Reclaim Your Rest

Fully Surrender

Have you heard of the Pomodoro Method?

This is where you work for 25 minutes and then take a break for 5 minutes to improve productivity. Every 4 Pomodoros you rest for 15 to 20 minutes. In effect, when you work, you work. When you rest, you rest.

This is a good week to play with the Pomodoro Method since the Sun moves into Virgo on August 22, 2024. 

We may also still be feeling (reeling from?) the recent Venus-Jupiter Square, Venus-Saturn Opposition, Full Moon in Aquarius, and the Jupiter-Saturn Square, all on August 19, 2024. 

On August 24, 2024, we also have Mars making a sextile with Mercury and Chiron that day. Mars in Gemini creating a sextile with Mercury in Leo can create a space for an avalanche of new ideas or be a great time to focus on communication activities.

Mars in Gemini forming a sextile to Chiron in Aries can create an empathetic space, so this could be a great day to attend a healing workshop, take a yoga class, or set aside time for some journaling.

All this Mars cuteness at the beginning of Virgo season and during the final days of Mercury retrograde is, I think, the Universe’s way of saying let’s pace ourselves during Virgo season. Virgo with its exacting nature and striving for excellence brings out our inner perfectionist and can sometimes lead to overworking.

This upcoming Virgo season has a lot going on. It includes the beginning of this Fall’s Eclipse season that will hark back to this past Spring’s intense Eclipse season. Pluto also moves back into Capricorn for its final time on September 1, 2024. Not to mention world events like the upcoming U.S. presidential election.

It is safe to say this Fall will be profound, maybe even emotionally seismic. So, this week is a good time to set a foundation for incorporating breaks into our work. Let’s create the habit now of granting our nervous systems spaciousness and support.

The trick with the Pomodoro Method is to take an actual friggin' break during the rest period.

When I tried it in the past, I found myself multitasking, going on to the next task, or doom-scrolling during the break. Also, the 25-minute work,15-minute rest structure didn’t work for me. It can take me 10 to 15 minutes sometimes to start my “real” work or get in the flow. 

So, I experimented with working in 45-minute blocks where I put my phone in airplane mode, set the timer, and focus on the task, then break for 5 minutes. After two Pomodoros, I break for 15 minutes.

I am not someone who believes the only purpose of rest is to be more productive. That’s helpful. I believe it is more important to honor the need for rest just because it is kind to our bodies, minds, and spirit.

Our Calvinist Puritanical Western culture has trained us to make the most of every moment, including our downtime.

These breaks, or rests, throughout my day, give me the energy and focus to dive back into my work. My dance break, stretch break, or even just a quick walk down the block, also soothes my nervous system. Relaxing and calming down repeatedly during the day also feels so good. 

Fully surrender to your unique pace of productivity and recuperating. Figure out what is your best work-to-rest ratio.

I say, “Reclaim Your Right to Rest.”

Let me know how it goes.

Easefully yours,

Darice