This is a post from my My 20-day Zappos + Buffer Values Challenge
“Make Time to Reflect”
My favourite way to reflect is solo hiking. The fewer people the better.
Some people have told me that going deep inside their head, and being just with themselves is scary. I respect and understand that, but I find I’m the one person I can always trust, always have time for and is always happy to spend a long time on thinking.
That’s the foreveralone manifesto is right there. 😉
But as Paul Buchheit has said, “Walking in nature helps”, and it does.
When I spent 12 days, solo hiking round through Northern Sweden one year (and didn’t see another person for a 5 day stretch at one point), I didn’t take any books. Instead, mentally I contemplated a number of topics that I later wrote up into a series of blog posts.
Once on a solo cycle touring trip, I remember lying in the tent, designing video live-streaming systems.
I do enjoy great conversations whilst walking in nature, but one of the great things about the solitude is leaving your brain with the minimum to concentrate on. There are very few interrupting distractions, there’s very little to think about apart from where to put your feet, whether you’re walking in the right direction, and when you can have your next rest.
Solo hiking is fun.
But reflection isn’t just in the execution. Reflection is also in the theory. I’ve found that reflecting on my current goals on a regular basis, and tracking my progress helps me remain focused, and helps be check I’m on the right path. It might be that when I think about it, the end-goal which seemed sensible at the start, isn’t relevant anymore – but at least then I’d know not to worry about it anymore.
Often I find, at moments of conflict where it’s easy to respond instantly, it’s wiser to take some time to reflect, and think about the situation. lots of sleep often helps a great deal.
I remember a story I once heard about someone, let’s call him “Jim”, who went to his friend “Rob” and said “My business is failing. I’m trying to do all these things, but everyone wants me. I’m not sure what to do. Help?”
His friend Rob suggested that instead of focusing on one thing or the other, or replying to emails from only these peoples. he should go on holiday.
He went on holiday, and when he returned, he knew exactly what to do, how to deal with it all, and set about making it happen like a new man.
It’s always worth taking time to reflect. I like hiking, but meditation is also well recommended (and much easier to do frequently). You might err away from that level of hippiness, though people often find it helps them separate and steer their thoughts, so they can choose when and what to think about.
