I Love Lazy Days...

Don't get me wrong.  I don't consider myself lazy by any means.  I can multi-task and be productive as much as the next guy. But isn't it great every now and then to have a day just to regroup and not do too much of anything?  I think it's good for the soul to not have to worry about any particular schedule.  To take a walk, not because you have to go somewhere, but just because you want to.  Not having to rush to get a meal on the table, but just kind of eat because you feel like it, even if it's a time when you wouldn't normally do so.

Even though these types of days don't come around very often, I think they are good for everyone.  I think that when you have time that is unproductive, it actually increases your productivity when you finally get around to your normal routine.  I was lucky enough to score one of these days when no one in our family had to do anything in particular, nor needed to be anywhere at any certain time. It was really glorious.

It's funny though, even on those lazy days, if you dissected the day, you still might find that you did more than you thought.  But that's the whole point.  Just the fact that you didn't HAVE to do anything in particular at any specific time makes it all the more sublime--even though it might turn out to be a pretty productive day after all. On my last lazy day I did a load of laundry, putzed around a bit on the computer, took a long bike ride and went out to lunch.  Kind of a lot of activity, I guess but because I didn't really have to do any of those activities, it felt pretty low key and enjoyable in the process because I did it at such a slow and leisurely pace and probably didn't need to do any of the things that I did.  I was only doing them because I wanted to.

I think lazy days give your mind and body time to recharge and be even better than it was before to tackle whatever may be headed in your direction.  It's one of those reasons that I'm really sad that kids have such limited recess time these days.  Time for your mind to be inactive helps it to perform even better when it does need to focus and get down to business.  I think just the sheer act of playing gets your mind to think differently, and I also believe gets your subconscious mind working as well.  How many times have you been working on something, and put it aside to take a break, when all of a sudden the solution just pops into your head when you weren't even thinking about it? 

I'm one of those people that really looks forward to a good blizzard, too.  The kind that keeps you in the house for several days and gives you permission to do all those things you wouldn't normally spend hours doing....putting together a puzzle by the fire, having  a Star Wars or Harry Potter marathon, or making bread or a few batches of cookies from scratch.  Even though you might be a bit inconvenienced being trapped for a few days, it's kind of awesome that you put your every day life on hold to have some chill time with the family. The weather almost gives you permission to put everything on hold for a while and slow down.

So, go ahead and give yourself permission to take a lazy day for yourself!  With all of our busy schedules and things that need doing, sometimes doing nothing at all is really doing something after all, nourishing your soul.

Barb Welsh has lived in Herndon for about 12 years and has two sons aged 9 and 11. She is a member of the Herndon Patch Mom's Council and regularly blogs at www.obsessmuch.com.