Holiday #18-20: Relax

The holidays are usually the busiest time of the year for families. For those who work at home, like me and other writers, they make busy look like a slow day watching the grass grow.

I was so over-scheduled this past weekend that I completely forgot to post a Written Wisdom for Sunday. To miss my Sunday post doesn't happen very often. I didn't even realize I'd missed it until Monday morning. That's when I decided it was time to take a step back and relax.

Giving a gift or relaxation is great for just about everyone, but especially for the self-employed who usually work from a home office. That always sounds great to those who work outside the home, but the reality is that you are never away from the office.

So here are some gifts you can give, maybe even to yourself.

Holiday Gift Tip #18: Massage Envy has locations all over the U. S. I believe. Giving a gift certificate is easy via the Internet or find your local Massage Envy and call or walk in.

#19: Tune Your Brain for Stress Relief uses Bach to help you relax and de-stress. Highly recommended to load on your computer and play when you're frazzled but still need to keep working. Great background music for email, paying bills, and those never-ending clerical duties.

#20: Keep a journal. It can be inexpensive like the one shown here from my cyber shop The WRITE Way or it can be a leather-bound uber-expensive work of art.

Therapists say a journal is one of the most useful tools for dealing with stress. If you vent your frustration, depression, wrath, and mean reds on the pages of a journal, it won't give you hurt looks and damage your relationships with those close to you. Get a journal and let 'er rip. (Another plus is that, as a writer, you may find keeping a journal increases your creativity.)

Takeaway Truth

You must take care of yourself or you won't be there to take care of those you love.