actually feeding our brains and rewarding us in real physiological ways.

Information is power. Correction, information is power + feeling rewarded. Information is powerful.

I think that I’ve actually trained myself to be constantly on the look-out for new ideas and information. My brain doesn’t stop. I obsess over the same problems over and over again. Looking at each situation I experience through a slightly different lens. I keep looking until all angles are assessed, analyzed, and dissected.

As I critique each part of a situation, I retreat into the inner crevices of my mind and am no longer operating in the present. I remove myself from the ‘here and now’ and ponder the future and the past. As I consider what plays into my never-satisfied-thoughts, I have started a resistance to always analyzing. Here are a few things I do for activating an ‘off switch’:

Walk Outside. Fresh air can melt even the most cynical mood. Observing the order of nature and breathing in outdoor air is an in-my-face-reminder that I’m not the center of the universe. Good reminder. It’s also a way to ‘slow’ the pace down. I just think about the next step ahead of me.
Rest in God. In the book, Jesus Calling, anxiety is described as a result of ‘envisioning the future without God’. Taking moments, minutes, seconds to be return my thoughts to God helps me release the over analyzing junk that I sometimes carry.
Speak Truth. A friend went through an extremely difficult time at work years ago mentioned that she started ending every day with listing out things that she knows to be true of God. Choosing to rest in the truth of the known rather than to dwell in the worries of what may or may not happen tomorrow is a simple, yet powerful, experience.
Envision Your Calming Place. For some reason, ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to run through a field of vibrant wild flowers (…on a practical level though, I would be intimidated by the bugs and probably be sneezing the entire time). Whenever I find myself overwhelmed or unable to sleep, I bring my thoughts to a field smooshed with colorful flowers like a Monet painting.

Sometimes our mind needs a break. I love to think and I enjoy my thoughts but in recent months, it’s become clear that I need a working ‘off switch’.

Here’s to you and hoping that you’re able to quiet your thoughts in ways that re-energize you and bring you rest.

Carpe Diem: 3 Lessons

They just happen to be some of the smartest, grounded, god-loving, solid, leaders I know. And I just happen to completely and totally love starting new things. So, I made the ask. On a Tuesday, 10 friends gathered to start a conversation about making a difference in the world. I decided long ago that we’re too good to not do something. I was tired of waiting for an ‘ah-ha’ moment to seize me so I decided to live out the phrase Carpe Diem.

We asked ourselves: How can we build into the next generation. The next gen actually has amazing potential, but are constantly under-estimated, and on top of that, they have a low sense of identity. Our culture is failing them. I’d like to at least try to address this need because (in the words of my first mentor) if not you, then who?

So, this has been good for the group to rally around a conversation point. I’m also learning a few things along the way. Here’s this weeks top 3:

1. Leading is hard. Simple statement, yes. But leading actually takes a lot of hard work, self assurance, and grounded-ness in God. Leading others equates to a lot of gut checks, extra time, and difficult conversations. While the pay-off can be high, the risk and commitment is also high. Leading takes toughness.

2. You have to name a direction. Even if you don’t have all of the details, leading something new means that you have to point the group, the conversation, and the questions towards one direction. Conversations should start to converge into one powerful force moving us in the same direction.

3. Prayer, flexibility, and distractions required. Have a little bend in your schedule to allow for things unplanned. If you’re going to lead a group, you have to be flexible to give. I don’t want to lead like a dictator, I want to lead through relationship- which takes a lot of prayer and flexibility.

…and that’s all I got for now. Still learning along the way.

Carpe Diem: 3 Lessons

They just happen to be some of the smartest, grounded, god-loving, solid, leaders I know. And I just happen to completely and totally love starting new things. So, I made the ask. On a Tuesday, 10 friends gathered to start a conversation about making a difference in the world. I decided long ago that we’re too good to not do something. I was tired of waiting for an ‘ah-ha’ moment to seize me so I decided to live out the phrase Carpe Diem.

We asked ourselves: How can we build into the next generation. The next gen actually has amazing potential, but are constantly under-estimated, and on top of that, they have a low sense of identity. Our culture is failing them. I’d like to at least try to address this need because (in the words of my first mentor) if not you, then who?

So, this has been good for the group to rally around a conversation point. I’m also learning a few things along the way. Here’s this weeks top 3:

1. Leading is hard. Simple statement, yes. But leading actually takes a lot of hard work, self assurance, and grounded-ness in God. Leading others equates to a lot of gut checks, extra time, and difficult conversations. While the pay-off can be high, the risk and commitment is also high. Leading takes toughness.

