Take Time to Stop and Smell the Roses

HappyHolidays

Happy Holidays everyone!  The big day is over– for some of us– (Happy Kwanzaa!) and while it may have been awesome, it also may mean a big sigh of relief. The time leading up to the holidays is typically filled with excitement and anticipation, but also stress. Finding the right gift, not forgetting anyone on our list, filling out holiday cards, getting them into the mail in time, and braving the long lines at stores and post offices. Whew! I’m tired just thinking about it.

And now that’s it over, our thoughts turn to the new year. We may be making preparations for big New Year’s Eve celebrations  on the town, or perhaps just a quiet night at home.

Whatever you chose to do, think about this.  In a few short days, people will be asking you what your resolutions are for the New Year. You will want to have a list handy with grand plans and goals that you will accomplish in 2016.

resolutions

That’s a lot of pressure, too.

Before you get caught up in what you want to do for the next year, I invite you to take a moment to sit back and relax.

In our fast-paced world it seems like everyone is always on the go , furiously trying to get through one day, go to sleep, and then face the new one. It’s a never-ending cycle of movement. Come on, admit it. You do this a lot, don’t you? I know that I do. It happens to me when I’m juggling mulitple books, deadlines, edits, or simply taking care of my kids and my dogs. Life can be hair-on-fire crazy on occasion. Sometimes the best thing to do is to slow down and relax.

It is amazing how invigorating doing nothing can be!

My family and I just got back from the most amazing trip. We went to Hawaii for a week. I, of course, took with me stacks of things to keep me occupied– notes from future books, ideas that needed to be fleshed out, books from my to-be-read list. Basically, I planned to work. ( You know in case I became bored in Hawaii. As if?!?)

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What did I do?

NOTHING

I sat on the beach in my chair and people-watched. I stared at the awesome beach before me and just let my brain wander.

Oh, we went snorkeling, sight-seeing, shopping, and I even got to meet a dolphin face-to-face. But the best part about my vacation was simply sitting in the beach chair staring at this:

hawaii

I think we all need to do more of that. I defnitely plan to do so.

So my advice to you is, as you think about what you want to put on that resolution list for 2016, add in “Time to relax”!

My goals for this year include:

— Re-starting my  Tai chi routine at least 3 times a week

— Taking at least 20 minutes a day to step outside and enjoy the sun

— Read more books for fun!

— Unplug from the phone/internet at night

— Spend more time at the beach!

— Take time to stop and smell the roses!

Mixed-Flower-Leis

It’s easy to get so caught up in the hectic pace of life that you can forget to take time off.   But relaxing SO important to your own well-being and it costs nothing, but it will make you supremely happy and will invigorate you to keep going!

What are your favorite ways of unplugging and finding time to relax? How do you plan to do this in 2016?

Share your ways below. You may give those of us some great new ideas to add to our own list.

Happy 2016!!

 

Jennifer Swanson on FacebookJennifer Swanson on Twitter
Jennifer Swanson
Science ROCKS! And so do Jennifer Swanson's books. She is the award-winning author of over 40 nonfiction books for kids. Jennifer Swanson’s love of science began when she started a science club in her garage at the age of 7. While no longer working from the garage, you can find Jennifer at her favorite place to explore the world around her. www.JenniferSwansonBooks.com
Jennifer is also the creator and administrator of #STEMTuesday and #STEAMTeam2020
1 Comment
  1. Thank you for mentioning all the things you are planning to do for the New Year. Resolutions are funny temporary ideas in my life, and I usually don’t make them because I am just too…well, too relaxed by the time New Years comes along. A vacation from teaching school is a delight in the middle of winter and those last days before it all resumes can be so quiet and lovely. One even has time to read all the great blogs on this site! But here are a few of mine: Listen to my students more. Lots more. I’m not going to abdicate being a teacher-librarian, but hope to hear what my students are reading, ask them to share passages, shine on with new ideas and share their best jokes. Even if I’ve heard the jokes before, I resolve to laugh! Laugh and smell the roses! Happy 2016 to you and yours!

    Nancy Kiefer, Library Specialist
    University Child Development School
    Seattle, WA