Perhaps I could tell you again how writing is my favorite escape, or how the only way that I can slow down is to watch a movie, but I won’t. Instead I’m going to talk about how indulgent it feels to do nothing.

When Multitasking Goes Too Far

Multitasking is a good thing, right? We brag about it, put it on our resume and pride ourselves on how many things we can do at the same time—or perhaps that’s just me. Sure, there are good things about multitasking like the feeling of crossing off that endless To-Do list as we complete task after task. Because we all have that To-Do list each day. Whether it’s written down, on your phone beeping to remind you what you must do next or just running through your mind, there’s always something to do next. Because how often do you see someone just doing nothing?

I don’t know about you, but if I’m not doing something, planning to do something, or finishing something I feel a little guilty. That To-Do list isn’t getting any smaller and it’s whispering in my ear louder than the marshmallow crème in the cupboard.

Don’t Fear The Nothing

Like the overwhelm I’ve mentioned before, the nothing seems to be another threat to most people. If you look around when you’re waiting in line, no one is just waiting. They’re on their phones, or looking through the magazines or…something. It’s as if standing quietly and observing the world, the moment, is somehow abnormal. We should be doing something, right?

Even now as I finish this blog the night before it’s due, since I’m also on two other blogs tomorrow, I’m waiting for my fingernails to dry as I type.

It’s become almost as if doing just one thing isn’t enough. #MFRW #mindfulness
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Indulging in Nothing

Many times, when I think I’ll do nothing but sit and wait for the commercial to finish instead of getting on my phone or laptop, I end up falling asleep. It’s as if my body grabs the opportunity to fuel up from the exhaustion of the hamster wheel we call

life. But occasionally I can do it.

I can sit quietly with my family and just notice how the years seem to fly by as we multitask our way through every day.

Or I’ll sit outside on a summer night and listen to the crickets.

When I can achieve this, it’s like a delicious indulgence of just being. Not thinking about what’s next, but enjoying what’s now.

Find Out Other Favorite Indulgences

It’s a blog hop! Fly on over for a spell and check out the other author’s favorite indulgence. Perhaps they’re more interesting than what I’ve provided you with—nothing.

How Often Do You Just Do Nothing?

The post My Favorite Indulgence is Doing Nothing appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

But there is one gift that really stood out—but it wasn’t actually the gift, this is an example of when it was truly the thought that counts.

I’m Slightly Obsessed with Time

I’ve become more focused on time. As the years seem to fly by faster, and my obligations, responsibilities and tasks seem to be never ending.  It’s no secret for anyone who may have noticed my too-many calendars, clocks in every room and my ever-present watch. I’m constantly trying to do it all—and not always succeeding.

Thus, I’ve frequently informed my family that the best gift would be to give me time. Take care of the cleaning, groceries or other chores so I can just focus on what I want to do most—write. But, alas, this is a gift for another day, because so far no one else wants to take up that burden either, even for a short time.

The Gift of Deciding

With so many tasks and decisions demanding room in my thoughts, my mind becomes fatigued. There’s actually a name for this mental fatigue. It’s called decision fatigue. (I wrote a freelance article about it here, it you’d like to learn more). So, when I’m asked where I want to eat, what are we doing for this, where do I want to go, sometimes—I just don’t know.

I’m too tired to even consider it. #MFRW Sometimes the best #gift is knowing just what to give.
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But, a few years back, on a milestone birthday, the hubs and my girls gave me the best gift. They decided on everything themselves, leaving my mind free to wander and relax.

It Wasn’t Just the Gift

The “gift” was fabulous—a surprise weekend at a spa with the hubs! But that wasn’t the best part. It was the surprise. He told me to pack for the weekend, and gave a few suggestions what to bring. He’d made all the decisions. All I had to do was get ready to go. Granted, the hubs knows me pretty well after all these years, so he knows what I like.

The girls were too young to go buy a gift on their own. Instead they prepared my breakfast (this was a few years back, believe me, the food wasn’t the memorable part, lol).

