I find this time of year is particularly crazy as the festive season ramps up in the big build up to Christmas. In spite of all the labour saving devices, I think it is harder and harder for women to find time for themselves with the demands of work and family life. I don't know about you, but I crave time alone so I can walk and think. It doesn't mean I don't love my family and friends and want to spend time with them- I just need time alone every now and again to rebalance myself.
Time to think is so important for a writer but it is also important for lots of non-writers. When we are constantly bombarded with information and tasks and other people's demands it is almost impossible to think clearly and logically.
So here is what I do when I need some time to think. I take myself off to a beach or the bush for a walk where the combination of water, wind and fresh air seems to blow out the sticky cobwebs. I don't mind if it's windy or hot and sunny or freezing cold ( or a combination of all four since I live in Tasmania!) because it's being outdoors that really frees my mind. Although, as you can see from the photo below, I am rarely alone- I have three little walking companions that come with me!
I know not everyone lives near a beach or the bush, but even the act of closing your eyes and imagining yourself in a beautiful peaceful place can be enough. Or simply taking the time to watch the sunset or sunrise can be enormously calming. Here are two of my favourites from the east coast of Tasmania.
Pretty spectacular, huh?
What do you do to when you need thinking time? I would love to hear how you cope with this crazy time of year! I have a signed copy of my latest release Unwrapping His Convenient Fiancee ( all regions) for a reader who posts a comment.
Best wishes,
Melanie xx
Fabulous pictures, Melanie! What an incredible view.
ReplyDeleteI actually do a lot of my thinking while I'm doing the housework--ironing, washing clothes etc. I guess they're boring tasks so my mind feels free to wander ;) Also, my brain seems to become very active right as I'm trying to fall asleep! Most annoying.
Hi Stefanie,
DeleteThere is nothing like a mundane task to get the cogs going! That works for me too, especially ironing for some reason. Ha ha. Like I need more of that!
Sitting in the passenger seat with my husband driving us an hour or so away usually does it for me. If I turn off the radio and hold his hand, my mind focuses on the matters at hand.
ReplyDeleteWhen I sit at home to write poetry, sometimes I get stymied, so that's when we go for a drive and, voila, the words flow. I don't have a thesaurus or computer nearby to help with rhyming words, but somehow they aren't necessary.
Hi Laney, I guess it's not just the wheels of the car going round but the cogs of your brain going around with them. Thanks for posting!
DeleteMelanie
ReplyDeleteWhat gorgeous photos and wow I would be able to think there :)
I too go for a walk and think or listen to audio books then I can turn of and get lost in a story at the moment I am listening to Richard Armitage reading Georgette Heyer's Sylvester and it is so good that voice he has makes me smile.
I need lots of relaxing time at this time of the year
Have Fun
Helen
I hear you about this time of year! It seems to get crazier and crazier.
DeleteI love Georgette Heyer but I've never listened to her work on audio- what a great idea! 😀
I love this. Every so often, we get forgotten, because we live our lives doing more for others than ourselves. I love the beach but live over 75 km away. I choose yoga and a few minutes of meditating, every morning. The yoga movements, for me are very much like the ebb and flow of the ocean's waves. The meditation is a time for reflecting on the now, gratitude for all I have, and letting go of what I cannot control. And somehow...I'm sorted despite the chaos.
ReplyDeleteHi Sudeshni,
DeleteYoga is a fabulous way to relax. And you're right in that the movements are like the ebb and glow of the ocean. Yoga on the beach- now there's something I can do. I wonder if my poodles will do it with me. 😃🐩🐩🐩
I'm sure they will happily oblige with a downward facing dog or upward facing dog😃😃
DeleteHello Melanie,
ReplyDeleteI have no particular place to go to think, but when I need time to think I try to stay alone in a room with background music, so I have clear ideas. I do not do much to cope with this period, I spend quietly in the family.
Beautiful this photo.
Hi Franca,
DeleteMusic is always a great way to relax and chill out. I'm glad you like the photos. You must come to Tasmania!
Tasmania is such a beautiful place, Melanie. I've visited a couple of times of often imagine myself living there.
