Summer coming to a close...ideas for sustaining momentum

I read Brian Dowd's e-mail newsletter every couple of weeks (thank you Brian!). In the last issue, I found a couple of nice "reminders" as summer comes to a close. I remember as a kid each year about the middle of August I started "looking forward to school." Of course, I was one of those kids...felt much more comfortable in the hustle and bustle of eduction, friends, and adventure.

Now that summer is coming to a close, I realize I have a few things to look forward to for the fall and winter months! My summer was full - work, play, fun, down time and up time... After reading Brian's newsletter, I spent some time reflecting on the place of recreation in my own life.

Now, I realize that recreation has a bit of another meaning to me, and Brian helped me think about that.

Take the words in parts:
- RE
- CREATE
- TION

re: again, over, one more time
create: to make, to do, to produce
tion: the action of, to act

So, how do I get ready to get back into it, and stay engaged? It's one of the things I've been writing and speaking about. (Don't worry, you've not seen much of it here on my blog because I'm saving a few things for the book we're writing!)

Here is an idea from Brian (and for more, consider checking out his website and joining his newsletter).

Most of the leaders I coach run at high speeds and their vacations are no exception. Like a high performance vehicle, the ability to drive fast and far is accompanied by a need for maintenance and time
off the road.

Your high performance leadership requires maintenance and tune ups that can only be done off the highway.

Here are some ways to re-create.

1. Solitude
Get away from all inputs and let your mind and spirit wander. This will allow for digestion of the information overload and it will give space for new thoughts to surface.