Does taking a break right now feel stressful?

Especially today – it’s the day after a long weekend here in the States, you’re just getting back to work, maybe today was your kids’ first day of school so there’s a new routine to think about… there’s a ton going on.

For me, during days like this, my mind freaks out just a little bit. Because it feels like there’s a TON to do – I don’t know where to start and I panic because it feels like I might not get everything done.

When my friend Lisa asked me to be her buddy for an Adventure in Free Time, I was excited… and also nervous.

Today of all days – take time out to play?!?

Adventures in Free Time is a blog that Lisa started with a friend of hers to show us busy, go-getting women how to easily take some time for ourselves and just have fun. Lisa uses really quirky, quick, fun, easy activities to help you add fun to your day.

Today, Lisa and I took 15 minutes, and discovered what words we could make from the numbers in our phone number.

Sound weird, childish… or maybe FUN?!? It was!

Lisa and Kerri have done some really fun things together. Like, try a bunch of different kinds of gum, and they also made a home made geyser. Yes, a geyser.

Check out their blog here for other fun ideas – and to see pictures of my Adventure today… you’ll also see what words my phone number made :)

What I learned from taking my break today…

As I said, I came into today feeling a little panicked, and a little rushed. So, taking a break felt stressful at first.

But, as Lisa and I looked at our phone numbers and got completely silly, I felt the stress leave me. I felt my mind actually sink into the fun – and start to WANT to have fun.

Before I knew it, I was completely absorbed in the process of not working.

As a result, I was able to take a deep breath, see my to-do list with a new perspective, and realize that I CAN accomplish what needs to be done and there was no reason to panic.

I feel more productive and my mind feels clearer.

Go take your own break.

You’ll see some fun ideas over at Lisa and Kerri’s blog on how to have Adventures in Free Time. But some things I thought of are:

1. Go outside and count all of the blue things you see for 2 minutes.

2. Pull family photos up on your computer or pull out a scrapbook and peruse the pictures for 5 minutes.

3. Get some crayons and draw a rainbow, or a flower, or your dog.

4. Go outside and smell the roses – literally.