By this I mean recreation, not reinventing your career. I mean having real downtime so you can come back to your problems and challenges with renewed energy and different insight. AND ENJOY your life - AND the PROCESS of your life.Yesterday was my birthday so I took the day off. I usually do on this day. If you can't take it off on your birthday, then when can you?

After all, if you can't celebrate you, how can you expect anyone else to?

What did I do? In modern, American terms: NOTHING. NO-THING.

Nothing PRODUCTIVE.

I slept in, lounged around while my husband serenaded me on guitar. I picked up my bongo drum and joined in. I meditated, did yoga, wrote in my journal, and got my family (teenagers, sans electronics) to go for a hike in the woods with me. Sounds very hippieish? It was a heavy dose of taking in and reflection. And then I topped it off with a high calorie, decadent dinner out - lava cake and all!

No, I am not recreating the movie Eat, Pray, Love. I've been doing this on my birthday all my life. The key is to periodically do this throughout the year. I work hard and am a driver by nature plunked down into a culture that reinforces these attributes. So, if I don't manage myself - who will? The rewards are integration and renewal... and living from a full versus depleted cup.

Pick a day in the week where you are intentionally NOT productive and do all the things you love. Experiencing productivity withdrawal? Guilt? Then start small and pick at least an hour or 30 minutes. This nothing thing is actually productive. I dare ya. Try it.