What is an Integration Break and why it’s important for self-care
This is an excerpt from our weekly free newsletter, Homebody Highlights.
I never really had a name for it…. There were just moments in life, where I said, “ENOUGH!” (followed by a long exhale). I had enough of working towards the next thing, enough of learning the new modality, enough of trying to improve, or listening to another podcast to learn more about a topic.
I had enough. I just wanted to be. To integrate what I had already learnt. To fully embody my learnings and experiences and not be on to the next thing. Just to be me.
But that’s the way society goes though, right? There’s always a new thing. A new way you could be better, a new modality we’re hyper-focused on, a new product we ‘need’ in our lives, a new workshop.
So, instead of glorifying ‘more’, let’s glorify the Integration Break.
I really like Inner Workout’s definition of an Integration Break…
An integration break is an intentional pause from the cycle of constant consumption for the purpose of rest, application, reflection, and deepened connection to your inner wisdom.
Why are Integration Breaks important?
Taking regular integration breaks can have a number of benefits for our mental and emotional well-being.
Gives us a chance to recharge. Taking a break from the constant stimulation of social media, daily life and learning can help us recharge and refocus our energy.
Helps us to cultivate self-awareness and trust our own inner voice. When we take the time to reflect on our learnings and experiences, we can develop a deeper sense of self-awareness and understanding.
The biggest red flag for me is when I rely on and trust others’ opinions and thoughts over my own. I know it’s time to take a break and remove external stimuli when I feel like my own wisdom is being overshadowed and I’m reliant on a modality, framework or someone else’s opinion to validate myself.A break helps us process our emotions, creating space to make us feel more grounded, centred and connected to self.
How can we create an Integration Break?
These breaks can take many forms, but the key is to create a space where we can slow down, reflect on our learnings and experiences, and process any emotions that may have come up.
If you’re taking an Integration Break from learning - finish the book, course, podcast, workshop etc. Or, if you’re not enjoying it, don’t finish it 😉
Rest - we don’t need to be learning, bettering ourselves or connecting to social media 24/7. Rest without the need for stimuli.
Disconnect - consciously consider how you can distance yourself from social media, podcasts, or wherever else you feel pressured to be and do more.
Reflect - review what you’ve learnt or themes that are coming up for you. Feel free to look over your notes or books. And remember, not everything is for you, so when it comes to learning you can keep what works for you and leave the stuff that doesn’t resonate.
Integration and embodiment - from your lessons, what can you integrate and truly embody in your life? It may come up in different aspects of your life, like work, your personal life, or even your daily self-care practices.
Other ways you can incorporate an Integration Break:
If you’re a practitioner or coach, you can add Integration Breaks into your training, courses or coaching sessions. I love how Jacqui from Subtle Self added an integration week into her Energetic Meditation course.
Creating boundaries between courses or books (e.g. I set a 3-month break for myself with no workshops, training or courses so I could fully integrate things I had previously learnt.)
Reading - there’s a reason why I allow 2 months per book for our book club. There’s a bit of wiggle room, to breathe and to integrate what we’ve read.
🤎 Homebody Reminders 🤎
🫶 Community activities: In partnership with Open (my favourite meditation, breath work and movement app), receive 30 days for a free trial with the code HOMEBDODY30