I’m lying beside-the-pool lounge-chair style on my sofa with my laptop propped up on a pillow. The breeze outside speaks of soon-coming rain, which I’d welcome. The sound beats the nasty news program on the measles “contagion” running rampant in California and even nastier politician’s remarks ten fold. And although a serious cold is consuming much of my energy and my main writing projects are somewhat on hold (for a very short time, thank goodness), I’m finding the downtime refreshing.
down·time noun \ˈdau̇n-ˌtīm\
1: time during which production is stopped especially during setup for an operation or when making repairs
2 : inactive time (as between periods of work) – Merriam-Webster Dictionary
If you’re like me, sitting still, napping and other forms of static relaxation are, well, not particularly relaxing. (If you’re not, pajama hat off to you!) Since I already learned that working too hard at the onset of a cold fuels its toxic fire, I’m taking it easy.
The benefits so far:
- I wrote a short story for the NPR Three Minute Fiction contest. (I wouldn’t have, had I not been resting.)
- Plentiful time for daydreaming, which often fuels fiction.
- Added phone chats with my mom and sister.
- Extra hang-time with my dog.
- Writing/reading blogs… Connecting with friends online.
- Housecleaning = not happening.
Anticipated benefits:
- The glee of feeling great again, once I do.
- Renewed vigor for my writing works-in-progress.
What about you? What do you do to relax? What are the benefits? I always love hearing from you, so feel free to post comments or tweet me @AugstMcLaughlin. As a “thanks” for your support, one lucky commenter will receive a $15 Amazon.com gift card on Monday. If you haven’t yet entered, here’s your shot.
“No matter how much pressure you feel at work, if you could find ways to relax for at least five minutes every hour, you’d be more productive.” Dr. Joyce Brothers
“There is no need to go to India or anywhere else to find peace. You will find that deep place of silence right in your room, your garden, or even your bathtub.” Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
Girl Boner 