Days of inspiration

As an education professional I get to take a winter break and a spring break.  Early in my career, I used to work during my breaks. I believed in my core that this was what I was supposed to do, and if I worked longer and harder, I would be better at my job. I don’t do that anymore. 

 Now on my breaks, I take time off. I rest. I recharge, set my out-of-office email, and respond to emails when I return. Also,  I turn off my work phone for the entire week.

  Now this does have consequences. My inner voice screams at me. It yells that I am not committed. I lied to me saying I will get in trouble, people will pass me up, people will think that I am lazy, and on and on.

In the past, those voices would have convinced me that working during my time off was the right thing to do. The responsible thing do. At some point I had to disavow those voices. Now I just let those voices pass me like cars on the freeway. Those thoughts are free to go their way, and I will go mine. My way is taking my son and friend to Universal Studios.  My direction leads me to the movies in the middle of the week, a coffee shop for journaling, and then down to the beach.

  When you have time off, you should use it to find inspiration. Whatever form that takes for you is what you should pursue. A day of inspiration for me goes went like this. First, I went to a coffee shop, read, and journaled. Next, I walked down the Venice Beach boardwalk taking pictures of interesting objects. At the end of my walk, my watch told me I had been walking for 4 miles. This is a great way to spend my day off. A career, a job, and how you spend your days take a lot of energy. We all need time to rest and recharge. How you do that is up to you. So I ask you. What goes into a day of inspiration for you? Write it out, and then go do it!