With Spring here it has been so great to get out and enjoy the sunshine every day. I work so often that I don’t have much time to do this, so when I do I feel the need to take full advantage of it.
So today I urged myself to get up and go lay in the grass for a bit.
It was so relaxing! At least for me… Mia wasn’t too happy because she had to stay leashed near me. Regardless, she did have a smile on her face just being outside.
It was lovely to cloud watch!
Spring is here! And the year is just going to get better and better as tasks on my list get more relaxing, more enjoyable, and more outdoorsy!
Today I got home from work just before 6pm. I took my book that I am trying to get through, The Red Tent (which is getting better by the page!) and went out back to lay in the hammock for a while.
It was gorgeous. 70 degrees, blue skies, and a nice breeze.
Mia ran around the backyard and only tried to join me in the hammock once… but was pretty terrified by the hammocks movement.
I got to spend almost an entire hour reading before it got windy and there was a chill in the air. Clouds started to appear and were rather dark so I ventured back inside.
I NEVER take bubble baths and forgot how insanely refreshing a nice bath could be. I modified this one slightly and did not use bubbles but rather calming and hydrating bath salt. It was lovely.
I highly recommend Shea Mountain and particularly the lavender. In all the things I have done so far this year… aromatherapy, plant purchasing, etc. lavender always comes up as soothing or calming.
As for other things… I think I am going to buy some more houseplants! I just love having that in my room… 😀 and I am trying to get back to my reading list. I am only like 20 pages into The Red Tent. I hope everyone is having a blessed year so far, let’s keep the ball rolling!
I have always heard classical music can calm you, make you think more clearly, and overall just out you in a more serene mood. I have to say, I did feel all of these things.
I had some marketing work to do today so thought I would listen to classical music as I did it.
There are plenty of articles that support this but these infographics explain it pretty well too.
So this should be a daily habit now that I have a record player… but I just do not have enough good stuff. I have spent the last hour or so doing some graphic work and marketing stuff… and have just been walking to the living room to flip my Miles Davis record over, again and again.
There is something relaxing about jazz, even in the moments when things are heightened and almost edgy. There still seems to be a sense of relaxation from song to song. Anyway, here is my task for the day: Listen to Jazz and that is what I am doing… and probably will be doing for the next few hours before I hit the pillow and get some zzz’s.
I am still in my 30 days of purging items and I would say it is going rather well. I keep getting to different areas of my room, or closet, or kitchen space… and kind of just throwing everything away. It feels good to minimalize.
Bonus for today: I decided to grab two bags out of my closet, see what was in them, and throw out what I could. I only ended up throwing away one old box of unused black and white photographic paper… I am pretty sure by now it has become exposed and would not print anything anyway. But I found multiple boxes of my old darkroom prints from college. I did not go through them yet, but I will, and am excited to see what is in there. I will probably throw a bunch away. But maybe I will put others up on my Facebook or Instagram and try to sell them! I think there is some good stuff in there!
Ahhh. This was so relaxing. Random how such a small, simple thing can be so destressing. I need to do this more. It is no masterpiece but really not the point…
There is a great article on ColorIt.com about benefits of adult coloring and I believe it.
Here they are:
1. Your brain experiences relief by entering a meditative state
2. Stress and anxiety levels have the potential to be lowered
3. Negative thoughts are expelled as you take in positivity
4. Focusing on the present helps you achieve mindfulness
5. Unplugging from technology promotes creation over consumption
6. Coloring can be done by anyone, not just artists or creative types
7. It’s a hobby that can be taken with you wherever you go
So maybe grab some colors, buy a book or print some pages out, and destress. 👨🎨👩🎨🎨
Mia and I have been doing our 20 minute walks everyday and no alcohol goes on! 😎
So that is for the day. 😉 More to come tomorrow.
365 Days in 2021 