If the first days of 2008 are any indicator of what this year holds I’m going to have one busy year ahead. After having some good downtime during the holidays I resumed life with hardly a minute to spare. How does one maintain a rhythm in the middle of such hectic days?
When I was a good number of years younger I would just keep running at full tilt until I would finally crash one day and end-up with a sinus infection or other nasty bug that would lay me flat for a week or two. I think I’ve learned something along the way as I don’t seem to have as intense down turns in my health, for which I’m very thankful.
Some stuff I’ve found to be very therapeutic are:
- Playing the guitar. I’ve mentioned this before but playing the guitar is just a great release of stress often five or fifteen minutes here and there.
- Napping. I used to never, ever take naps. Now at least on weekends I find them quite refreshing.
- Vacation. I’ve learned to take vacation more often and what a huge difference that makes.
- Time with family. My wife and kiddos are sources of joy and diversion from the serious stuff of life that pales in importance to spending time with them.
- Reading for pleasure. This one I’m just getting back into a bit, thanks in part to a good friend who got around to writing a pretty nifty novel.
- Watching concerts on DVD. This Christmas I received two great concerts: Simon and Garfunkel’s Concert in Central Park and Robert Earl Keen’s concert from the new series of Austin City Limit’s recordings "livefromaustintx".
- Blogging. Yeah I’ve been a bit of a slacker lately in this area for a number of reasons but I do find blogging to be a pleasant and relaxing experience. I anticipate my rate of postings to pick-up as I’m heading into ’08. In the words of the old Monty Python movie, "I’m not dead yet!"
So what rates your top seven or so list of stuff to do to keep life sane?
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It seems like I feel more rested the next day if I can read something for pleasure at night. I love to read, and I just decided that I had better start again.
I am ashamed to say that I have been working on the same book for over 2 years now. It’s not that it’s that big, I just never read it.
I also like playing with the kids. I really find that if I don’t have at least one day on the weekend to just fool around, then I might as well not have the weekend at all.
Music. Life is so much better with a soundtrack.
Podcasts. Good entertainment right in your pocket.
You and I both started slacking about the same time, I’m glad to see another post from you. Now if I can just get back on track …
Mike,
Yep, I’m trying to get back up-to-speed on blogging. I’ve just had a number of things stack-up that necessitates creating slack in some other areas and unfortunately blogging has become one of those things. Keeping a rhythm with diversions seems ever more important when life gets hectic. Glad you are finding those things as well.
Of course you know I’m not giving you any grief about slacking off, especially since I slacked off myself.
I do like to blog, but along with many other things I like, it has a tenancy to slide off of my to do list.
Yay, Phil! Good to hear from you again. Winter is a good time to dig in and wallow in all the things we enjoy best. Tops on my list (that NEVER fell to the side when I was working 70 hours a week) 1. Reading before bed; 2. Cooking involved meals at least once a week no matter what; 3. Take out food and TV with my guys at least once a week. Those things kept me going. Evidently not enough, or I’d still have that job, right? Maybe my list should have been longer…
Kelly, I really think winter is designed into the year to be a downtime with shorter days. I try to gear down during the darkest time and hibernate, reflect and regain steam for the year ahead.
“I aint’nt dead”. And you are still alive too which is good. I’m still learning to stop from time to time.