Taking a break - when the day has gone to the dogs

There are many ways to take a break, and my next guest who is going to share with us how he takes a break is ... my husband Tim Sattler.
Tim Sattler: My best break is getting away from it all. There is always work to do and there are always schedules to keep, which unfortunatley means that my breaks can't be very long. My solution is to take the dogs out to the dike, which is a five minute drive from our house, where we walk along the water's edge, away from people and the hustle and bustle of my daily routine, and let the dogs run and explore while we walk along the path, often accompanied by the sounds of ducks, the jumping fish, and occasionally the neighborhood eagles.
What isn't quite a break is when we see a coyote in the bush or on the other side of the water. A few times we've seen deer, and once, a bear, which was on the other side of the river, which suddenly wasn't all that wide, or deep.
Not only is it good exercise to walk and breathe in the fresh air, it's a way to truly get away from the hustle and bustle.
What is an even better break is when my darling wife can come with us, even though she has an inflated opinion of the athletic abilities of her little dog who needs to go on a diet and barks too much.

I don't think I'm going to comment on that, except to say that his dog has a nose like a doorknob, and my dog's nose is as cute as a little button.
So that brings me to my thought/question of the day. There is no doubt that walking is good for us, and even though walking is better with a dog (or another person, right dear?) it also is a good break just to go out for a walk, even if it's only to the mailbox (for those of us who don't get mail delivery to the house). Have you ever gone for a walk just to take a short break and get away from it all, even if your destination is only the corner store? Besides, the corner store sells chocolate...
I digress. Chocolate... that's a break, too. Chocolate aside, I invite you to visit Tim Sattler's website at http://www.getset.com/

Sticktoitiveness - rewards

My friend Laurie Alice Eakes has an interesting perspective on how to stick-to-it when you have to stick to something you don't want to do.
Laurie Alice Eakes: Housework. It has to be done but I'd rather be writing than vacuuming. So, to keep myself at it, I remind myself that it has a reward beyond a clean house that will be dirty again in five minutes with all the dogs and cats and the dusty Texas winds.
That means it's reading time. I pop an audio book into my portable player and slip on the headphones. It can't be just any book; it has to be one I've been saving for days because I've been too busy to read, otherwise I don't want to get hung up on reading and not work. Or it's justifiable loud music time. I turn on the stereo as loud as I want - provided the windows are closed - and even sing along.
Then, after every task is complete, I get to stop for a break, enjoy a cup of tea or coffee, check my e-mail, or even write down ideas that may have come to me while scrubbing the tub.
This used to be how I got myself to exercise until I got to the point that not exercising made me feel so physically bad the exercise was in itself a reward. Housework hasn't gotten to that point though, and I doubt it ever will.
I have never thought of rewarding myself, even with something small after an unpleasant job is done, I've only felt relief when it was over. I think I'll have to try that, maybe... chocolate!
You're invited to check out Laurie Alice Eakes and her latest book "The Glassblower" on her websie at www.lauriealiceeakes.com.
My thought/question of the day is an easy one. If you were going to reward yourself for finishing something you hated doing, what would your reward be?