10 Autumn Soul Breaks to Restore Your Soul
You know how you feel when you've been going full blast all day......emotionally drained and struggling with muddled thinking, right? And forget having sharp decision-making skills... you lost those around 3:00 pm.You need the calm of the Spirit to settle over your soul.Yep, it's time for an autumn soul break.Science tells us that the brain needs a break about every 90 minutes or so. It's part of the natural rhythm of your body, called the ultradian rhythm. That rhythm is there whether you're asleep or awake.Not only does your brain need a break every 90 minutes, so does the rest of your soul—your emotions and the decision-making part of you... your will.In order to be the emotionally healthy, creative, and wise person God wants you to be, your soul needs to recharge and be nurtured.
If you are running on empty, you have nothing to share with anyone else.
Without soul breaks you become a cranky person. That's NOT how you want to be labeled. (Who wants "cranky" listed as part of their legacy? Not you!)Think of a natural wave. It comes into shore, and goes out again. Comes in. Goes out. Tide in. Tide out.Work while the tide is in for 90 minutes. Then take a soul break when the tide is out for 20 minutes. Repeat the wave.
Here's 10 of my favorite Autumn soul breaks
Look this list over. Pick and choose what works best for you.Put your phone in airplane mode. You're spending time with the Holy Spirit nurturing your soul—everyone else can leave a message.1. Commune with the Creator as you decorate your home for fall... 20 minutes at a time.2. Make a loaf of pumpkin bread or a batch of persimmon cookies. (Jesus loves cooking anything with you that has pumpkins or persimmons in it. So do grandchildren.) ;-)3. Start a gratitude journal and write in it each day during the fall months—10 to 20 minutes a day.4. Begin a compliment journal. Jot down the kind things people say about you. Then go back and read it later when you're having a rough day. Call this Journal "How others see Jesus in Me."5. Go for a 20 minute walk and smell the crisp air and feel "autumn." Take a few photos. When winter comes, create a photo journal of your fall walks.
... AND...
6. Go lie on your back and watch the golden leaves fall from a tree.7. Check in with your emotions. Sit quietly with Jesus and name, without judgment, what you are feeling. Listen for what the Spirit will whisper to you.8. Wander around a Farmers Market and buy something just for yourself. A little gift that Jesus would like you to have.9. Jump into a huge pile of leaves and remember what it was like to be a kid. Later do it again with the kids or grandkids. (This is super cool to do when you've put the leaves on a trampoline.)10. Put on some music, light a pumpkin scented candle, fix a cup of tea, and enjoy a few minutes of musing with the Lord.Mark your soul breaks on your day planner and treat them respectfully... like you would any other appointment.
What is life-giving to you?
Describe 3 soul breaks you can commit to taking over the next few days in the comment section below. I'd can't wait to hear what you come up with. :-)Hugs,Susan