I have been so lazy these last few weeks, at least, compared to how things were up until Thanksgiving. I had usually a few interviews scheduled per day, a few deadlines per week, and every day my stomach was tied up in knots over how much I had to get done and then how to quickly switch to family mode. But after Thanksgiving work has quieted down significantly. I happily still have deadlines at least through today and I have things lined up already for 2016 but I've had so much more time to do things like go to Target or lunch with friends or go get "strobing" done at the BeneFit counter (don't ask me about it yet. I still haven't tried it myself.)

I feel a little panicked about this, because Steve's work has only ramped up, so does that mean I'm doing something wrong? But I think most people on my side of things are just trying to get stuff wrapped up before they go on break and are finally feasting on evergreen stuff they lined up all year long. So I'm holding back on pitches and such a bit now too because I don't want ideas to get lost in the hustle.

It's good to have the extra time--I need it. James was quite ill recently. There's Christmas shopping to do for the family but also people like Paul's teachers and daycare. Figuring out what we'll do on Christmas break. All the stuff that doesn't sound like much before you have kids but then you have this new type of to-do list and you're like "Oh yeah, I get it now, this is a LOT."

It's also good to slow down slowly. Over Thanksgiving I felt pressure to get all the break things I wanted to get done, done, and that's not that relaxing. So to ease into the quiet time, to take a day here to read, a day there to wrap presents and watch Transparent, that's good. I keep reminding myself that I won't have time for this in a few weeks and I shouldn't feel guilty.

Plus, right now I have a clarity of mind to work on some other projects and prepare for the year ahead. Here are the kind of non-paying-projects or tasks I have on my plate that I hope will get me off to a good New Year:

• Working on my novel. It doesn't pay, so when I'm busy, it gets pushed to the bottom of the pile. I'm going to finish a draft by the end of the month and send it to my first early reader. I look forward to a few weeks (months?) of not having it on my to-do list while it's on somebody else's court.
  
  
• Setting reminders for my post-New Year's deadlines. I don't to have it be January 5 and I'm like, "Oh shit!"
  
  
• Setting reminders to get back to business. I do have pitch ideas and I do want to get back to reaching out to people, but just not now. I set to-dos in Wunderlist to make sure they don't fall off my radar.
  
  
• Organizing my files. I know I have at least one idea that I wrote down, somewhere, at some point, that could make for a blog entry or essay or something that is sitting quietly in some notebook or lost file. Over break I'm going to go through my notebooks, email folders and cloud drives to try to organize a bit and maybe have a few things ready to fire in 2016.
  
  
• Taking my time, socially. Typically at the end of the year I feel a crush to see everybody and spread merriment and throw a little kids' party. I'm just saying no or "not now" to several invitations (and taking a year off the party. I'm finally wising up!) I'll need my friends more in the dead of the new year more than right now. Although I went out last night and I am going out tonight  and I'm also going out tomorrow night so what am I talking about?