Time to Unwind
This A-Z has been great for social networking, but I'm assuming I'm not the only one finding it quite time-consuming at the moment. Not far to go, then I can go back to posting about three times a week. Like a lot of bloggers, after Z I intend to take a few days off to unwind.
Here's my ways of unwinding:
- Switch off the computer. I can't help myself and will start jumping from site to site if I have access.
- Read a new book that is not useful for my writing or in anyway literary. Something fun, maybe even smutty (okay, I'm lame, it'd be very mildly smutty or I'd get embarrassed that someone would recognise the novel).
- Download a TV series and watch all episodes in a veg-day marathon (these school holidays I've discovered Veronica Mars and Fringe).
- Do some writing exercises that are not about my current WIP. Riff-writing helps me to unthink too. Fantasy writer, Ursula Le Guin has a great book for strengthening your writing by breaking it down to smaller exercises (it's also great to use in the classroom) called Steering the Craft.
- Visit bookstores. This can be a bit of an expensive past time for me.
- Spend time with my dogs and an audiobook. I'll take one of my dogs for a nice long walk around Yass and listen to an audiobook at the same time. Today I was listening to book 3 in The Dresden Files series, Grave Peril by Jim Butcher (awesome detective style series with a slight difference, instead of a PI, the protagonist is a Wizard with a few bad debts).
My ways of unwinding always involve me doing things. I have a lot of trouble just relaxing, bubble baths just stress me because I think of all the things I need to be doing. Mind you, if I'm reading in the bath, then it's okay.
Another Unwind is the most awesome Scifi/dystopian novel I've ever read. Unwind by Neil Shusterman is masterful and the story will sit with you long after you finish (especially one particular scene, anyone who has read it will understand).
Okay, now I've got a LOT of blogs to catch up on!
Steeringt the Craft sounds like a good read and something new to try. Thanks for the suggestion. Have a great day! I've got a lot of blogs to catch up on, too.
ReplyDeleteI find unwinding very difficult these days. I always feel like I could be reading or writing something. And so many distractions. Hopefully one this challenge is over the pace will slow down a bit. That's what I'm hoping anyway.
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Moody Writing
Those look like FABULOUS unwinds! I love both Veronica Mars and Fringe (via Hulu) so great choices. I definitely agree I am running on empty for the blogging. I'm also doing the Crusade, so I started a month and a half early, then amped this on top of it. Totally worth it on the follower front, but MAN, I could use a break!
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I really struggle with unwinding. And I'm very impressed that when this challenge isn't on you still manage to post about 3 x per week. I'm lucky to do three per month!
ReplyDeletewarm wishes
Debbie
I needed this post today. It's Monday and I'm wound up, to say the least.
ReplyDeleteLucy
Like you, I'm going to unwind a little after this challenge. I have a lot of writing I need to get done, and books to read, and walks to take.
ReplyDeleteOh! I love to get a bunch of tv and just veg sometimes too.
ReplyDeleteBrandi from Blkosiner’s Book Blog
All right -- I took your recommendation and bought Unwind for my Kindle. I'm looking forward to reading it!
ReplyDeleteYour ways to unwind all sound great. Steering the craft and unwind both look good, I'm going to check them out. I also enjoy marathoning TV series. I just started Alias over the weekend.
ReplyDeletehttp://ifbloggingburnedcalories.blogspot.com
All great ideas for unwinding...I unwind by crafting and painting. Time flys. Blessings, Joanne
ReplyDeleteGo for a country walk and I find household chores quite therapeutic sometimes :O)
ReplyDeleteOh yes, my dogs feel so neglected. I think I overheard them plotting to steal my laptop chord :)
ReplyDeleteJules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow
Unwind? What's that? Honestly I will be a bit relieved to go back to blogging 3 times a week and not worrying about letters to coordinate posts with.
ReplyDeleteYou really know how to unwind, Charmaine! Those all sound like good ideas. :-)
ReplyDeleteYou are so not lame when you suggest unwinding with a *smutty* novel. Though I didn't read a smutty novel, I did read Something Borrowed (I so cannot figure out how to italicize). It was great chick-lit!
ReplyDeleteIt is always nice to unwind but I'm like you to unwind I need to be doing something. I like to play a game or watch a movie or read a book.
ReplyDeleteAll good Unwind tips. I used Unwind, too. That book looks great, might check it out!
ReplyDeleteThose ARE great unwinds. The closest I get to unwinding these days is sitting in my car during lunch break and taking 15 minutes to "park" my brain. Just looking out at the parking lot, the puffy clouds, and so on. Of course, then I see something that intrigues me--like the totally ambulatory young woman who just got into a car parked in a handicapped zone, and the handicapped sticker attached to the rearview mirror. A story's afoot here ... off and running goes the brain.
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