On her Facebook page Catherine wrote,
As soon as my “head starts to jumble” it is so soothing to just flick the switch and get in the zone.
In Catherine’s case it’s doing art, in mine it’s solving puzzles/problems. That’s why dealing with Mikita and Walbro isn’t stressful for me, it’s getting in the zone. I’m dealing with a minor health problem at the moment, and I have to make a big lifestyle change. It will take patience and good humor, and puzzles and problems keep me centered and amused while I make the transition.
What do you do to flip the switch and get in the zone?
June 27, 2020
Hello people, I’m Catherine with my “head starts to jumble” – I thought I was all on top of being out there with people (since NZ lockdown restrictions eased) but something kind of tripped the switch last week, and down the rabbit hole I have fallen. I may be getting back into stuff.
Now although the “flick of the switch” may appear to be art, it’s not exactly – rather it’s the art of hand-spinning that came into my life in the 1980s. And yes, it has a “switch” as my current and only wheel is electronic but not a modern one, although it was manufactured by Ashford.
When I was tidying up, I saw my wheel, on it’s little table…it’s not hard to miss. Then in the shed is a lot of bags of “ready2spin” fibre. So I thought I might give it go…It was an instant hit with my “jumbled head”! And it’s now set up in living/studio space so there is absolutely no excuse…
I shall write a little blog post real soon…
I can imagine that would be a form of meditation, just like knitting can be…if one enjoys the process rather than pushing towards a goal. I’m so glad you have it.
Oh my, I am so sorry. Diabetes perhaps? Puzzles are good for just forgetting about things for a little while. I guess mine would be a good T.V. show.
No, nothing that serious, just losing that tooth that I needed for chewing …the other side doesn’t work. I’ll probably be pureeing all my food for a while and it’s an adjustment. Again, it’s nothing serious, but thanks for asking.
Streaming a good movie or TV series works for me too. I always exercise when I do it. Right now I watch either a Great Courses Plus lecture or a Golden Girls episode on Hulu.
Knitting works for me but I don’t have time right now. I love puzzles too. Mostly I sit down at the computer and write and that takes me to another place.
Knitting is great…I did that when I was nursing my mom when she died years ago. I mostly don’t like to sit now, so I like shorter projects. I stand on my trampoline/jogger when I use the computer…it lets me move around more.
Mom likes to do puzzles too, jigsaw and any kind of word or number puzzle. She also likes to walk – she says it really clears the head. But right now she is too busy with all our needs to have time to get in the zone:)
Woos – Lightning, Misty, and Timber
That’s too bad. I hope it gets easier in time. 🙁
Since I was old enough to hold a book open in my hands the only thing that shuts my mind down and stops me from worrying and it doesn’t matter what it is is to pick up a book and read. When I read I go into the book and it’s like I’m living the story whatever it is. When I can’t go to sleep at night I grab my Kindle and lay in bed and read until my mind shuts down. Sorry about the tubes
I would love to do that, but my eyes don’t work well together so I have bad eyestrain if I read too much print at one time. Kindle helps with the large font, but i still can’t immerse myself for very long. Audio books aren’t the same, but I always listen to one as I go off to sleep, or if I can’t sleep. I call it my sleeping pill. 🙂
I mostly disappear into a book. It can be 90° here but if I’m reading about a blizzard I go get a sweater.
Have you discovered Jigsaw Explorer dot com. I find I’m working a couple puzzles a day right now.
Thanks for the suggestion, but the reason for jigsaw puzzles is to get away from my computer and iPad. I like puzzles with few pieces and I do them over and over so it’s more of a memory game. I look at a piece and know about where it goes. It’s a completely different way of doing it, and mostly I don’t like to sit down, so I only do them when I’m low on energy. Yes, it’s a weird approach! 😀
You sure do ask some questions that make me think…seems like everyone else found this so easy to answer and I don’t have any one thing. I have been thinking how to answer this since yesterday evening. Puzzles do work for me sometimes…as well as being able to go sew. And going fishing can work wonders for me if I can go and there be no one else about. I use artificial lures 99% of the time so am casting and reeling them in…so have to focus a bit on it. I also like reading…always feel like I am naked if I don’t have a book started.
Fishing sounds like a great technique, but as you say, it depends on other people, and also the weather. It’s nice to have a variety of things to do.
If you had asked this question a few years ago I would have said crafting. Lately I don’t do much of that though. I mostly lay around on the couch watching tv.
Well, yes! You’re working so hard that you need all the rest you can get. I hope you have some good programs that you enjoy.
You know, work is a great way to settle the mind, too. Working till hot and sweaty and tired…as in pulling weeds today.
Yes, that’s a good one, except not for me. 🙂 I wilt when it gets hot, but exercising while streaming a Great Courses Plus lecture (or something lighter if I’m in the mood) is something I do every day. I actually don’t like to sit, so jigsaw puzzles are for when I feel rundown and don’t have any energy.