Break in Routine

In about a week or so, many of us will enjoy a few days off from school or work. This is not just important for our well-being. It’s also important for our work.

I’ve recently been out of my routine. Not off work but rather I attended a conference and professional learning event.

This break in the ordinary was not something I was looking forward ahead of time. I felt grateful for the opportunity to attend a conference, but the preparation needed to do so was daunting. Ensuring the work was well-cared for while I was away, packing a bag, and taking caring of things at home was a little overwhelming.

But when I got myself to the conference, I was able slow my thinking down and savor more. My good friend, Sean Gaillard and I have a been recording a podcast mini-series, Hope Amplified. Yesterday we recorded with our good friend, Lainie Rowell, who talked about savoring and the practice of savoring walks.

Being out of my routine allowed me savor more conversations with my colleagues but also with new connections I made at the conference. It also pushed me into new experiences and even past times that I had not explored for many years.

I played a game of pool one evening. Something I used to do in my basement with my dad. This made me feel close to him and connected to my memories of our time together; it also reminded me to be grateful to be alive and for the opportunity to see more years than he ever did. I enjoyed sitting down and taking my time with my make-up in the hotel room using a lighted mirror. I enjoyed this so much that I found a mirror on sale when I got home, so I can savor my make-up routine more often in the future. I sat down next to someone at the conference from a school district who as fate would have it, I had been trying to connect with a couple of months prior. We had never met in-person. Just a lucky timing or divine intervention if you believe in that sort of thing.

The week prior, I went to a professional learning session with the principals from my school district. I had a meeting scheduled with me of them immediately following, so we needed to meet at a local coffee shop since it was close to the end of the day. Something about being out of district together and enjoying a warm cup of coffee allowed us to focus more intently on our work, our conversation, and each other.

Many of us thrive on routine. And routine plays an important role in our lives, in our work, and in the learning process.

But let’s not sleep on the unexpected. On that break in routine that allows our brains to come alive with possibility.

We need both. Both are part of the work. Breaks in routine provide the clarity needed to see situations for what they really are. This is important and too often underrated part of work.

Productivity isn’t always doing. Sometimes it’s simply being, sitting with thoughts and the thoughts of others.

True wisdom is knowing what the moment calls for.