I'm used to filling every moment of my days with writing tasks or family business. At first I felt guilty about wasting a day. I kept thinking of all the productive things I should be doing. But then I gave in to the joy of taking a day and doing nothing at all. The down side? Nothing got done. The up side? Well, I've justified it with these side benefits:
- Let go and relax. How often do we really do this? I don't know about you, but I'm usually multi-tasking. There are rare moments when at least two things aren't being done at the same time. Our minds and bodies require relaxation or else we'll combust. Yes? Yes.
- Enjoy the drama. My sister loaned me her DVDs of season two of Downton Abbey. Are any of you as hooked as I am? It was fun to just let my mind turn to mush as I watched episode after episode of this fun show. (I <3 Matthew)
- Relax some over-used muscles. When I've worked on my manuscript for long periods of time, my right shoulder hurts. After a day of not using it at all, my shoulder felt much better.
- Wasted time isn't always a waste. Face it, even when we aren't writing, our writer brains are still on alert. Even on my do nothing day, when I wasn't planning on soaking up lessons, I still learned. Downton Abbey is full of all kinds of juicy nuggets about characterization and plotting. I swear.
- Gear up for the crazy days. After my useless day, I felt rejuvenated, relaxed, and ready to jump back into revisions. And believe it or not, my manuscript did not fall apart after one day of neglect. As for the craziness of school, carpools, and sports? Well, that resumed today with a track meet in Huntington Beach. I'm thankful I enjoyed the peace while I could!
For most of us, lazy days are few and far between. It's nice to occasionally set aside all that we should accomplish, and do absolutely nothing.
Do you ever have lazy days like this? If so, do you feel guilty about it? And...very important question...are you a fan of Downton Abbey?