November 21, 2003
One of the habits I’ve taken with me from my corporate days is the Friday Afternoon Wind down Ceremony which involves tidying up papers in the afternoon, getting the last of the emails out, putting the finishing touches on articles and then signing off for a couple of days.
I used to work twenty-four seven with writing until it left me tired, cranky and bitter with my job. Realising that if writing was to remain my passion, I’d have to give myself time away from it to keep enjoying it. That’s when I decided that I’d take the weekends off.
Now my weekends are reserved for projects that are purely fun and selfish. I have no worry of doing them on the weekend because I don’t feel they’re robbing me from ‘work.’ I can paint the picture I’ve been meaning to, indulge in an afternoon of reading, take a leisurely lunch at the cafe down the street or do absolutely nothing. I call this time my mini-vacation, my breathing space, my renewal.
This weekend I’ll be making Christmas cards, a process that will leave my flat beautifully disheveled with bits of bright paper flung everywhere. I’ll also catch-up on reading three recent book purchases, doing a bit of flat organisation and investigating that new peppermint mocha.
Despite taking weekends off, I sometimes become inspired and realise how to finish an article or begin a new one and will happily sit down to work for awhile. However, by having a routine of working just during the week, there isn’t the pressure to create amazing bits on the weekend, which allows me to relax and enjoy all parts of my life and keeps me balanced mentally, physically and creatively. In fact, it keeps me a Girl at Play.
RESOURCES:
- Keri Smith’s wonderful article on taking a mini-vacation.
- The book The Art of Doing Nothing: Simple Ways to Make Time for Yourself by Veronique Vienne.
- For helping your home get it’s energy going and make life simpler, read The Western Guide to Feng Shui by Terah Kathryn Collins.
- A tea break is always perfect, whether it be on the Friday afternoon wind down or during a Saturday morning reading spell. The act of brewing forces you to slow down and enjoy, as done sipping it from a pretty cup. Mighty Tea offers great samplers to create perfectly luxurious breaks.