Lazy Days--More Productive Than You Think!

How are you doing with those New Year's resolutions?  Are you being good and keeping up with them?  Or have you put them aside and are experiencing the post-holiday, pre-Groundhog Day, mid-winter seasonal slump?

Up to this point, I've been good with keeping one of my resolutions (a monthly massage to work out all the kinks in my head, neck, and shoulders from computer work), but I'm starting to fall into that hibernation stage that happens sometime during the winter.  I find myself wanting to stay inside my warm house cuddled up on the sofa with a big bowl of popcorn and a movie. And if I'm not doing that, I'm in bed propped up on a bunch of pillows and catching up with the stack of books on my nightstand that I haven't touched since before Thanksgiving.

If you're like me, you might be feeling guilty about not getting out more and being productive, but you really shouldn't feel this way because doing nothing is really something.  What's that, you say?  You heard right--just as it's important for us to exercise and be active, it's equally important for us to take a break and relax.  Getting extra sleep and rest rebuilds both our bodies and our minds.  Physically, we strengthen our immune system, relax our muscles, relieve any tension, reduce stress, and lower our risk of heart disease.  Mentally, we sharpen our minds, improve our concentration, and increase our alertness, not to mention that doing low-key and fun things help rebuild our spirit.

So, take a break and do some self-care!  Have a lazy day watching TV, calling a friend, taking a nap, or doing whatever else strikes your fancy guilt-free.  That seemingly unproductive time will make you more productive when you need to be.

Wishing you a great lazy day from the perch.

Evolution of the Resolution

Greetings!  We got through the holidays and are now officially in the second week of the New Year!  Along with making holiday bills, you've probably made a few resolutions.  Of course, there are the standard ones: lose weight, exercise, stop smoking, save more, spend less, get a new hobby, etc.  Then there are the not-so-standard ones: skydive, swim with sharks, volcano surf, or eat fugu (personally, I think I'd take my chance with the sharks than with the fugu).

How did we ever get started with the business of resolutions and why is it so hard to keep the resolutions we make?

We can blame the ancient Babylonians for getting everyone on the resolution bandwagon.  They made promises when crops were planted (around mid-March) to remain loyal to the king, pay debts, and return anything they borrowed.  Later on, Christians thought about their past mistakes and made resolutions to be better in the coming year.  Nowadays, we make resolutions to improve ourselves, but it's so darn hard to keep them.

If we make resolutions that are difficult to accomplish or achieve by ourselves, we probably won't keep them.  When you make a resolution, make one that's reasonable.  If you want to knit a sweater but have never knitted before, start off with something simpler, like a scarf.  Having moral support from others also helps.  For instance, if you plan to diet or exercise, do it with another person or a group of people.

Happy New Year and good luck with those resolutions!  And should you have trouble keeping them, don't beat yourself over the head--tomorrow's a new day and technically the start of another new year.

Wishing you good resolution vibes from the perch.