“No matter how strong or strong-willed you are, you cannot live a stressful, maxed-out life without that pace eventually biting you in the butt. It is necessary to take breaks, set parameters, and be kind to yourself if you want to continue making an impact in your little corner of the world.”

― Cynthia Mendenhall

I needed a staycation. I needed to take a break. My “plate” was more than overflowing. It had gotten so heavy, I just had to drop it- let it fall on the floor and BREAK. It was full, though by my own choosing. Not only daily life in general, with all that entails, but teaching six online classes and all the prep work that goes with that commitment. I was connected to my computer screen for hour after hour, for weeks on end.

But, I had to let go of some of the things on the plate- I needed to put off some things that could be left for another day- this blog for instance and a few other things. I needed to procrastinate in order to be productive another day. Give myself a break from worrying and REALLY trying to believe it by living it –  realizing that worrying was a waste of my time and a drain on my mental and physical well-being.

I told myself, that my staycation, wasn’t shirking my responsibility. In fact, unless I was energized, motivated, excited, creative, and fully engaged, which at the time I wasn’t, taking a break was a good idea. Taking care of myself, so I’d be refreshed and restored and have the strength to pick up the broken pieces of the plate.

My staycation gave me the physical and psychological space that I needed to distance myself from the demands of my life. It was all about rest and relaxation, and enjoying home sweet home—a place where I am often too stressed and busy to really enjoy It gave me a chance to put my feet up, and it ended up promoting clearer thinking and greater productivity.

I’ve picked up the broken pieces of the plate – it’s whole once again and I’m determined that I will be more moderate and thoughtful as to what I put on my plate. All I can say now is…

Hello, blog it’s been a while!