I’m going to have six days off in a row next week. I really need some downtime, but I also feel the pull of “here’s a chunk of time when I can really get some things done!” Plus, it’s Thanksgiving week here in the US. Even though it will be just our 3-family (me, Andrew and Miss T), I feel my perfectionist impulses surging with the Coronavirus. It’s time to resist those impulses.⁣ ⁣

In her book 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘻𝘺 𝘎𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘶𝘴 𝘞𝘢𝘺, Kendra Adachi asks the question, “What can I do now to make life easier later?” It’s a great question. This week I am cultivating sanctuary by asking myself, “What can I do now, do safeguard time and space for rest and renewal during vacation?”⁣ ⁣ I have a reasonable list of projects to complete this week, several of which will take 15-30 minutes at the most. I will use a timer because a timer keeps me focused.

Here are a few items on my list:⁣ ⁣

• I started by decorating our table for Thanksgiving. It is a visual reminder of the tone I am setting with my choices and actions this week.⁣ ⁣

• We’ve already decided to keep it simple for our Thanksgiving meal. I need to pick a few favorites to make (pie, obviously) and the rest will come prepped for cooking from our local grocery store. ⁣ ⁣

• I’ll make my grocery list and order online to pick up early next week in order to avoid the crowds and prep my dishes in the days leading up to Thanksgiving.⁣ ⁣

• I’m also going to make a parking lot list. Like parking our car at the airport and knowing it will still be there when we return, I’m going to park the projects that feel like “I should do this since I have time” and let them sit until vacation is over.⁣ ⁣ ⁣

What can you do now to help cultivate sanctuary—be present, rest, play, reenergize—later?⁣