decadent day off

I qualified as an NLP Master Practitioner (INLPTA) on Sunday after nearly a year of training and coursework. Having spent so many weekends working on this and other coaching and writing work, I decided to give myself a day off to celebrate (it's what I get my clients to do, but I completely understand it feeling challenging).

Because I knew I would end up working if I stayed at home and had a pyjama day, I went into London to visit the batting cages at Northwick Park. They're the only ones in the UK and, being 32 rather than, say, 12, it felt ridiculously indulgent to travel all the way across London from Essex, not for a work related meeting or even to meet a friend but to play baseball.

It was completely worth it!!!

I then enjoyed some dim sum and browsed in a stationery superstore (I'll be starting my psychotherapy training next month - any excuse, really) and even walked a little in some woods in London before heading home to change into my pjs, eat chocolates and watch a dvd.

Sure, I checked my BlackBerry for emails at intervals during the day and did the same with voicemail, but it was a decadent day off.

And already, today, I've felt the benefits.

Julia Cameron (author of The Artist's Way and others) recommeds "artist's dates" on a regular basis. She suggests walks in nature, trips to galleries and museums and other soul inspiring activities.

While baseball batting cages probably aren't on her list, it worked for me. I'm definitely going to schedule in soul days on a more regular basis and wake up and let myself do whatever I feel guided to do (matinee cinema? theatre? sea side?).

What would be on your list of things to do if your only criteria was pleasing yourself? How can you make more time to fit this nurturing activities into your life?

© Eve Menezes Cunningham / http://www.applecoaching.com/ 2008.