Friday, October 27, 2006

Resting the Brain

This week I had once-every-few-years crash into sleep. This happens when I pass a number of deadlines and I've been working too hard for too long. Then as soon as the last thing in the pile is done, leaving a couple of days with nothing do-- suddenly I'm too tired to remain sitting.

So I slept most of a day and a half. In the brief intervals of being awake I read O Magazine, which I always find encouraging at wobbly times.

Then I got up this morning and came to the office as usual, feeling almost normal, but a bit like I just got a cast taken off of my brain.

Used to be that this happened once a year. Now it's more like once every four or five years. Maybe I'm learning a bit more about balance.

But I'd been overworking since last December. And so...

I'm glad it doesn't happen while I'm still on deadline.

I think it gives my imagination a fresh start.

2 comments:

billie said...

I've found myself thinking recently of taking on new things "in the new year." As opposed to right now, or tomorrow, or ASAP... which makes me happy b/c it's happening w/o much forethought on my part!

It does sound like you're creating more balance in your life and work.

For me, it's almost a moment-by-moment endeavor. I have to remember and push myself to build in "down time" to any project deadline.

Thanks for reminding me that it's a good thing!!

billie

Anonymous said...

Building in the "down time" does seem to be crucial.

I often put Whim on my daily to-do list. And at the close of the day, if I haven't followed some spontaneous impulse, then -- I DON'T CROSS IT OFF. And as any listmaker knows, that's a big deal.