The Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer: Emphasis on the Crazy
by Steph Beth Nickel
What does summer mean to you?
Enjoying the longer days and warmer weather?
Occupying your children?
Heading away on vacation?
Kicking back and enjoying a slower pace?
Reading more books?
Two years ago, my hubby and I went to Alberta for two weeks. Dave had wanted to take me to Jasper since we were married over 35 years ago. It was wonderful!
Last year, we did a whirlwind road trip to all the Maritime provinces. I’d never been farther east than Quebec, and Dave had never been to Newfoundland. It was an adventure for both of us.
And this year … Well, we are spending a couple of days in Frankenmuth, Michigan. My hubby loves Christmas and he loves Bronners, the Christmas Store.
We may camp for a couple of weekends, but this summer will be far more low-key.
Winters don’t typically weigh me down emotionally. This past winter, however, was different. I found myself sleeping much more. I had zero energy to write and edit in the evenings.
And then spring arrived. My spirits lifted and I became more productive—somewhat, at least.
I made the mistake of blinking, and now, it’s summer.
I have a lengthy list of goals to accomplish in the next couple of months, including participating in Camp NaNoWriMo and finally finishing the edit for the first book in my Nurture and Inspire series.
I also want to get the first draft of the follow-up to Paralympian Deb Willows’s memoir, Living Beyond My Circumstances, complete—or close to it—by the end of August.
I would like to get back to work on the first novel in my Hard Choices series if at all possible.
There are also other projects I want to tackle, but I’ll spare you the details.
So, will my summer be lazy? For the most part, I don’t think so.
How about hazy?
That’s how my brain feels at the end of my church office workday. If I exercise more, eat better, and get adequate rest, I should be able to fight the haziness. Weatherwise, it’s beyond my control, however.
And now, to the craziness …
I pretty much covered that when I shared my list of goals. Those goals plus editing my client’s 100+K fantasy novel would, to many people, be the very definition of craziness.
How do you determine when your schedule is too crazy?
Do you feel overwhelmed just making the schedule? Yes? Then it’s likely time to pare down the list.
Do you have a realistic view of what you can accomplish in a day? A week? A month?
Even knowing you have unrealistic expectations, do you still include too many things on your To Do list?
Is there any time to recharge your batteries on your schedule? Recharging and refreshing are not selfish. We have nothing to give if we don’t do so.
Is there time to simply enjoy being with family and friends? Whether your household is swarming with children or you’re an empty nester … whether you come from a big family or it’s just you … summer is the perfect time to enjoy time with your favourite peeps.
Whether your summer is shaping up as lazy, hazy, or crazy, I pray you have a great one.
Blessings, one and all!
Tweetables
Overwhelmed just making your schedule? Time to pare down. (click to tweet)
Recharging and refreshing are not selfish. (click to tweet)
Summer: the perfect time to enjoy time with your favourite peeps. (click to tweet)
Steph Beth Nickel is a freelance editor and writer and an author. If you would like more information about her services, you can contact her at stephbethnickelediting@gmail.com.
You’re invited to visit her website: http://stephbethnickeleditor.com/.
You can join her Editing Tips Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/418423519384351.