A Note on Relaxing

"Idleness is not just a vacation, an indulgence or a vice; it is as indispensable to the brain as vitamin D is to the body, and deprived of it we suffer a mental affliction as disfiguring as rickets." -"The 'Busy' Trap" by Tim Kreider

Two weeks ago, A-Cakes and I went to a lake house/cabin for three vacation days in North Georgia. We drove up armed with the cabin's address, two bags of groceries, 18 beers, five books, and no plans. After loading bags in, we made lunch. Following the Doritos, when the sandwich course was over, we stared at each other. We didn't have anything to do. No agenda at all. And it was quiet. And peaceful.

This was stressful.

So, like any other people struggling to relax on vacation (it sounds ridiculous even as I type it) we did what those who can't wind down do best: started to make plans! There was the consideration to hike, take the kayak on the lake, go into town to check out an antique store, invent a new drink, photograph some bugs, or even play Boggle. This became even more stressful.

Last year I read this article by Tim Kreider:

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/30/the-busy-trap/

It addresses the absence of leaving enough time in our lives for no plans, and that we are, oftentimes, excessively busy by our own accord or because of our surroundings. Tim makes good points.

It's becoming truer the older I get. People, U.S. Americans in particular, struggle to do nothing. Did you know that the United States is the "only developed country in the world without a single legally required paid vacation day or holiday"? (Thanks, USA Today) Maybe we don't feel entitled to downtime?

I'm no different. The biggest effort I take to chill some days is unwrapping a tiny Dove chocolate whose wrapper instructs "treat yourself today" or "promise yourself more moments like these" usually when I'm behind a desk, cursing in traffic, or waiting in line behind somebody I don't know but who is probably moving too slow, delaying my day. Even as I'm writing this, I'm stressing about 17 more productive things I should do. I say LAME.

So, forced into it, we did nothing on our vacation. And it was really hard. But it was awesome. We talked, ate, napped, and read. And nothing else. Some days I didn't change out of my PJ's. I returned feeling laid back and weirdly accomplished.

How/where do you like to do nothing?