As I write this, Scout is curled up asleep next to me. He’s in a ball with his tail shielding his eyes and snoring loudly. He’s had a long, hard day of doing nothing.
It’s Sunday night and I too had a long day of doing nothing.
Actually, that’s not true. I did some laundry, cooked dinner, cleaned up the kitchen and started working on Christmas cards. These things didn’t take much time so I was free for much of the day.
I also sat on the couch reading, listening to music, watching movies and staring at Christmas trees today. I even slept in but never managed to take that nap I hoped for this afternoon.
These acts of relaxation are classified by many as a waste of time but I would prefer to shift my mindset back into a place where rest and relaxation are an act of doing something important.
Washing dishes wasn’t a better use of time than reading my book. The dishes needed done, yes. However, my body and mind needed to slow down even if just for the day.
It’s not a waste of time to rest when you’re tired or to curl up with a book when you need a break.
When did our society shift toward this mindset that you must be producing something constantly?
While I was relaxing today I encountered this graphic on Pinterest.
It’s about mastering your time and shows several ways to structure your day for maximum results. While I am a self help junkie who digs this kind of thing, it occurred to me that I don’t see a lot of graphics dedicated to just enjoying life or to letting our minds and bodies rest when we are tired.
Who’s with me? Who wants to start a new trend? Ready to step off the hamster wheel and a perform the radical act of just allowing yourself some downtime? Winter is the ideal time to start!
I’m definitely with you, Brandi! I cancelled social media accounts and prioritize caring for myself, hubby, dogs, and others. That poster is an illustration for those who cannot prioritize. But at a certain point in life, we really don’t need others to prioritize for us.
What a world we live in. I’m glad you have escaped social media!
Great post!
Now that you mention it, you’re right, most of those time management graphics are around productivity and not so much focusing on well-being or relaxation (which ironically help with productivity). It’s something we all need regularly, not just once in a while when we’ve reached a breaking point.
Too often, we wait for the verge of collapse before we take a break. Productivity experts rarely discuss balance and happiness nearly as much as they do churning out MORE.