Photo taken on my early morning walk.
Recently, I’ve realized the importance of taking a break.
After creating all the 100 paintings and having a big opening in June, I needed to step back and process it all. I needed to relax. I needed to sleep.
I gave myself a scheduled week off. The first day I ended up working. There were loose ends I had to take care of and orders I had to fulfill and take to the post office. So I started my vacation the following day.
I am not a Type A kind of person at all. In fact, I’m a little jealous of the Type A’s because they seem so productive. So quick and on task.
It’s not that I am so busy busy busy that I cannot stop and rest. It is that I tend to rest a lot, and I am not as productive as I want to be. You call me? I’m talking to you. Facebook? I’m all over it. Dogs need a walk? Lets go. And at the exact same time, I am always working and not allowing myself to take a break.
That might not make sense to anyone but me.
You see, my mind is always working, always thinking of what I should be doing. When I do have a day that I do not do any work, I usually feel badly about it. Because it wasn’t purposeful time off, I feel like a slacker.
My new goal is this: Schedule my day with focused work periods followed by breaks. I also plan to take entire days off where I do not turn on my computer or even walk into my studio.
Truthfully, my creative brain doesn’t do well with routines and schedules. I like things to be new! And fun! And spontaneous! But I am going to work hard on keeping to a schedule because I want to be and feel really productive and I want genuine, guilt-free time off.
New mantra: I am focused and productive during the scheduled periods of time, allowing scheduled breaks to renew and refresh my spirit throughout this day.
Yes.
Hello friends! I'm Lori Portka. I make art with the intention to radiate love and healing. 
Wow- it’s like you’re inside my head. I do the exact same guilt thing of feeling bad about not getting the work done. Glad to know I’m not the only one. I’ve been struggling to set up my own schedule. Hope it works out for both of us!
I cannot tell you how much better it makes me feel to know that I am not the only one. We can do it! Thanks for your comment. xoxo
I feel the same a lot of the time. I don’t give myself days off very often because I figure all that blog reading and impromptu baking and dog walking and music playing on days when I also work surely adds up to enough off time. Except that I never end up giving myself a real break! Definitely something that has to change.
This is EXACTLY how I feel.
Right, something has to change! xoxo
I so get you! haha. I have that awful guilty feeling when I am not being productive in some way. It’s a real pain in the rear sometimes! I think working from home feeds the beast too. I find when I step away from my house I can turn off all my guilt. But when trying to relax at home I have to say out loud to myself “It’s okay for me to relax, I have done enough and can take a break:. My husband always asks who I’m talking to, lol. I have made it a point to take off on Saturdays and that has made it much easier to just be. Love your new mantra! I hope it works for you.
Thank you so much for your comment. I should pick the same day each week to take off. I think you are right- when we work from home it is hard to relax. Or relax without guilt. I didn’t even get into all the laundry and housework that I feel like I should be doing all day. If I worked in an office I couldn’t vacuum my home!!
Much love
Hi Lori!!
what a beautiful photo!!
after beginning in WI for a week where there was no WIFI or cell service and just chillaxing, having fun, made all the difference in the world…breaks from it all i now realize are absolutely imperative. i now plan on doing this at least once a year…where i completely unplug from my world and the entire world!!
Kathryn, It is so important! When I go away I always have my laptop and iPhone. You are so right.
YES! I just wrote about this on my blog today (Persistent Green). I took an epic nap yesterday and it was sooo good. I have trouble giving myself real breaks since my work is so seemingly sendentary–but my mind rolls a million miles a minute . . . and dang if that doesn’t tire you out too. I’m reminding myself to be as gentle with ME as I would be with someone else.
Time outside . . . sky-gazing . . . reading . . . creating art for nobody but myself . . . listening to music . . . ahh, all things I need to give myself room for more often.
Thank you for this extra-boost of YES!
Really? I’m headed over there to read it! So true about being gentle about it all to myself. xoxo
Wow. Yes. Exactly. Beautiful.
Thank you, Ruth. big hugs
Hi Lori, is the pic with A New routine a photo or a painting? I can see a caption mentioning a walk with the dogs. But the pic with it is a painting.
Your post hits home. My head never rests either. And because it doesn’t my body gets tired fast.
It’s great that beyond an overactive mind you can see what’s happening. It’s like the real self nudged you:)
Best wishes,
Anjali
Yeah, what I wrote doesn’t really make sense so I changed it. I took that photo of the sky on an early morning walk with my dogs. Thank you so much for your thoughts. It is so comforting to know I am not alone in this 🙂