Take a Day Off

Take a Day Off!

We all lead busy lives. Some of us work for corporations, others in hospitals or schools or government offices. Some of us work independently from home. We may work for others or in our own businesses, but we’re going, going, going all the time.

I’ve been a writer my whole life, working for magazines and newspapers, writing restaurant reviews, feature articles, investigative reports, children’s stories and humor. I even wrote a Golf Column (Golf Gab) for 16 years when I lived in North Carolina.

My husband had a very demanding job that required frequent travel. I raised four daughters (who had their own busy lives with sports and other activities) and worked as a freelance writer. There were no days off. I did interviews during the week, I wrote at night when the kids were in bed. I washed clothes, cleaned the house and gardened. It was a 24-7 crazy, happy life. I loved my family and I loved my work.

However, I learned one important lesson through all this. I needed to take time off once in a while. I needed to draw a deep, cleansing breath and just veg out. Push the baby on her swing in the back yard. Fly a kite with my kids. Go for a walk with a neighbor. Sit and read a book.

Over the years, I have learned to take one day off each week. I think God knew what he was doing when he rested on the 7^th day after creating the earth. We need to do the same.

We can work ourselves to the point that we’re jittery and non-productive. We go over and over the same thing when we need to move on. We frown. We don’t smile. We feel tired all the time, not from lack of sleep, but from overextending ourselves.

Taking Sundays off has made a huge difference in my life. I get up, take a walk, go to church, eat lunch and watch football, golf or other sports on TV. I might put a movie on Netflix. I might read a book or magazine or an on-line journal. Sometimes I stroll through the neighborhood and look at the flowers, listen to the birds, and watch the squirrels.

My computer stays off. My mind is clear. There’s a smile on my face.