Do you need a bathing suit day?

High of 28 degrees, will feel like 32.
“Yes!” I yelled out loud and jumped out of bed.  Rooting around in the closet, I pulled out my bathing suit and put it on.
“Bathing suit day!” I yelled again to no one but myself and then actually skipped outside to start my day. 

We were at the lake and it looked like it would be a perfect day to revisit one of my favorite experiences of childhood.  On a warm summer vacation day, I and my friends would spend the whole day in our bathing suits, playing outside, running through the sprinkler, skipping in and out of the kiddie pool, eating lunch and supper in my suit until my mom had to pry me out of my damp bathing suit as I was half asleep and put me to bed. 

I get wildly delighted when I can spend the day in my bathing suit and I only recently stopped to wonder why.  Turns out, it’s related to productivity or rather, the lack of productivity. 

I have a very strong drive to be productive.  Actually, its not so much a drive as a deep fear that if I’m not being productive every moment of every day then I will be unloved, ostracized and end up living in a cardboard box…you know, all the less than rational thoughts that are attached to this external conditioning. 

When I looked more closely at why I feel such freedom and joy on a “bathing suit day” it became clear that it was almost impossible (in theory) to work in my bathing suit.  I couldn’t meet with clients while wearing my suit nor could I use my computer or phone if I was wet from swimming, cleaning the bathroom would feel weird and picking up groceries or running errands would just seem odd.  “Bathing suit day” gave me permission to not be productive. 

What’s your equivalent to “bathing suit day?”  Is there something that you do that gives you permission to goof off, chill out, and play?  When was the last time you gave yourself permission to do nothing for a whole day?  What might be different in the rest of your week if you had a bathing suit day?

We are in a full moon today and it is the perfect reminder to let loose and have some fun and whether you are in your bathing suit or not (or you ‘re wearing it under your work suit 😉) I hope you can find at least a few minutes to take a break and do nothing productive at all!   

Back to News List