ReplyDeleteI find walking up to the Byron Bay Lighthouse is a good way to find some quiet time. The 5km around trip offers gorgeous scenery, often dolphins and a whale or two to watch and the horizon to gaze at. Beautiful.
I think you live in a great place too, Jennifer. I had the best holiday ever at Byron Bay when our kids were little. And I ran up to the lighthouse and was thrilled with the view- Australia's most easterly point. Magical.
DeleteFor me its in the shower...or floating on my back in the swimming pool.
ReplyDeleteThere is something about water, isn't there Melanie? :-)
So true, Amy. Water is supposed to be really good for creativity. Apparently it's all the ions or something. I have pool envy!
DeleteYou live in a magical place, Melanie! I love to walk too and luckily I live near the sea. But most of my helpful thoughts come when I'm doing the chores--I've learnt to always have a notebook handy so I can jot things down, then they're out of my head freeing up space for more things!
ReplyDeleteHi Louisa,
DeleteI love New Zealand- it is just gorgeous. I know what you mean about the chores and how they unlock your mind. It almost makes me look forward to the ironing! Almost...
I love your photos, Melanie. What a stunning part of the world you live in. I don't do enough walking or thinking. Something I desperately need to remedy. These days, I generally force myself to think while at my desk, but rarely give my mind the opportunity to simply meander. I love to have time alone and when I do I generally curl up in chair and read someone else's hard work (book).
ReplyDeleteHi Yvonne,
DeleteNot everyone needs to walk to think. We all have our various ways of doing it. And there is nothing wrong with curling up in a chair with a good book. I'm looking forward to a lot of that over the summer!
There are few things better to clear one's head than a walk by the beach, Melanie. :-) And your particular beach is beautiful! As the temps start to soar and the humidity becomes hideous, though, I find it harder and harder to make myself go for a walk, even though I usually enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteMy other favourite let-my-mind wander is to lie on the sofa and listen to music. The lyrics and the rhythm always send me off into a lovely daydream or two. :-)
Michelle, you need to come to Tassie where the heat and humidity is not so hideous- I will walk with you.! In fact, we have relatively low humidity which is why we don't have heaps of thunder storms.
DeleteStill haven't figured out what activity I do when I need to think. However to cope/stay saneish during this crazy time of year, I tend to take time out for me (usually by reading, cross-stitching or having a relaxing bath). I also plan ahead and actually try to action those plans so that I'm not stressing or leaving a lot to the last minute. I'm less organised this year than I have been the last couple of year - while I'm more organised that I was prior to planning ahead, I'm still noticing the difference with the way the less organised is having.
ReplyDeleteAh, organisation is the key to reducing stress, isn't it, Lyn? But how hard it is! I like the sound of a relaxing bath. I used to love my cross-stitch but I haven't done it in years. You've inspired me!
DeleteI walk. It's relaxing. I just let my mind drift. I'm sure I have solved the woes of the world a million times over by just walking it off.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on that, Mary. I would not cope with my busy life without my long walks. I have a step counter app on my phone and yesterday I walked- wait for it- 17 kilometres!! I ended up with a blister, though. I didn't have my car so I had no choice but to walk.
DeleteDriving is good for my thinking, when I'm along and the radio off. Must be something about movement do you think that gets the grain moving as well?
ReplyDeleteLove your photos, Melanie. So beautiful!
Thanks,Bronwyn! I think you're absolutely right about the movement of driving. The rhythm of the wheels turning and the view flashing by- all good for releasing locked thoughts. I must admit I quite enjoy my drive to our beach house which is only two hours from home but it feels like a world away. Thanks for posting!
DeleteWalking and driving are thinking times.
ReplyDeleteHi Donamae,
DeleteDriving seems to be a common thinking time activity for most of us. I guess it's different if there are restless kids in the back of the car, though! I don't remember doing much thinking back in my early parenting days. Thanks for posting!
Walking is my thinking time, and often problem solving time for plots that aren't going how they should.
ReplyDeleteHi Sue,
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how a walk can really help with that, isn't it? Much better than sitting staring in panic at the computer screen!
Thanks for posting.