Mental Floss

Last week I wrote about having the winter blues and joked about taking a trip to a tropical island to feel better. But let’s admit it – here in the real world, very few of us have that option.

That’s why you have to get creative when it comes to cleaning out those cranial cobwebs!
How about breaking away from your workaday routine by simply doing something different during the time you have off from your job? If you always watch the same old TV shows, try renting a DVD or joining the kids for a video game (if they’ll let you). You might like it so much that you make it a regular family event.

Don’t overlook low-tech activities like board games, cards and puzzles. They’re tried and true, and they still work even if the electricity goes out. Say that’s an idea: spend an evening pretending there’s no power; you’ll see things in a new light.
When I’m in a rut, one of my favorite things is to rearrange the furniture. This can be as simple as switching out some seating, tables or pictures. Or, for an all-out change-of-pace, try picking out a new paint color for that boring guestroom. It’s amazing how little time it takes to truly transform your space. And it’s much more fun than just “spring cleaning!”
Sometimes we get so caught up with providing for others that we forget to be good to ourselves. I’ll bet there’s something that’s always made you feel good in times of loneliness, depression or just plain burn-out. Set aside some time to do that thing. If you used to play the guitar, pull it out and strum a few chords. If you’ve always loved to swim, check out a fitness center with an indoor pool. Sit back with a cup of tea and read that mystery novel you’ve heard about.
Of course, the handiest cure for us working folk is the weekend road trip. The closer the better, because you don’t want to waste precious hours of your mini-vacation stuck in interstate traffic.

You can avoid the cost of lodging by employing the time-honored tradition of mooching. Most of us know someone with a place where we could stay. If not a friend, perhaps a friend of a friend, or an acquaintance, or a relative of an acquaintance. Maybe call in a favor. You get the idea. Just be sure you don’t trash the place.

Last weekend I borrowed a cabin up on Norris Lake. Even though nothing was expected, etiquette required me to leave a bottle of wine, a little cash to cover utilities and more in the fridge than when I got there. I also tidied up, sweeping and taking my garbage with me. That way I was able to leave with not only a sense of renewed energy and centeredness, but also a sense that I would be welcome back. Everybody wins!
Playlist:
1. Baby, It’s Cold Outside – Eydie Gorme & Steve Lawrence
2. I’ve Got That Old Feeling – Alison Krauss
3. Make It Easy On Yourself – Jerry Butler
4. Vacation – The Go-Gos
5. It Won’t Be Long – The Beatles
6. Summer Me, Winter Me – Barbra Streisand
7. Let’s Get Away From It All – Frank Sinatra
8. Cabin In The Sky – Rosemary Clooney
9. Borrow Some Summertime – Jim Lauderdale
10. Someone Keeps Moving My Chair – They Might Be Giants