Every so often, whether it’s after a long hard spate of work, finishing a big project, ending a relationship or recovering from a crisis (big or small) I find myself repeating the same rituals of recovery. If at any point in the process I feel lost or unbound and ungrounded, I just have to get back into the order of this list and all becomes well again. Last week I took some time off from work to recover from a busy few months and it worked again. Maybe it will work for you, too?
- Force yourself to rest by reading an escapist book, watching a fun movie or reading bunches of magazines that have nothing to do with the state of the world or work (sorry guys). Especially go out and sit in nature somewhere. Literally ground your body to the earth.
- Take a nap, preferably outdoors or with the windows open. Wake up and have a cup of coffee. It’s a brand new day! A chance to begin again!
- Write a poem, make a list, do something creative to get your thoughts and feelings recorded and documented. Express yourself, even if it’s just a list of things to do that will get you back on track.
- Take a shower. Shave. Moisturize. Relax. Cleanse. Wash away your worries and the stress.
- Go food shopping. It doesn’t have to be epic – but buy something fresh and good for you…perishables, organic of course!
- Put on an apron. This is KEY! An apron is the magic moment where it all starts to come back again! Aprons mean BUSINESS.
- Put on some music. Also key, because this means you are going to allow yourself to enjoy whatever comes next. I love to put my whole itunes library on shuffle – it currently consists of 5,082 songs and can lead to anything from the Avett Brothers to the Zac Brown Band, with a few show tunes in between.
- Make something good and nourishing to eat. Others may bake, but for me it’s soup, or a roast of some sort. It doesn’t have to be something fancy or fabulous but it does have to be yummy and satisfying. The key is to make something YOU want. Yes, you can share it with others, but it’s not for others that you make it, it’s for you, my dear, for you.
- Clean something. My usual suspects are the kitchen counter or the fridge. Somehow, when those are cleaned up, everything else doesn’t seem so bad. And it’s accompanied by a temporary feeling of accomplishment.
- Now, go for a run! (or walk). Nothing gets you back on track better than good, vigorous exercise. It’s a reminder that you are strong, capable and ready to take on whatever the world brings your way.
By day I’m chairman and CEO of the largest independent publisher left in America. By night I’m simply M.O.M. (which stands for Mean Old Mom). I’m a writer, cook, organic enthusiast, romance novel lover, and country music fan who does yoga.
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