Yesterday as I was having my regular ’shut down break’ I was contemplating how fantastic they are and decided to write a poem to that effect…

For a bit of back-ground, a ’shut down break’ is the name I have given a technique used to help with pacing. It requires using ear plugs and an eye pillow – or other methods of eliminating sensory input and lying down for 15min like this. I do it a few times a day and it really helps with the sensory overload.

Oh how I love
My Shut Down Break
For making me feel good.
With ears plugged up, and mask on eyes
I rest just like I should

My brain it slows,
My madness goes,
My heart restores its’ beat.
My muscles take the hint to ease
From lead back into meat

The pounding in
My head subsides
To marching band of four,
A darn site less in size and strength
Than what it was before

The twitching in
My muscles slows
My breath resumes its’ role
Of in and out, and up and down
Relaxing as it goes

My blood exclaims
“oh that is right
From head to toe I go,
For quite some time I clear forgot
What was my proper role”

Perhaps by now
My point is clear,
The shut down break is grand.
It stems the overload and grants
Me back a fighting chance.