Unplugged - recharging your creativity

Good morning everyone! I am back from my project revisions and a mini four day trip. I have to be honest. I did not miss my computer, not one little bit! I had my crackberry and caught up when I wanted to, but it was so nice to give my brain and my creative side a much needed break. I LOVE working, please do not get me wrong. Packaging and design are my passions and are like breathing for me. However, the older I get, the more I appreciate those three to four quiet days that pop up just when I need them. I try to make them count. Sometimes I want to just be a wife. Get our home in order, run some errands for my husband. Bake and cook amazing things. Sometimes I want to be a daughter. Help my parents with any chores they do not have time for on an aging house. Eat lunches with my dad. Spend time catching up with my mom. Sometimes I want to be a sister. Learn what my brother is up to. Where he has been flying lately. What his new hobbies are. Sometimes, I want it to be quiet. Watch old movies in my pajamas. Walk the dog. Visit some type of art exhibit by myself or with a close friend. I let my mind wander to creative projects that I would like to try. Designs I would like to work out just for me. Below is a list of what I do on my creative vacations. They may be simple, but there is beauty in simplicity. All creatives work differently and I would love to hear your tricks or activities. You never know who you may inspire! What do you guys do to unwind and recharge your creative juices?

• sleep as much as I can
• watch old black and white movies on TCM {only from the 20's - 40's}
• run errands
• read as many books as I can get my hands on
• word searches
• watch the History channel to exercise the left side of my brain {obsessed with anything Einstein}
• make lists of creative projects that I would like to explore
• research new designers, firms, design books
• catch up with old and new friends {preferably handwritten letters}
• take as many trips as I can, both by car and by plane
• walk my dog
• create little surprise gifts or events for loved ones
• play as many practical jokes on people as I can
• color with my crayolas
• schedule lunches with friends
• design crazy "designy" letters to send to my nieces just like my designer uncle did for me
• visit book stores and plant myself in the middle of the art section for hours
• go for drives out in the country
• visit farmstands
• test out my new camera
• plan my next trip to Chicago {I start planning my next trip on my way home from the city!}
• let myself enjoy the silence
• cook and partake in big Italian family gatherings
• get far far away from my computer
• art projects that involve my hands {cutting, pasting, creating new dielines, creating anything 3D}
• planning my October and December festivities {my two favorite months}
• researching new freelance trends
• laugh as hard as I can at anything
• sit with the dog and some coffee and homemade soup and watch it rain

These are just some of the small activities I do to recharge. As any creative knows, you are not inspired all the time. You do not have anything to say verbally and visually all the time. When you do come back though, you are usually refreshed and inspired and begin to create your next batch of amazing designs. Thanks for letting me recharge. I hope to be back up and running with some new designs that have been floating around in my head very soon!