Busy isn’t always better

“The most valuable thing we can do for the psyche .. is to let it rest, wander, live in the changing light of a room.” May Sarton, Journal of a Solitude

 

This past year has been a busy one for me —traveling, working on client projects, writing my second novel, gardening (I just have finished cleaning out all the dead plants!) and everything else that is on my To-Do list. And while I have diligently crossed off each item, somehow there is never an empty space. For every one that departs, two scurry in to take its place. 

But despite my hectic schedule, I still make sure to take some time off every now and then. For example, when my friend Dianne came to visit for a few days, we headed up to Lake Erie and spent the entire day walking around the shops, enjoying a great meal and just chillin’, as we used to say. 

And you know what? The world didn’t come to an end because I was out of the office and not checking messages. I didn’t lose any clients, my bank balance didn’t hit the red zone and, in general, my life didn’t fall apart. 

Even more significantly, when I went back to work the next day, I noticed that my stress level had dropped down to a manageable level and I was more productive because I had taken the break. 

While it wasn’t technically zero-tasking, that day with Dianne was pretty darned close because of how it made me feel: calmer, healthier, more at peace. And giving Dianne the gift of my attention instead of making her compete with the cell phone and the computer also told her how much I valued our friendship. 

This week, take one hour to turn off, shut down and disconnect from all the tasks you think you have to do ASAP and make caring for yourself a priority. Brew a cup of tea (or whatever is your beverage of choice!), find a place to relax and just enjoy the break. It will do you good!