Time to Pause and Walk: Reclaim Your Energy

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Some time ago I discussed walking as an opportunity to escape from a situation we can no longer face or from what we feel is damaging to ourselves – a natural survival instinct that allows us to safeguard our lives. Wandering on foot through the world can thus be experienced as an escape, but not only that: also as a simple break from daily commitments and stress.

Often, caught up in work and family, we don't notice how much hectic rhythms steal our precious resources, which, if continuously depleted, can lead us to complete exhaustion. However, to maintain a good level of well-being, it's essential to take care of ourselves, carving out generous spaces for relaxation and pleasure. After all, even when we're focused on the stages of our long journey, we need to stop from time to time to rest and dedicate proper time to physical and mental recovery and enjoyment. So, why not take a break and set out on a pilgrimage?!

Sometimes, embarking on a journey is a good way to clear your head, especially during crucial moments in our lives, such as the transition from secondary school to university or the end of a relationship: two different experiences, but ones that always create discomfort, frustration and dissatisfaction, especially when you can't imagine your future.

The famous "sabbatical year" is a period of pause typically used for study, travel or volunteering; in reality, it doesn't have to last exactly 365 days – it can be a few weeks or several months. What really matters is that it's fully exploited to experiment, explore, find inspiration, make new friendships and discover abilities, professions, interests... in short, to challenge yourself, without expectations to meet or deadlines to respect.

Taking time to walk and see the world helps you move beyond your "comfort zone" and thus grow as a person, gain greater confidence and independence, and acquire better tools to understand what you truly desire.

What to do to recharge your energy

Taking breaks, between one period and another or between one occupation and the next, is essential because it aligns us with our own rhythm, it helps us create that distance which selects, that emptiness which can then be filled with new and good things.

Sometimes, to do this, we need to get moving; other times, it's enough to simply stop and allow our body and mind a moment to relax and restore vitality. When we're well-rested, our actions and thoughts can express their full potential and make us feel accomplished and satisfied.

Beyond regular, quality sleep, which is the foundation of our balance, there are many activities we can do to recharge ourselves:

• breathe deeply, to restore proper oxygenation and lower anxiety levels
• drink a glass of water or herbal tea, to hydrate your body and maintain its proper functioning
• eat natural, fresh and colourful snacks that give you energy and lift your spirits
• do some meditation or yoga, to calm your mind and stretch your body
• engage in a creative activity that entertains and helps you see things from a new perspective
• give someone a hug, to warm the heart and chase away sadness

Stopping isn't always easy – it often means standing face to face with yourself, in silence, and listening to your inner movements, the ones we avoid by distracting ourselves with the noise of daily routine; but life flows on whether or not we pay attention to it, and we risk missing it altogether. Better to observe it from time to time, don't you think?

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