The Road To Wellness

Nice to see you! Wishing you a healthy day!

This week, it is all about you. Welcome to Take Back Your Time Week!

It is a good time to check in and assess where you are at with your goals. Is your system of reminders and planning benefiting you? Are you managing your time well?

This is also a time when you can practice saying “no” and setting boundaries. We all have the same 24 hours each day. We all have tasks to complete, calls to make, and meetings to attend. Your time is just as valuable as anyone’s time.

Me time is so important for your mental health. You need time to recharge your batteries and take care of yourself. Let this week be a reminder to you that your needs are important. Take care of yourself and your time.

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We’re enjoying another snowy, cold day here in Minnesota. Though it’s light, I don’t think it has stopped snowing at all today. I had to  laugh as I watched someone driving their car on the frozen lake. At least someone is having some fun on the lake.

Last summer we started bringing lunches on the boat when we went out. We had bought a picnic cooler years ago, but didn’t use it too much. It was nice though and appealed right away to my romantic side with its lovely tablecloth and napkins, wine cooler and wine glasses. What could be more enjoyable than a picnic on the beach with artisan cheeses and a good wine? I was sold. We did do that a couple of times.

For boating, we decided to do the same thing. As much fun as it is to go to restaurants on the lake, docking can be a hassle. You always have to make sure and have cash to tip the boat guys. So we decided to forgo the trouble and bring along one of those picnic baskets.

I didn’t mind preparing a meal ahead of time. Often, it would be something simple like sandwiches with a salad. I always opted for something cold. It was easier to keep things cold in one of those picnic backpacks than to keep something hot, no matter what the weather.

I have to admit that after the first time picnicking on the boat, we were hooked, no pun intended. We had the best table in the house, with an outstanding view, no waiting in line, and a minimal number of bees. We both love boating and the physical activities of fishing or swimming. Just as with winter, you have to embrace the season and take some exercise no matter what the weather brings.

Besides that, it was so incredibly relaxing. It was like being on vacation, having dinner in our own private villa. That’s the message I want to get across. Find your own relaxing spot, the one that helps you forget the troubles of the day. Find a place where you can unwind and relax. Just don’t forget the corkscrew.

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During part of the week, I work at home. I’m a freelancer. Everything they say about working from home is true. It’s wonderful. One extra perk is the time alone. We all know the benefits of quality me-time.

Another thing I’ve started doing is what I call, Spa Day. One day each week, I’ll treat myself to something special. It could be that clay mask sample I’ve been wanting to try. Or maybe I’ll do a deep-conditioning treatment on my hair. I want to pamper myself. It’s a reward for staying on the job, getting my work done and not getting distracted. Some days that can be a challenge.

The primary benefit of freelancing is that you’re the boss. So, I try to be the best boss possible and make sure my employee takes care of herself.

Photo by kikashi

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It’s funny, but once I started keeping a calendar for blogging and writing, it was then I became very conscious of time. When I started tracking hours, I realized how quickly time passes. I spend all this time working, but am I taking enough time to relax?

One of my favorite ways to relax is do something totally opposite of what I typically do for work. My get-away-from-it-all activity is fishing. It can be any kind of fishing, whether it’s fishing for pan fish or trout fishing. There’s something so relaxing about it. Typically, I’m choosing a very quiet place. I don’t like fishing where there is a lot of activity. I’m going there for the escape.

It brings me close to Nature, which of itself is therapeutic. When my husband and I are fishing, we don’t talk much. There’s just the sound of the line leaving the reel. We enjoy the silence together, that is, until it is broken by a fish on the end of the line. For the most part, it is a kind of meditation, casting out and reeling in. Time slips away, but not in a frantic way. It is calming, serene.

I don’t always catch anything, contrary to what my husband may say. Even if I don’t, I’ve captured something else–quiet time with the man I love. What’s your way to relax and unwind?

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“The time to relax is — when you don’t have time for it.”
~Sidney J. Harris

You know how it goes. As soon as you tick off one item on your to-do list, three others come to mind. You’re rushing to get things done, maybe not always with optimal results. The mistakes you normally would be able to catch are missed because you’re just too darn busy. Sound familiar?

That’s precisely the time you need to step back, unplug, and relax. Stress begets more stress. If you break away, you stop the cycle of stress. You return to your to-do list refreshed and ready for new challenges.

Weekly Goal: Take time to relax.

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