Tag Archives: relax

Finally! Resting On Vacation

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I always try to take vacation around the holidays and was fortunate again this year to have off an extended amount of time that began last Friday. And yet, this is the first time I have nothing to do on my vacation. There’s nothing to wrap or cook. There’s nothing to buy or return. No one is coming over and I refuse to leave the house unless it’s to take out the trash. On second thought, that can wait till tomorrow.

My house is a mess but I’m struggling to care. I am going to do a little de-Christmasing this afternoon. One of my two Christmas trees and a few small decorations from around the house will be taken down. I like all the greenery and lights so a lot of decor will stay up through January. 

Scout got a toy for Christmas that is way bigger than expected (always read product dimensions before you buy). In my defense, it is rare for a product to exceed expectations these days. We need to figure out a home for his new Kitty City 2.0 starter kit. Here he is living his best life, cuddled up for a midday nap.

Otherwise, I may read until I get tired and take a nap. Perhaps I’ll work on a puzzle or watch a movie. Whatever I do will be low key. I’m still nursing my mouth. An emergency tooth extraction last week left a cavernous hole in my gum and the nature of the issue caused enough trauma to my jaw and the area around the tooth that the pain is distracting. 

All of this (minus the oral health issue) is part of my intentional winding down of the busy season and transition into my No Spend Challenge. This means fewer adventures and more quiet time at home. I’m taking a cue from nature and choosing to embrace hibernation and healing for the remainder of winter. All of this is a different story for another day.

Keep coming back. We will talk about more of this year’s adventures that I haven’t covered yet (there are many stories to tell) and we will talk about hibernation, not spending and a little about bucking social expectations.

How are you spending these last days of 2024? I would love to hear about it.

Sunday Relaxation

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Sunday. It’s a beautiful word in my world because I fiercely protect my time on this day.

I typically do a few chores to prepare for the week and then spend the remainder of the day doing whatever feels right. Sometimes that’s cleaning a closet or weeding a junk drawer.

Yesterday I passed my time doing a puzzle, writing a little and reading some. It was a glorious, quiet day with some podcasts and absolutely nothing that annoyed me.

It was exactly what I needed.

Adventuring is fun. Work is rewarding. Yet we sometimes need a break from it all. Take that break as much as you can, as often as you can. You won’t regret it.

Sunday Reset

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Sunday is typically my day to recharge and reset for the new week. Honestly, I do very little, instead embracing the notion that Sunday ought to be a day of rest.

I set aside some time early in the day to do laundry, maybe to make a couple of things to eat for quick lunches and do a few small things that make the work week easier.

The focus of the day is usually self care and mental wellness.

Given how tired I have been all week long, today couldn’t have come quick enough. I am not ashamed to say that I am relieved for this day.

Wherever you are and whatever you do, listen to your body. Take a break. Step off the treadmill. Whatever you call it, embrace the fine art of rejuvenation so you’re ready to face whatever stress this coming week throws your way.

Words Matter: Let’s Recharge, Not Rot

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Rotting.

It’s an ugly word and a trendy new name for an activity that’s been around forever. The idea is that you stay home or in bed and do nothing. Whether you watch tv, nap, read, play on your phone or just BE, the term rotting encompasses a lot of the things that help us feel rested and relaxed. 

My version of this comes on Sundays when I stay in bed late, spend a few hours doing light chores and the remainder of the day dabbling in pursuits that make me happy – reading, trip planning, and doom scrolling on Pinterest are enjoyable activities that don’t tax the mind or body and can be done from the couch or bed. It’s a form of self care and it’s a wonderful use of free time. 

I view it as recharging while others are calling it rotting and I truly don’t understand why. 

To rot is to decay so by modern definition, staying home and just hanging out is a form of decomposition. What an odd view of the world. Are we all really so busy that the idea of lounging in bed or kicking up our feet and relaxing is allowing ourselves to rot? Words matter and, frankly, this word stinks. 

Human beings were not designed to be on the go all the time. We need a chance to rest and recover, to rejuvenate and recharge. That’s how we have the energy to go on for another day. I refuse to apologize for this and refuse to call it anything but what it is. A word with such a negative connotation has no place in a world where we all need to do what’s necessary to recharge and be better. 

There’s no need to justify it. There’s no need to give it an ugly new name. You’re not a tree or a half eaten ham sandwich. You won’t rot if you rest. You won’t decompose in your bed if you linger a while. You will feel better if you rest and you will be ready for more if you recharge. 

I hope you will find a way to work in some quiet rest time very soon.

Lazy Saturday

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Yesterday was a rare lazy day but it didn’t really go as planned.

This week hasn’t been restful so I was grateful for a day at home. I stayed in bed, finishing a Simone St. James page turner, before doing a few chores. Bob the Shark cleaned the floors while Scout periodically reported back that the monster was a menace and needs to go.

It was too windy to be outside. The sunshine beckoned me to the woods but it didn’t feel safe to be under a canopy of tree limbs likely weakened by winter storms. So I turned off the furnace and opened the windows to let the fresh air in. Leftover soup made for a tasty lunch. I had made it Thursday using about-to-expire ingredients and was quite smug when I didn’t have to cook.

And then the wind picked up more and the power went out. So I laid down in bed with a book and promptly went to sleep for the next two hours. Honestly, I think I slept for over two hours and it felt amazing.

The last time I checked the power company was reporting 14,000 customers in the dark with over 300 outage incidents. They’re doing their best but it’s hard to combat Mother Nature’s tirades when they lead to massive tree damage.

And so, I’m writing this at 8:13 p.m. with no hope of seeing electric again for a while. I’m headed back to bed with another book and a flashlight. Here’s hoping all those linemen are safe on the job this weekend while I’m cozy in bed.

Every day can’t be a grand adventure. Sometimes you can make bad circumstances better by leaning into them and accepting them for what they are. For me that means resting up and coping with the circumstances in preparation for better days ahead.

Relax

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Turn off the news. Put down your work. Step away from all the worry.

Go outside. Breathe fresh air. Walk through the woods. Feel dirt beneath your feet. Find something beautiful to enjoy.

Relax. The burdens of the world are not yours to carry. It’s Saturday. Give yourself a break and try to be happy.