2. You have to name a direction. Even if you don’t have all of the details, leading something new means that you have to point the group, the conversation, and the questions towards one direction. Conversations should start to converge into one powerful force moving us in the same direction.

3. Prayer, flexibility, and distractions required. Have a little bend in your schedule to allow for things unplanned. If you’re going to lead a group, you have to be flexible to give. I don’t want to lead like a dictator, I want to lead through relationship- which takes a lot of prayer and flexibility.

…and that’s all I got for now. Still learning along the way.

Selling Christmas Trees

Sometimes I think of my life as a sitcom. (I wonder what my character would be like… would people who watch identify with me or just be annoyed?)

So tonight in true sitcom actress fashion, I sank into the couch with my licorice tea when the door bell rang. Please note: we have a doorbell at our front and back door- it’s the same bell. Same sound. Not a thoughtful installation on our part. The doorbell drives our dog crazy but, I should clarify, our dog is more crazy than a normal crazy dog. She doesn’t know what door to go to so she mostly just runs around in haphazard circles and barks incessantly every time someone is at our door. So today, the doorbell rang, the dog barked, and after about 5 crazy dog barking circles, she ran into me (she can’t see very well either) and flopped to the floor. Thump.

At the door was a 5 year old boy scout. (Well…I actually have no idea what age he was, I can’t tell the difference in age of elementary school kids anymore. (I don’t know why i said ‘anymore’. I never could tell) The boy might have been 10 and I just had no idea. Cue canned sitcom laugher.) Despite his age, he was one of the cutest kids I’ve seen in a while. I think he was selling Christmas trees. (Cue more laughter for inability to tell age plus inability to hear what he said.) I politely said no thanks and didn’t feel any guilt about it- for the most part.

After recapping the story to Brandon when he got home, I quickly realized, the boy scout probably wasn’t selling trees and stingy me turned him away. And Brandon reinforced what I already kind of know, that all of the neighborhood kids will start making sure Brandon’s home to answer the door instead of me. Higher return. Sorry christmas-tree-selling-5-year-old, i’ve never liked door to door sales people.

I don’t like the less-flexible part of myself either. I don’t think we’re designed to be stiff robots with no bendable parts. As I’ve let myself relax a little bit, I’ve found that the beauty of life is actually in some of the organic relationships that only happen when flexibility dominates. I know the doorbell interrupting my quiet time is a stretch illustration (cue Cosmo Kramer bursting through the door). I’m learning that one of my favorite things is that moments don’t need scheduled.

Selling Christmas Trees

Sometimes I think of my life as a sitcom. (I wonder what my character would be like… would people who watch identify with me or just be annoyed?)

So tonight in true sitcom actress fashion, I sank into the couch with my licorice tea when the door bell rang. Please note: we have a doorbell at our front and back door- it’s the same bell. Same sound. Not a thoughtful installation on our part. The doorbell drives our dog crazy but, I should clarify, our dog is more crazy than a normal crazy dog. She doesn’t know what door to go to so she mostly just runs around in haphazard circles and barks incessantly every time someone is at our door. So today, the doorbell rang, the dog barked, and after about 5 crazy dog barking circles, she ran into me (she can’t see very well either) and flopped to the floor. Thump.

At the door was a 5 year old boy scout. (Well…I actually have no idea what age he was, I can’t tell the difference in age of elementary school kids anymore. (I don’t know why i said ‘anymore’. I never could tell) The boy might have been 10 and I just had no idea. Cue canned sitcom laugher.) Despite his age, he was one of the cutest kids I’ve seen in a while. I think he was selling Christmas trees. (Cue more laughter for inability to tell age plus inability to hear what he said.) I politely said no thanks and didn’t feel any guilt about it- for the most part.

After recapping the story to Brandon when he got home, I quickly realized, the boy scout probably wasn’t selling trees and stingy me turned him away. And Brandon reinforced what I already kind of know, that all of the neighborhood kids will start making sure Brandon’s home to answer the door instead of me. Higher return. Sorry christmas-tree-selling-5-year-old, i’ve never liked door to door sales people.

I don’t like the less-flexible part of myself either. I don’t think we’re designed to be stiff robots with no bendable parts. As I’ve let myself relax a little bit, I’ve found that the beauty of life is actually in some of the organic relationships that only happen when flexibility dominates. I know the doorbell interrupting my quiet time is a stretch illustration (cue Cosmo Kramer bursting through the door). I’m learning that one of my favorite things is that moments don’t need scheduled.

