This evening I found myself standing in line at McDonald's, waiting to order dinner for my family, after a very busy day. I had my eyes closed and was thinking how nice it was to have a little break, with nothing to do but wait. It was a lovely feeling for about half a minute.
Then I realized how strange I must look, and that the line might have moved up without my knowing, so I opened my eyes again.
When I was working full time in an office, I often snatched a little fifteen- or twenty-minute power nap on my lunch break, either in my car or on one of the benches tucked into the university's botanical garden, which was located just behind my building. As a middle school teacher, I would close the door and turn the lights off when I had a free period and put my head down on the desk where no one could see me. Or, I would take a little stroll in the woods on the pretext of scouting out my science class's next nature walk.
So I'm wondering... how do you snatch some rest or quiet time during a busy day? What things do you do to keep yourself sane?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
7 comments:
Naps are no good for me -- If I take a fifteen minute one, I'm useless for the next couple of hours minimum... If I take a longer one, I'm out for the count.
In terms of finding quiet time or relaxation points, I'd say showers are the best place for me.
I never could sleep for short intervals before that, either, Bane. But I think after a certain number of months and years in a very high stress zone, I developed a kind of battlefield response. When it was "safe", my body would sleep really hard for 15 mins or so, and then I'd wake all of a sudden, instantly alert for the next crisis.
Yes, showers are nice!
I'm with Bane - as usual. Naps make me cranky - just ask my long-suffering hubby. I'm a mess for a couple hours after my nap - and then I end up with a second wind that keeps me up till 4 a.m.
When I need to perk up a little, I either go for a power walk in the woods (with my little weights, of course - gotta have something to hit a roving bear with) or I wash the dishes... which reminds me... I have dishes to wash!
naps are only good for me if it's a catnap (aware of what's going on but still in that kind of sleeping zone). sanity actually comes from writing (unless the story i'm working on is driving me crazy).
You know, I write. Nothing eliminates my stress like getting my writing jobs finished for the day. Then I have such a nicer evening with my family after.
Speaking of... heading off now! Long list!
I guess I'm odd man out - I like naps. Maybe too much! But that's not what reduces my stress. For me I have to write everything down. I make a list so I can check things off and feel productive. It's a wonderful feeling.
When I can't stand looking at typed words on the computer screen anymore, I pull up a game of solitare.
If I have to get away from the computer completely, I'll put in a DVD, like Pride and Prejudice, for a few minutes.
If I have lots of time and am feeling particually frustrated, I'll take a walk by the river (half a block up from my house.)
And if I'm reeeeeally disgusted, I'll sit and read a novel. Sometimes in one evening. HA!
Post a Comment