Recently, I got so busy with giving an exam that I lost track of time. When I mention ‘time’, it means an entire week. For a whole week in my life, I didn’t step outside my house. My screen time reduced to 1 hour a day.

After I reemerged from isolation, I realised that I had no energy to do absolutely anything. I went into complete rest mode which was definitely something that I needed to do for my own sanity. But after 2 weeks of free evenings and weekends, I realised that there was no intention in what I was doing. I felt unproductive at work and generally in life.

This 2-week long phase of my life, which I believe turned into an extended period of stillness, taught me something about rest. I realised that it is important to be intentional, even when you are resting in life. The way I shut my brain and didn’t allow it time to process my time for rest tricked it into believing that I didn’t actually rest at all.

I allowed my body to rest by sleeping for long hours and didn't move from bed all day, but my mind couldn’t come out of the distress caused by studying 14 hours a day for an entire week.

The post-exam week was a reminder that the idea behind rest is not just rejuvenation of the body but also of the mind. And although my life went haywire for only a week, I feel like I am starting again. It’s tough, falling back into a routine, prioritising my mental well-being and slowing down for a while.

If you struggle with starting again, especially after a long period of stillness, or on the contrary overwork, here’s what I have been doing to regain my mental balance:

1. Starting small and taking it day by day.

2. Spending 10 minutes each night writing a to-do list for the next day.

3. Stepping out in nature more often.

4. Falling back on habits that were my daily source of calm.

5. Spending time with loved ones.

6. Not giving myself a hard time for slowing down and prioritising my mental well-being.

7. Letting myself feel every emotion as and when it occurs without experiencing self-doubt.

I am sure we all encounter phases when we slip off track and struggle to find our way back. In times like these, shift your focus on the small things in life. Even if it means that you have to start from scratch, remember the times when you felt in perfect sync with your life and how you can still end up there and even better. Remember to slow down and focus on small steps instead of the whole staircase.

See you next week! :)