The ‘meal’ was served in their little restaurant (our decorated kitchen) complete with their handmade menu of breakfast items. Although they’d already chosen what I would have to pick. Because they were limited on what they could make.

Despite my resistance to choosing the ‘special punch’ I was pretty much forced to choose the beverage of questionable ingredients. But I drank it instead of my usual orange juice, knowing it was the thought that counted.

It’s a Blog Hop

It won’t cost you a thing, and you don’t even have to decide where to hop to next in cyberspace.

Check out these other fabulous authors to discover the best gift they ever got. Perhaps it will inspire you for future gift giving of your own.

What Was the Best Gift You Ever Got?

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The post The Most Precious Gifts are Priceless appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

But other days, I can barely catch him even though I’m dancing as fast as I can to keep up with the pace of life. That’s because there’s something dragging me down quicker than a carb loaded meal—the overwhelm.

Recharge Recap

I’ve talked about methods I use to relax when I need to rejuvenate my muse, or clear my mind. How riding on the back of the hubs motorcycle brings my muse to life, or pedaling away my stress on the back of a bicycle in the heart of the woods. How I go all out of whack if I’m not writing and the escape a good movie, or a book and a glass of wine makes my mind mellow.

The problem is, sometimes I can’t just stand up at the office and declare that I’m going for a bicycle ride to relax, or that I’ll be right back after a shot of tequila.

Also, in order to recharge, first I need to decompress.

The Overwhelm

I call it “the overwhelm” because in some ways it’s like an entity of it’s own. It creeps in and slowly sticks it’s tentacles in while I remain

unaware until it’s too late. Then I suddenly realize EVERYTHING that I need to do.

The list is so complex and overwhelming it’s as if the mind loses the ability to sort out the tasks to complete them. My mind feels as if it’s buzzing similar to this depiction of woman’s vs. men’s brains.

The tasks become one big burden that I carry around, slumped over under their weight convinced the possibility of spontaneous combustion or human explosion is imminent. I consider crawling back in bed to avoid having to face all that must be done. Things that seemed doable before, now seem impossible.

I envision the overwhelm’s evil laugh as it sees victory within it’s grasp. I’m paralyzed to move forward or progress because I’m too busy focusing on everything instead of narrowing it down to one thing at a time.

Take Baby Steps

Everybody has a lot of stuff that needs done every single day. If we wrote down every task that we needed to do to complete the day—brush teeth, coffee, get dressed, coffee, eat breakfast, etc.—the list would be overwhelming and feel impossible. Even though some of the tasks are simple.

The only way to defeat the overwhelm is to not look it directly in it’s

ogre eye. Consider all the bigger tasks that need completing in the same way and take little steps to complete them.

Perhaps these steps can help you beat the beast that drains your inner battery.

Conquering the Overwhelm

• This is one time to avoid the big picture. Instead focus on one task at a time so you don’t see the overwhelm peeking around the corner at you. (The overwhelm hates to be ignored. If you do, sometimes it just goes away.)
• Make a to-do list and celebrate each completion. Heck, if it makes you feel better write down simple things just for the joy of marking them off. Make To-Do List. (The overwhelm isn’t nearly as scary when you dissect it on paper. It prefers to live in the deep recesses of the mind.)
• Organize and de-clutter your workspace. Having a workspace with papers scattered all over the desk and sticky notes stuck onto every available space is like vomiting the overwhelm from your mind onto your desk. (The overwhelm can be tamed by corralling the hot mess it’s created from.)
• Writing or journaling about your stressors can minimizes them. (We are writers, the pen is our mighty sword to battle the overwhelm! )
• Remember that sometimes what’s overwhelming and avoided are good things. The fear of failure can be paralyzing.

The #overwhelm convinces you not to start, therefore you don’t really fail, and no one wins. #MFRW
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Soothe the Savage Beast

I hope you’ve conquered your overwhelm so you can recharge with activities that soothe your soul and charge your inner battery.

If you need more ideas for how to recharge, check out the other author’s posts.

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The post Struggling to Decompress with The Overwhelm appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.