Every once in awhile, Etch a Sketch your Brain!

I don’t remember when I started using this expression but it’s been many years that I’ve been saying it. We all get caught up in the daily grind… same thing each day, kids, laundry, work, dinner, repeat… this seems especially true when working from home (and consequently not getting out much at all).

Okay, you know that feeling when you return from vacation and the one item on your task list that was mocking you before only takes you a few minutes to knock off after you’ve returned? This is because you were able to clock yourself out and are coming back with a fresh set of eyes, everything looks better with a fresh set of eyes.

This might surprise some but I think I’m a bit of a hermit. I love to get out and be around people but it’s a very delicate balance on the flip side where I need to be home & anti-social. My Associate, Deborah, refers to her design inspirations and how getting out helps her to see what new & allows her to keep up with new designs, ideas, colors & trends. I tend to get bogged down in the office and think that I can’t afford to take the time to “splurge” and go walk around the market, mall or design center. In reality, I need to get out to not only clear my head but to knock those seemingly overwhelming tasks off the list the minute I’m back in the office. Getting out of the office primes the pump for inspiration. I remember Sarah Ban Breathnach using this expression in her best-selling book “Simple Abundance”.

One of my goals this summer is to get out a bit more (with or without the kids) and just breathe… go to the beach for a walk at lunchtime, take a walk with the dog mid-day instead of our after dinner routine or just go to a matinee.

What keeps your brain fresh when you’re starting to climb the walls?