I walked up to my chicken coop last week and saw lots of feathers, and I knew what that meant: a reduction in egg production. I know this happens every fall, but for some reason, this year the prospect of this season seemed daunting. The memories of last year were too fresh: the frustration of making twice daily trips to the coop to care for the chickens with few to no eggs being laid as a reward for my effort.
Chickens follow a seasonal cadence. Spring is the best season, with each hen laying eggs almost daily. Egg production can be just as plentiful in summer, at least until some of the hens decide to go broody (sit on eggs to hatch peeps). Fall is molting season, when they lose their feathers and hence reduce egg laying. And winter, when daylight is limited, signals to the hens that it’s time for them to rest.
Humans are not that different – we also have a time for growth and production and a time for rest. Of course, being humans, we sometimes try to avoid our seasonal cadence and put ourselves on a path of perpetual growth, whether within our business or even personally. But the reality is, in order to achieve our goals and make the desired impact in our world, we need time to slow down, to consider where we are and where we want to go.
This process of slowing down is hard for me (just ask anyone who knows me), but I’m learning its importance. During a recent vacation hiking the Alps, I found myself content just looking at the glaciers and watching the wildlife. Being fully present in the moment, away from the distractions of technology, my brain was able to unwind and reset. When I came back from vacation, I was excited to get back to work with a renewed sense of purpose and energy.
What season are you in? Or more importantly, what season are you avoiding? Are you wanting to live full-time spring and summer? Are you avoiding that winter season, which can be an impactful time for rest and rejuvenation? Giving yourself permission to accept the season you are in and what you need to face during that season can be challenging. But if you avoid those slower seasons, eventually the need for rest will catch up with you, and you could be forced into it.
As we move toward the final quarter of the year, I’d encourage you to evaluate your current season and decide: When will you take the time to rest and recover so that you can continue your success into the new year? If this is challenging for you, I’d be happy to talk through your challenges and offer some tips that have helped me.