Plan A: Learn Everything You Can

I’m in the process of developing a 2-year strategy for myself. Like any good plan, I haven’t written it down, haven’t shared it with close friends, but have a somewhat fluid idea that is playing on repeat in my head. (Oh sarcasm, how I love you and your ability to normalize my laziness.)

Laziness or not, I’m claiming just this one part of my strategy publicly right now. It’s not revolutionary, pioneering, groundbreaking, inventive or even innovative. It’s actually pretty plain and simple. But nice things come in plain and simple packages. I guess.

I’m going to meet and learn from as many people as I can. As many people as I can (For effect: re-read this sentence slower and draw out the words more). I’ve heard a lot of people say that they want to learn from others, but I’m actually going to do it (and have already started, so boo-ya!). I want to take on the form of a constant learner trying to vacuum up any knowledge from those around me.

When I studied during my school years, I always wished that if I ripped out the paper from the books and ate it, I would learn everything that was on the pages. The plan was that the knowledge in the books I read would become part of my own wisdom. I could stomach paper flavor if I knew that I would have all of the knowledge internalized and as my reference point.

But eating paper offered no easy way out. Learning happened the old fashion way.
Like those who have gone before me, I’m taking up more old-fashioned learning: Learning from people. Stay tuned for updates on what I’m learning and biggest lessons from people other than me.

Plan A: Learn Everything You Can

I’m in the process of developing a 2-year strategy for myself. Like any good plan, I haven’t written it down, haven’t shared it with close friends, but have a somewhat fluid idea that is playing on repeat in my head. (Oh sarcasm, how I love you and your ability to normalize my laziness.)

Laziness or not, I’m claiming just this one part of my strategy publicly right now. It’s not revolutionary, pioneering, groundbreaking, inventive or even innovative. It’s actually pretty plain and simple. But nice things come in plain and simple packages. I guess.

I’m going to meet and learn from as many people as I can. As many people as I can (For effect: re-read this sentence slower and draw out the words more). I’ve heard a lot of people say that they want to learn from others, but I’m actually going to do it (and have already started, so boo-ya!). I want to take on the form of a constant learner trying to vacuum up any knowledge from those around me.

When I studied during my school years, I always wished that if I ripped out the paper from the books and ate it, I would learn everything that was on the pages. The plan was that the knowledge in the books I read would become part of my own wisdom. I could stomach paper flavor if I knew that I would have all of the knowledge internalized and as my reference point.

But eating paper offered no easy way out. Learning happened the old fashion way.
Like those who have gone before me, I’m taking up more old-fashioned learning: Learning from people. Stay tuned for updates on what I’m learning and biggest lessons from people other than me.

Recovery: Sit. Stare Into Distance.

Seasons can be busy. But the past two months of my ‘season’ have been too busy as I engrossed myself full force into a big challenge at work. Loved the challenge but I’ve come to learn that being over busy leaves no margin for relationship or self. Actually, I think the past months were the busiest that I have ever been (I hope that speaks more about the season and it does my life). Breathing room is not only good, it’s necessary.

The past four days on vacation, away from routine (in a midwest white tennis shoe cut off t-shirt fishing town on the shores of Lake Erie) gave me the space (and anonymity) that I needed. Although I don’t think I realized it until day 2, when I slowly stopped checking my email, stopped swiping my phone, and allowed work thoughts to slip away… like the sailboat I was watching drift into the horizon.

Here’s a recap of my adventurous days:

Day 1: Sit at beach. Stare into distance.
Day 2: Drink 2nd to best latte I’ve ever had (best latte I had was at a little shop in Chicago suburbs that’s now out of business- sad). Stare into distance in between flipping pages of a book.
Day 3: Enjoy latte again. Enjoy staring at distance again.
Day 4: Morning latte enjoyment continues. Finish book. Watch distance- again.

In between staring and the infinite daze I found myself in, I was able to fall deeper in love with Brandon and revive my soul. My lesson is obvious: don’t go too long without space for yourself. I know this is 101 stuff but it gets me every time. I love to work hard but I need to remember to take rest periods. No one will call a break but me. My new plan: build in time to rejuvenate just as I build in time to work.

How do you know when you’ve been in a busy season for too long? What do you do to rest?