Have you ever felt excited about something and also a little overwhelmed at the same time? Even something good that we’ve chosen can disrupt the flow of our lives and so add to our levels of stress or anxiety.

I spent this past weekend on retreat with our team that is planning the IMPACT experience for the students who will attend the ELCA National Youth Gathering next summer in Minneapolis. We are designing a space that will help them process what they experienced while serving in the community. It was such a rich weekend with wonderful people working together on a meaningful endeavor.

And…

We stayed up and were using our brains much later into the evening than I typically do at home.

I was staying in a hotel and which meant my morning routine was different.

Because our days were really full, I had much less quiet alone time that renews my introverted soul.

None of these factors were a super big deal in and of themselves, but together—and layered on top of preparing to be gone this week—I knew they would impact my energy and mental load.

So…

I was strategic.

I made a commitment to be fully present to the work the group was doing together.

I gave myself permission to enjoy a big nap when I got home on Sunday (even though I’d been gone from my family) and a super easy (take-out) dinner.

I allotted time on Monday for tending to errands and other details for being gone.

Was I tired when I got home from the retreat? Yes. Did I enjoy my nap? Very much! Am I inspired by our group and experiencing meaningful work and connections? Absolutely.

For me, anticipating what I would need after the retreat made it possible for me to be more present and have almost no stress during the retreat.

Reflection Question

What do you do to navigate short term disruptions well?