GOT A DEADLINE? TAKE A BREAK!

I won’t ask if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, because I know you have.

I saw a woman in the grocery store nearly bite the head off of a clerk for not distributing her canned goods properly into her bags. Was she an eternally short-fused woman or was it simply a bad day? Either way, the only thing we know for sure is that she could use a break!

Taking a break – before you short-circuit –

is a great way to stay on track and be productive.

We know we’re over-scheduled, overworked, overburdened and under-appreciated most of the time, but what do we actually DO about it? More than likely we “suck it up” and gripe and complain about the injustice of it all.

Wouldn’t you rather be in the driver’s seat? Rather than gripe – get a grip! Get a better handle on the frustrations of everyday life by SCHEDULING breaks into your day. Get off task.  A line from Monty Python comes to mind for me, “And now for something completely different….”

That’s what we need. Something different! We can find plenty of things to do to provide a little diversion. Activities that give us a break of just 5 minutes can be beneficial. Whether it’s just a short break, the whole day, or a real vacation (isn’t that a humdinger of an idea) … what’s on your summer break schedule?

This summer, I’ve made it a point to attend a fun kiddie movie series with my granddaughter. We see a weekly cute movie (for $1!) and have fun in each others’ company. We may be “technically” too old for the movies we’re seeing, but who cares? We’re having a blast.

Here are a few suggestions to get your “break” juices flowing:

— Walk around the block, or better yet, barefoot at a beach or local park

— Read an exciting book or thumb through a magazine

— Call up a friend to whom you’ve not spoken in a long while

— Plan an afternoon outing to a museum, art show, garden center or any other place where you’re “always meaning” to go

— Catch a midday movie or watch a favorite DVD

— Ride your bike to the library instead of hopping in the car

— Jot down a list of things for which you’re grateful

— Dig in the dirt and enjoy your garden time

— Peel and eat an orange sitting on a chair or blanket outside

— Get creative with paints, paper, crayons, scissors, fabric … whatever medium tickles your fancy!

What’s on your BREAK agenda this summer? Tell me how you’re going to unwind and rejuvenate!