Have a Clear Plan for a Down Day and Value that Time

I was recently of reminded why I must have a clear plan for a down day by weather so severe that many surrounding counties canceled school.

We all have that occasional down day.

That can be a day off work, a child staying the night at Gigi and Papa Don's, or a stormy day.

That really affected my day because growing up, we unplugged ALL APPLIANCES during storms or risked them getting zapped.

TVs, microwaves, radios, hair dryers, nothing was safe.

While I don't still unplug appliances, I do not even turn my computer on.

Since I can't work on the computer, you'd think my LONG to-do list would whittle down.

I did not have a clear plan for a recent down day

A couple of weeks ago, Panama City, FL and the surrounding counties experienced storms so severe we even had a couple of tornadoes.

All day long I lounged in the recliner and spent the day in pj's watching TV.

That is absolutely out of the ordinary for me.

Later, as the day was winding down, I reflected, with a little guilt, on how I spent... or more honestly... wasted the day.

I even made a physical list off the top of my head of things I could've, should've, and would've done had I done as I teach and that is to have a clear plan for a down day.

I'm almost embarrassed to share that list because I could have knocked out and crossed off many long-standing tasks from my to-do list.

If I'd had a clear plan for that down day, what could I have gotten done?

Several tasks which had been on my to-do list for far too long.

These tasks included:

• work on my daughter's Prayer Bible
• go through the house for items to donate
• go through Ray's clothes (she has grown SO MUCH)
• create menu's using my repurposed calendar
• finally get to some training I'd bought and haven't listened to yet
• clean house (I actually enjoy this and get into a cleaning mood very easily)
• read one of the 128 books on my "read next" list
• clean the screened-in porch (where I'll spend the majority of the summer with my laptop)
• research a couple of website problems I have
• pray
• plan upcoming summer daily schedule (since I'll have a 6 year-old home)
• unbox some stuff (vitamins) and put them away
• do a landscape painting

Rest is best

To be fair, a clear plan for a down day can be to simply rest just as I did.

While I admit that sometimes (as my 6 year-old says) rest is best, it's not really restful if you feel guilty the whole time.

And, honestly, I did need the rest and enjoyed taking advantage of the ability to do so.

I did, however, lament that choosing to rest meant an unproductive day.

As always, you should find what works for YOU.

More importantly, while I did feel a little guilty, I managed to get over it.

I'd love to hear how you plan your down days (or not).

Remember, you've got this...

Mary Alice Hogue BS; MSW
Home Time Management Expert, Coach, and Speaker
Helping Christian Nontraditional Students Survive, Thrive, and Grow

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