November 21, 2005
Relax vs. Accomplish
Written by Anne Mallory in Jaunty PostYou ever have those days where you wonder “what the heck did I do today?”
You wake up, an entire day to accomplish whatever you have planned stretches before you, a smile graces your features as you eat your cereal/drink your coffee/flip through the newspaper. You check your e-mail, the Internet, play a few games to get you going, maybe flip through a few TV channels, grab lunch, check your e-mail, respond to a friend, play one more game, respond to another e-mail (a rather involved one from a friend seeking advice), wait for her to respond, write another note, check other e-mail, check your favorite Internet sites (it’s been a few hours), check that thirty minute show on TV, check the time, make dinner, watch a one hour show, check e-mail, check the Internet (it’s been a few hours), blink in shock that it is nearly time to go to bed. What?!
With the long weekend approaching, I have two choices. Relax or accomplish. I can relax and let go or get busy and start striking things from my list of to-do’s. What I find most stressful (and guilt inducing) is if I decide to go with “accomplish” but end up in “relax” — when I decide to do something specific, but end up with the itinerary from the paragraph above. On the other hand, when I decide from the get-go to switch the mode to relax…ahhhhhh, bliss…the above itinerary wouldn’t stress me out a bit.
It all seems to center around my upfront expectations and whether I meet them. So this holiday weekend I’m going to try one day of pure relax, one half and half day, and two days of accomplish. Think it will work? I’ll have the report next Monday.
What do you plan to do this Thanksgiving weekend? Relax? Spend time with family? Buy gifts? Run errands? Finish that book? Whatever it is, I hope it leaves you with a smile on your face and a spring to your step.
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Haven Rich Says:
Anne where did you place the camera in my house?? I swear you have been watching me.
I often think the night before of all the wonderful things I could get done the next day only to end up posting replies here(I totally blame ya’ll haha) and other places.
I do however manage to get some work done. I work on the html coding for the new blog fixing to open up and work a bit on my own website.
Goal for tomorrow…finish the laundry and finding the disk that has my book on it..could be one of many. Wish me luck lol.
Kimberly Logan Says:
It’s just amazing to me how much time the internet can eat up! I always tell myself, “One hour, Kim. That’s it!” But it always winds up being more like 2 or 3 hours. That’s the biggest time-eater for me. And although I tried in the last few weeks as I was working on completing this last book, I couldn’t go cold turkey. I constantly felt like I might be missing something if I didn’t log on for a short while.
But now that I’ve finally finished this book, I can actually take a break before starting on the next one. So I plan on relaxing for a week or two. Of course, now that I’ve made that decision, I’ll probably get a whole slew of ideas flooding into my head for that next book and wind up working. I’m such an obstinate creature!
Shana Says:
Oh, Anne. I can so relate. This morning, for example! I was supposed to be at the post office an hour and a half ago! I do plan to relax this week, though. I finished a new book proposal this weekend, so if I can ever get to the post office, I can give that sigh of relief.
Robyn DeHart Says:
I so hear you, Anne. It really depends on where you are emotionally that makes all the difference in the world. I know that I need to work this week, but being at my in-laws makes things iffy. We’ll see. If nothing else, I’ll at least getting writing done on the plane and that’s something.
Eve Says:
The worst part of it is feeling really tired at the end of the day - all from not having accomplished anything!
And I SO agree, ladies - the internet takes up a lot of time.
Eve
Anne Mallory Says:
Haven, lol! And good luck!
Kim and Shana, major congrats to you both!
Robyn, safe travels this weekend. Watch the horny old codger sitting in the seat behind you looking over your shoulder.
Eve, I’m with you on the tired feelings at the end of a zero accomplishment day. Craziness, isn’t it?
Big jaunty hugs to all of us for a nice long weekend of rejuvenation, no matter how we choose to spend it!
AndreaW Says:
I plan to relax with my family. Thursday is also my husband’s birthday, and since he works in retail he rarely gets it off. I’m glad to be able to spend the whole day with him and the kids!