After a hectic week that bled directly into a camping trip, I’m getting this post out a few days late. With a stressful plan to try and muster something up for the weekend, I ended up leaning into one of the four pillars of The Four Pillar Plan, relaxation. Allowing myself to take a couple of days to not worry about everything on the other side of the trip made the experience significantly better.
Work Weak – Why Sleep is Critical
I was excited for the week I had on paper. Scheduled time off on top of the holiday meant I was looking at a quick three day week. What I received was technically that.
After unexpected issues arose, I ended up working a long, frantic night to leave on time for a camping trip the next day. In doing so, I demolished my sleep schedule.
Failing to get everything done over night, the next day was a struggle. The solutions I was putting together were getting me nowhere. After a long day, I was luckily able to hand off my progress to a co-worker and begin the drive to camp.
Outdoor Recovery
With a hectic work week behind me, it was time for some rest and relaxation. What better way to get away from working IT than to head out to the wilderness. In an attempt to stay on top of projects like this blog, I packed a notebook to jot down thoughts and drafts. However, lacking sleep and feeling overwhelmed, I made the decision to forget everything going on outside the trip.
In the Four Pillar Plan, relaxation seemed to be more directed to meditation, the closed eyes and breath work kind. While this is certainly a method to do so, sometimes it’s through a different form of work and focus that we can find relaxation. The challenges of camping is something I found relaxation in.
I’ve been getting into rock climbing lately and this trip was an opportunity to ascend actual stone walls. Our climbing endeavors were cut short by a nasty rain storm, but in the short time I was on the walls, it was all I could think about. Running through the woods back to the car in the heavy rain was another moment where all I could think about was every step I was taking.
Despite the challenges, there were plenty of fun, unexpected moments. In one extremely memorable instance, we found a praying mantis near our car while waiting out the storm. My friends took tons of pictures as we passed him around.
Taking the time to just enjoy the moment, even when roughing it, made me appreciate the experience more, especially my friends. There is something to be said about shared misery I suppose.
Giving myself these extra few days to get my head straight has been critical for not only getting this blog post published, but also benefitted bigger picture thinking.
Trying Out Before Buying In 