Honest question here - is it just me or do you ever find yourself having a hard time prioritizing having fun?
Sometimes I am in such a grind/hustle/flow state that the word sounds like it’s from a completely different language that I can’t comprehend, let alone speak.
Whether you’re a musician and creative freelancer like me, or maybe a parent juggling raising kids and a career, or just a workaholic in general, it’s interesting that so many of us fall victim to not prioritizing leisure time.
I came home on Easter Sunday from a 5-hour gig and found myself unsure of what to do. My body felt kind of antsy, (I had been inside all day on what ended up being a lovely spring day), and my mind restless.
With an open schedule for the rest of the evening, what’s a girl to do?! Surely I could either record content, practice learning new music, maybe record some stems for a project I’m working on, or even clean the house. Make dinner? (I wasn’t hungry and it was 4:45pm but I’d get hungry at some point 😅)
On and on my mind went… thinking of the most “productive” way to use these precious hours.
If I lived closer to family I know I’d love to spend the evening with them. It’s a fun perspective celebrating Easter Day with my young nieces and nephews. But since that wasn’t an option, I made sure to check-in with them for quick “Happy Easter” calls. Thankfully after a chat with my mother-in-law, I was reminded that rest was a totally valid option for how I could spend the rest of the evening.
That thought hadn’t dawned on me, but the moment she said “take it easy” my subconscious screamed YES inside.
So leisure it was. Since my body felt antsy from not getting any time outdoors all day, I laced up my sneaks and hoped on the nearest trail (shout out to the Atlanta belt line) for a lovely just under two mile walk. The gravel crackling under my feet, the subtle warmth of the dusk sun, and the perfect mid-tempo pop/r&b playlist layered on top of it all was the *perfect* way to use my time. I felt inspired by being out in nature and happy that I had gotten some light movement in for my physical and mental health. Simply put, I had fun.
Yet why didn’t that option occur to me in the first place? It’s a pattern I hope I can acknowledge and break out of. My husband is much better at prioritizing fun and leisure time than I am, and thankfully provides that much-needed balance in my life.
In scenarios when I’m left to my own devices, I hope I can learn to catch myself in future moments similar to this, and remember it’s always ok to
1) take it easy
2) prioritize something fun during leisure time
So I’ll say it for me and the version of me sitting in the far back, already kind of checked out of writing this blog post because she’s ready to start being “productive” again to cross off the next to-do on her list: Resting and taking care of myself is productive.
Again.
Resting and taking care of myself is productive.
Now say it for you and the version of you who depending on the day, will fight with all their might to keep you from spending your time going on a leisurely walk, or in the company of loved ones, or curled up on the couch watching the movie you’ve had on your list for forever: Resting and taking care of yourself is productive.
Again.
Resting and taking care of yourself is productive.
And sometimes dare I say it, fun.
We all deserve more of that,
M
Want to add some tunes to your next stroll, slow moment, or fun sesh?
This playlist is still a wee babe, so I made it collaborative! Hit me with your favorite walking jams and anything that screams "soft intentional living on a Sunday."
Let's create the ultimate "Sunday Stroll" playlist together here! 🌻