I just got back from an extended four-day weekend at Civana Wellness Resort & Spa in Carefree, Arizona, which affirmed the importance of stillness in a myriad of ways. In addition to clean food, a world-class spa, and decadent sunsets, Civana offers more than seventy classes a week, such as Feng Shui, Primal Flow Yoga, Sound Healing, Journaling for Manifestation, and hikes in the Sonoran Desert, which provided such a well-rounded wellness experience that I will surely visit again.

Outside of the beautiful pure healing only a desert hike can provide, the most impactful class I took was called human BEING. The course was all about getting us to think of busyness as a disease and the antithesis to creating space for ourselves to enjoy this one precious life we’ve been given, as in the words of Mary Oliver. Not to mention interfere with our healing, interrupt our ability to know ourselves more deeply, block creativity and abundance, and limit our joy.

I write this as an om to me and the newfound permission I’m giving myself to break free from twenty-four years of working myself to the bone. I used to pride myself on all I was doing. I thrived on it. I longed for it. Quite frankly, at times being in awe that I was able to take on all I did.

Busyness is so intricately connected to my identity that “Achiever” is in my top five StrengthsFinder. My mantra in life was to work hard, play hard, which I have truly done, having some intensely pleasurable moments along the way. However, no matter how much I spent time investing in my wellness, I consistently found myself fatigued and deeply anxious about the many tasks to which I had committed. And miraculously, nothing major had slipped through the cracks…until recently.

I had two major things that I had invested a great deal in fail for the sole reason of being overbooked. What I know for sure is that it was the universe’s way of getting my attention. It was time for me to slow down once and for all and truly tap into an expansive mindset and identity that wasn’t defined by all my external achievements.

Being addicted to busyness has brought me many gifts, including traveling the world, having abundance in my business, and partnering with amazing women. It has also, however, cost me a great deal. Most importantly, time was lost with the people I love; memories slipped through the cracks because of distractions; and joy I missed out on, I’ll never be able to redeem.

I have forgiven myself for all that I lost because the alternative is suffering. I vow, however, to interrupt these destructive patterns because I plan to enjoy as much of the rest of this life I’ve been given, and if you can relate to any of this, I invite you to join me.

What better way to start the month of July than by committing or recommitting

to stop being so busy?

Take the 31 days July offers us to dedicate each day to slowing down. There are countless ways you can give yourself the gift of presence.

Here are a few ideas:

Spend the day at the beach

Ground yourself barefoot in

the grass

Walk-in nature

Be grateful

Take your time to respond to emails

For the mothers out there: as you are working your 31-Day Wellness Month plan, keep your children in mind because chances are if you’ve been too busy, they probably are too.



I guarantee if you invest in this time, you’ll thank yourself for it.