Breathe deeply and imagine being in this green forest for a few minutes…

It takes years of being still to grow moss this luxurious.   Try letting go of moving too quickly, sit quietly and see what comes to you.

Photograph – Wallace Falls State Park, Juliet Chase, all rights reserved

Technorati Tags: introspection, patience, relaxation, visual meditation

It’s easy to fall into the trap where Saturday and Sunday are catch-up days for what didn’t get done the rest of the week. But does that really give you the mental break and relaxation you need or does it just heap on the guilt for not getting it all done as you vacuum while staring out at the sunny blue sky?  There’s no one size fits all solution and you may have to sacrifice some “I should’s”  but you can keep your weekends for the other areas of your life that need your presence too.  Here are 5 simple, not necessarily easy, things you can do to get your weekend time back.

1. Divide up the routine chores among family members and among the weekdays.  Have a dedicated chore hour every night when everyone chips in and maybe even put on some great dance music.  For example, clean the bathroom on Monday night, change the sheets Tuesday night, grocery shop on Wednesday etc.
2. Stay in on Friday night and get ready for the week ahead (clothes, frozen lunches, etc.) Use that as your wind-down time from the work week.  That way you won’t sleep Saturday away and won’t have Monday’s demands eating into your time on Sunday.
3. Limit your kids’ sports and club activities to one each.  They’ll still get into college and it’s been shown that boredom can be good for kids.  If the adults in the house are hyperactive joiners; cut back there too.
4. Have some potential ideas worked out for what you want to do with all this free time. Have a tentative plan for a sunny day, rainy day, stay at home day etc. That way if your first choice isn’t quite so appealing because it’s pouring out, you won’t waste the day wandering around wondering what to do.  If you need supplies for a craft project or something, do that shopping earlier in the week. Don’t forget to leave a little free time for just enjoying the moment.
5. Lower your standards on housework, lawn and garden.  Turn your back on Martha Stewart and settle for good enough in these areas.  Your soul needs feeding even more than the lawn and if it’s an inch or two longer than the neighbors’, you’ll be giving them a chance to feel superior;-)

Technorati Tags: getting things done, relaxation, routine, time management

There are not many places in the world where level ground turns out to be the middle zone in the landscape. People too, often see themselves at the bottom or at the top of any particular endeavor.

Are you giving equal time and perspective to the depths and the heights in your life? Or do you see only the mountains still to be climbed?

Arizona,  Juliet Chase, all rights reserved

Technorati Tags: challenges, perspective, relaxation, visual meditation

Feel the coolness of the breeze preceding the incoming rain.  When was the last time you raised your face to the rain instead of hunching your shoulders and running?

Are there areas of your life that aren’t sunny, but maybe have a refreshing stillness to them?

Northern New Mexico, Juliet Chase, all rights reserved

Technorati Tags: introspection, reflection, relaxation, visual meditation

It took a long time for the brick and plaster to weather to such a calm and comfortable attitude. And even the garden would require several years to fill in with such abundance and yet, the end result is far more magical than anything that could have been created ‘finished’ in an instant.

Are you allowing yourself time to grow at your own pace or are you trying to force something into being before it’s ready?

Mission at San Juan Capistrano, Juliet Chase, all rights reserved

Technorati Tags: introspection, patience, reflection, relaxation, visual meditation