Thursday, October 18, 2012
Pajama Day
Sometimes I feel overwhelmed. My schedule gets away from me, there are too many phone calls, errands to run, things on my to do list. I’m behind on reading blogs, paperwork is piling up, I can’t remember something and I think it was important. Things start to feel like burdens instead of blessings. I feel tired and cranky. Then I know. It’s time for a pajama day.
So tomorrow I will stay in my pajamas all day. That doesn’t mean staying in bed, although I will probably laze in bed a bit later in the morning. It means a day to myself with no agenda. I give myself permission to read, watch TV, meditate longer, eat when I want to, drink my favorite tea, practice tai chi in the back yard, turn the phone off (and maybe the computer).
A day to recenter and refresh. I’m looking forward to it.
What do you do when you need to replenish your reserves?
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I take a long nap, read a lot, stay off the computer, spend extra time with my cats, hang out with my husband, and maybe do some kind of handwork like crochet.
ReplyDeleteHope your day is rejuvenating!
That's wonderful Galen!
ReplyDeleteAll of us have such days, and I think they are mostly related to the stress that collects over time. We don't come to know about it half the time and feel it's just our mood or we might link it to something else.
I love your pajama day idea - it sure is a nice way to relax you :) Wish I could do that, but with kids and their demands it's not quite possible. However, when I am not in the mood - it's made clear to everyone that I am just going to unplug, which I do sometimes on Saturday's as I know my kids and husband have a break and they can manage things. That's the day they cook and I relax. :)
Sit in the woods with Scarppy is what I do. Although SOMEBODY doesn't like sitting for long!
ReplyDeleteDoes it tell you something that I've just had my shower at 12.25 pm and changed out of my pyjamas! I love PJ days. Enjoy yours, Galen.
ReplyDeleteYou're so right, you need to just spend a day getting your mind and everything back to where it needs to be after the stress of life!!
ReplyDeleteI either go for a walk, take a nap or call a friend. I was very overwhelmed yesterday and just relaxed on computer to enjoy and not work. Love the idea of your pajama day.
ReplyDeletePretty much the same as you.. except I really do stay in my PJ's all day!
ReplyDeleteAh, one of the joys of retirement -- sounds like a great idea to me!
ReplyDeleteI adore pajama day- it can be such a pick-up by afternoon! I don't know if you ever catch a blogger friend of mine. R. Mac Wheeler, who posted this today, I've seen one like this, without this little girl in the beginning, but trust me watch it all the way through...it is a video to change a person's life for the good...and yes, probably get anyone out of their pajamas!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nj2ofrX7jAk
Sounds luscious! To replenish I STAY HOME, lay on couch, read books and magazines,browse cookbooks and sometimes I bake (and then eat the goodies!!!) I don't answer the phone or email. I enjoy the quiet.
ReplyDeleteI sure hope you are enjoying your pajama day. That's a great idea! This summer I discovered fly fishing, but anything that gets me outside, into nature, and far away from technology tends to renew my spirit. Writing can sometimes do that for me too, when I get into "the zone", but that requires alone time, which, as an introvert, is something I need on a regular basis. Reading is great therapy too, which reminds me... I'm purchasing your book today! Can't wait to read it! =)
ReplyDeleteGood for you, Galen! We all need "jammie" days now and then; I've often thought about literally staying in mine all day. I'll need to try it. :)
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Nice post. I am a social worker. And in my trade we take what we call a "mental health day" just to relax and center yourself to prevent burnout - which not only lifts you mentally but spiritally. Most helping professions indulge in this practice whether police, teacher, doctor, nurse, social worker, priest, fire.
ReplyDeleteWhat do I do to replenish? I chant, crochet, read something inspirational, journal in my Gratitude Journal, call my daughter or a friend and vent, help someone else, find something to laugh and smile about - because I usually take myself way toooooooo seriously. Cheers!!
P. S. It is raining her in NYC. A perfect day for jammies.
hi i work in the mental health field with frail elders case management, today a day off i am in my pjs today and plan to take a nap, this helps me realize that i do the work every day and help others, but need time to recharge
DeleteWhen I wake up on the weekends, I've been practicing saying to myself: "I can do whatever I want today. I don't have to do anything!" It's not a commitment to a total PJ day, but it allows me to sleep in, relax more, and generally give me more space. Hope you had a nourishing PJ day!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to rest and revive the mind. We all need a break now and then. I was giving directions to a guest at work today and totally forgot my left and right. I sure felt bad at that point. I think I need a pajama day. I like to bake and read on such days.
