I read a blog post a few days ago that was extolling the virtues of taking time off! The concept is not news to me, just as I am sure it’s not news to you. While I believe it is important to carve out time to take several days off in a row because of the therapeutic value of truly being away; it is also beneficial to take a few hours off.

If your life is starting to feel like a treadmill, it’s time to hit the stop button. When you’re in the thick of things, it’s hard to get much perspective.

It is an idea I want to embrace, but in reality have a hard time accomplishing! In my case, because I work on Saturday, I really only get Sunday off and a good portion of that day (in my life) is already planned. Over the years, I have tried many things to take time off. A couple of years ago, I went to see a movie every Tuesday afternoon. It was fun. It was time off. But prior to that year, I had seen 3 movies in a theater in 10 years and it didn’t fit with what I would do if I just had a day off and it really does not allow me time to just think (something I enjoy and need).

However busy you are, you can find time for yourself – even if you have to start with just a few minutes each day, or an hour or two every week.

Yesterday I took a couple of hours to enjoy the place where I live (AKA the beach). There is something very therapeutic about sitting and watching the waves. It is definitely healing to walk along the shore. It was a perfect day also! The surf was relatively calm. The stretch where I sat was not over populated. The temperature was not too hot or too cold. The wind was neither too strong nor too light. The sun was shinning and there were but a few white puff clouds.

You NEED Space

We all need time to recharge our batteries! I enjoy time to sit and contemplate the world around me. It is often during these times when I am able to reach a decision or when I have a major revelation. If you, like me, are engaged in any creative activity – writing, designing, running a business – then down-time is vital to not only your business but your success. You need to be able to get away from the constant activity in order to do your best work. Yesterday offered me neither great revelations, nor grand eye-opening experiences. However, I did enjoy the quiet contemplation of things I already knew.

It is hard to look at a long to-do list and decide, yes, it is a decision to go do nothing for a few hours!

I think that is why going to see a movie once a week was something I could stick to doing. I wasn’t doing nothing! I wasn’t wasting time! However, it did not have the same rejuvenating impact. This year I am trying to remember that while all time off is beneficial, the quality of the time off matters.

Here are a few suggestions for getting a few hours of quiet contemplation:

~ Go out to a coffee shop on your own for a couple of hours;

~ Take a long walk on the beach or in the countryside if you’re landlocked;

~ Get lost in a bookstore;

~ Go for a drive in the country;

~ Find a shade tree and sit.

I would love to hear your ideas for a place / way to steal away for a few hours of quiet. Leave me ideas in the comments.