We live in a fast paced world.
For most of us, time moves at the speed of light and we move right along with it. So when we have the opportunity to take a break from the busy-ness of life and just be lazy, we need to make sure we make the most of that time.
How do you do that? You organize it, of course!
Lazy Day Best Practices
While it may seem counterintuitive to “organize” your day off (or your lazy day, if you prefer to call it that), adhering to a few organizing best practices ahead of time can ensure that your day of rest will be relaxing and enjoyable.
- Turn off distractions. While it may be tempting to check back in with the real world occasionally, if you truly want to escape then outside distractions need to be left behind.
Here are a few suggestions to help keep intrusions at bay:
- Set your cell phone to Airplane mode or Do Not Disturb. This guarantees no calls or pings from your device will interrupt your zen mood.
- Use an app such as Cold Turkey Blocker (macOS, Windows), Freedom (Chrome, Firefox, iOS, macOS, Opera, Windows), or LeechBlock (Chrome, Firefox) to limit browsing on your computer or any websites that might entice you to work or distract you from relaxing.
- If all else fails, then consider locking your phone, tablet, laptop or computer away. While it may be extreme, it is sometimes necessary in order to find true rest.
2. Let others know you’ll be off the grid before you head out. One way to guarantee less temptations from the outside world is to let others know ahead of time that you aren’t going to be available for a certain period of time. Set up an auto-responder on your email, post it on the company calendar, or tell your assistant you’ll be out of the office and don’t want to be disturbed.
By being proactive and guarding your downtime in advance, not only will others be less likely to bother you, but they will also be more likely to respect you and your commitment to rest as well (they may even be a little jealous, too!).
3. Decide ahead of time what “lazy” looks like for you. Rather than wake up on your scheduled day off and ask yourself, “What should I do today?” have an idea of what rest looks like for you. It doesn’t have to be structured or time-centric, but by having some clue of what you want to do or how you want to be lazy means you won’t waste precious time trying to decide.
4. Prepare to be lazy! During your time off the grid, are you planning to read a book, have a picnic in the park, complete a puzzle or go for a long bike ride? Take some time before your actual day off to get stocked up on all the necessities.
Make sure you have your books waiting on your Kindle or your nightstand, dust off your wicker basket and hunt down your outdoor blanket, order any puzzles a few days before or double check that your bike is aired up and in good condition for an extended journey. By being prepared for your lazy day activities, you won’t lose time hunting for the things you need and you’ll truly enjoy your downtime activities without frustrations or headaches.
*You might also want to have a few groceries stored in the pantry so if you want to stay in your pjs all day, you’ll have food on hand and not need to change into presentable clothing in order to go out and get some nourishment.
5. Let go of guilt. One of the things that can truly ruin your lazy day is guilt.
Guilt that you aren’t working.
Guilt that you’re being lazy and not as productive as usual.
Guilt that all your other friends and colleagues are hard at work while you binge watch your favorite shows on Netflix.
Please do yourself a favor and don’t let guilt ruin your R&R time! Taking a break from work and other activities provides you with better mental clarity, improved productivity when you return back to your normal routines, better work/life balance, enhanced focus and stronger relationships. (For the full breakdown of these benefits, click here to read more).
Feeling guilty while you try to relax will only rob you of your time, so make the decision early on to let it go. When you do, you’ll find your downtime that much more enjoyable!
If a lazy day is on the horizon for you, then be sure to enlist these best practices for ultimate success. At Mission 2 Organize we believe work and play are equally important and necessary to our well-being. We hope you feel that way too and are willing to do whatever is necessary to take some time away from it all.
How could organizing your lazy day result in your ultimate rest and relaxation? Leave a comment and let us know!
