I’m the type of person who keeps busy and fills my days with many activities. So much so that when I’m all caught up on projects, I feel lost and even guilty that I’m not doing something “productive.” My husband often shakes his head at me and tells me I need to learn to slow down. If only it were that easy. But I’m trying, and slowly, I’m getting the hang of it and learning that slowing down is not to be confused with laziness. It’s actually pretty crucial to our mental well-being. The expression, “All work and no play make Jack a dull boy,” comes to mind.
Being busy all the time makes us so burned out that we get muddled in our thinking, become less creative, and miss out on many of life’s magic moments. Making time for downtime allows us to rejuvenate, and makes us more mindful of life’s sweetness. I live in Illinois, where we have long winters and snowstorms that can bring all activities to a halt. So, even if I am neglectful in carving out my downtime, Mother Nature manages to do it for me.
So, what does downtime look like? Well, it can look like a lot of things. It can be making time to do something you enjoy, like getting a manicure, going out to dinner with friends, watching movies, or spending time in nature. Or, maybe it’s going for a bicycle ride, a drive in the country, cooking, painting, reading, or soaking in a hot bubble bath. It is up to you to decide. And downtime isn’t something just for adults. Kids need it, too. We adults often forget that kids also face pressures and often too much busyness.
Most of the people in my life are very good at enjoying downtime. My daughter’s family periodically spends their Sundays in pajamas, watching movies, snacking, and taking naps. My husband likes to read, listen to music, and do birdwatching. And one of my brothers enjoys taking his dog for long walks.
This week, we’ve had two snowstorms. Both were doozies, and temperatures have now dropped to negative numbers. My house is clean, we’re stocked with food, laundry is done, Christmas decorations are packed away, walks are shoveled, and bills are paid. I have no reason not to take it slow.
As luck would have it, I received several Christmas gifts this year that are all about slowing down and savoring quiet, reflective time. I received some easy-to-make soup mixtures to throw in a pot and simmer, an interesting history book about the world’s most significant artifacts, and a beautiful big jigsaw puzzle of a garden. I haven’t done a jigsaw for ages and wonder why. I used to love doing them when I was young. But doing puzzles falls by the wayside when you are too busy to enjoy assembling them. I think maybe today is the day I will reinvestigate that old favorite pastime.
So that’s my plan –to be unbusy. I will ponder the world, look out a window at the snow while sipping some savory soup, and consider the myriad shapes of a 1000-piece puzzle. I may even stay in my pajamas all day. I’m honestly excited about trying this. It feels like an adventure of sorts. Is that crazy? Something tells me I’m going to like it, and who knows? This may be the start of learning to build regular days of restoration into my life.
For a good children’s book on slowing down and savoring the sweet things about a winter day, you can read my review of Cathy Camper’s book, Ten Ways to Hear Snow, under Recommended Reads. And, under Activities, I’ve put together A Wintertime Word Search Puzzle, which I recommend you do while enjoying a bowl of popcorn and wearing your pajamas.
Little Seeds Read 