I've never had much time off.
When I had my children, I took 3 months' maternity leave with each of them, then returned to work part-time. This time off was not exactly a holiday. Sleep deprivation, feeding, changing of nappies, washing clothes, cleaning the floor; repeat as required. Much as I loved my babies, my brain yearned for stimulation, yet even reading the newspaper was a challenge. Going back to work felt like a holiday.
I'm going to be off work for at least two months. For the first month I won't be able to drive, or do anything very much. This is not exactly going to be a holiday, but at least I don't have to look after anyone. I can do whatever I feel like doing, when I feel like doing it.
I'm very bad at doing nothing, but I want to get well and avoid any unnecessary setbacks. I'll have to think of some sedentary things to do. How can I fill in this time?
Things to do during two months' recuperation:
When I finished school, the "Gap Year" did not exist. You were encouraged to go straight into University in order to maintain momentum. The thinking was that if you took time off, you would never feel like going back to study. I finished school at 17, went straight to University and at the age of 22 was unleashed upon the public as a fully-fledged lawyer, albeit a terrified newbie.
I worked during most school and Uni holidays, although during one vacation I spent a wonderful three months travelling around Europe on my own.
I worked during most school and Uni holidays, although during one vacation I spent a wonderful three months travelling around Europe on my own.
When I had my children, I took 3 months' maternity leave with each of them, then returned to work part-time. This time off was not exactly a holiday. Sleep deprivation, feeding, changing of nappies, washing clothes, cleaning the floor; repeat as required. Much as I loved my babies, my brain yearned for stimulation, yet even reading the newspaper was a challenge. Going back to work felt like a holiday.
I'm going to be off work for at least two months. For the first month I won't be able to drive, or do anything very much. This is not exactly going to be a holiday, but at least I don't have to look after anyone. I can do whatever I feel like doing, when I feel like doing it.
I'm very bad at doing nothing, but I want to get well and avoid any unnecessary setbacks. I'll have to think of some sedentary things to do. How can I fill in this time?
Things to do during two months' recuperation:
- Watch Series 4 & 5 of Mad Men (and is there also a 6 & a 7???)
- Paint my toenails
- Sort my jewellery and put it into the organizer box I bought two months ago
- Finally bring out all my winter clothing before Winter is over.
- Back up all of my music CD's onto I-Tunes
- Edit the video of my cabaret show "Adventures with a Brazilian"
- Pitch the show to the Butterfly Club in Melbourne
- Make a showreel to help me get some voiceover work
- Do the breathing exercises that my singing teacher gave me
- Read all back-issues of Harvard Business Review
- Write the e-book I've been fiddling about with
- Read "War and Peace"
- Listen to the 12 x 2-CD set of "Remembrance of Things Past" by Proust
- Learn Portuguese
- Learn the Portuguese lyrics for my Brazilian songs
- Get my piano tuned
- Teach myself to play piano and/or guitar.
Maybe this list looks ridiculously ambitious (or just ridiculous), but I believe in the value of lists. I reckon that if you make a long list you are likely to get at least some of it done. Writing a list makes you expand the range of possibilities. And ticking each item off the list gives you a sense of satisfaction and progress.
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