ReplyDeleteHi Galen,
ReplyDeletePajama Day sounds awesome! I need to try that. I can get overwhelmed with all there is to do as well. I sometimes feel that I'm being pulled in too many directions. I do stay in bed some mornings and even if I'm on the computer, I love staying in my pajamas and having a leisurely morning. Enjoy your day!!
I had to stop turning on the computer on the weekends - well for writing or checking on Facebook Etc. I try to add a few laughs such as Wait Wait Don't Tell me on Saturday mornings - it lightens me up, and I can squeeze in a wonderful walk beforehand with the pup.
ReplyDeleteI think that has been the best part of unemployment for me. I no longer jump out of bed and "get to it". I find I do better not waking to an alarm, doing stretching, meditation and journaling first thing - then 3 mile walk
I usually knit socks when I listen to Wait Wait...I have 2 birthdays coming up (well 4 actually) and the last pair of socks in only about 1/5th the way done.
I have also given myself permission not to pressure myself to give answers, and amazingly enough better answers are coming. I am an introvert with lots of things I enjoy doing, if I did not have a huge medical bill to pay off for my child, well, I would probably just make do until I let go.
I also should add, that I do not do so much cooking all on one day. I sit down every 2 hours and just relax on the big putting foods by days - it makes each task more of a focus and prayer I spent 15 years of my life caring for a special needs child, even going to high school with her to keep her in class, and then 5 intense 24/7 years of taking care of my 93 year old mum after she fractured her spine. I will admit that I traded off between sleeping and working on my blogs for 2 years without going anywhere - I slept more than I worked on blogs
Hope you had a great PJ day.
One of the nicest days of my mother's dying was my niece came back for two nights and got my mother to stay in her PJs all day - I think she had not done that in years!
I love PJ days too and giving myself permission to do whatever I feel like doing and not feeling guilty for not doing what I could be doing. I have a bit of work piled up, oh well, it's not going anywhere and I need a break as well so who knows, maybe I'll have a PJ day with you!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your weekend Galen!
I am enjoying mine, too, except I am all dressed up and spending quality time with the dentist. :D Enjoy and unwind, Galen. The world, as we know it, will wait! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteI love those kinds of days.....puttering around the house...no commitments...nothing to do but whatever I want...Hope it was the best day for you....
ReplyDeleteI'm retired but still way busy. I think a PJ day for me will be when I finally make the decision to leave the computer off on Sunday.
ReplyDeleteAs a Christian that is what I am supposed to be doing EVERY Sunday. we try to..go to mass, out for lunch and enjoy the family, without really much else...sometimes we have too much stuff to do. but when we make the consistent effort to keep holy the Sabbath we are all so refreshed and ready and energized on Monday we say we will never doubt again...
ReplyDeleteHeck, I sometimes wear my pajamas all day even when I AM busy - I figure that's one of the perks of working at home. I do get dressed most days, just because it seems like a good thing to do, but every once in a while, what the hay? Nobody cares. :)
ReplyDeleteGalen - so important to regularly schedule days off - especially for people like us who always want to be doing something:) Not only do we need days off but time off during each day to refocus and re-energize.
ReplyDeleteThanks to all for your wonderful PJ Day good wishes!! I had a wonderful day relaxing. I felt so refreshed. I am going to make PJ Day a regular part of my schedule. I will be a much nicer person if I do! Thanks again!!
ReplyDeleteAwesome, I love the thought of a PJ day. I think I will make this a practice too. Right now I am recovering from surgery so I am in my PJ's and am looking to finally be back to normal. However, I do find myself needing a day like PJ day; so I am going to allow myself to do this one when needed. I am tried of the bed and chair for now; but I love the idea.
ReplyDeleteBlessings and hugs!
I used to have 2 jobs and having a day like this one was a dream and the most beautiful gift I could do to myself. Its been almost 3 months that I spend in my pajama doing nothing. I still love it, but now I find it so hard to move from that place and go back to a normal life.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm a big believer in pajama days -- except in my case it's more like "robe day."
ReplyDeleteOnly difference between you and me is that I don't see a robe day coming ahead (like, say, tomorrow). The need for a robe day just comes at me in real time, I can't stand the to-do list for another minute, and -- poof!-- I declare a robe day right then and there. Right now. And if I don't, watch out -- I turn into a mean, cranky bear.
Helps to be master of my own time schedule, to do it the way I do. :)