List low energy intentions

that you might not actively choose. Longtime listeners know that I believe the hours between the end of your work day and bedtime can be the best hours of the day, your golden hours, as I like to call them. But many people find this time hard to use well because

they are exhausted. When all you want to do is veg on the couch in front of the TV or scroll while lying in bed, your past self suggestion that you read War and Peace, write a letter to your grandmother, or play one of Mozart's Sonatas on the piano may seem a little far fetched. This is where low energy

intentions come in. I am all for deciding to use your leisure time for Tolstoy and your grandma and Mozart, but it is also wise to come up with ideas for making the most of your leisure time when you are tired. These could be things like flipping through a photo album or a coffee table book, going for a leisurely walk, or maybe even baking a recipe you know by heart. As one of my listeners pointed out, to low energy intention sometimes gives you a little energy boost.

If you succumb to the urge to curl up on the couch in front of the TV, it is quite possible that you will spend the whole evening there like a zombie. But if you manage to shovel yourself out the door and go for a slow walk around the block, you will probably come home feeling just a little peppier than when you left. You also may feel happier when you look back on your evening and remember the pleasant walk. So make a list of things you can do when you feel like you want to do nothing. It is

impossible to do nothing. You will do something, but you can choose which low energy activities you find most worth while. Reading tends to be my go too. This may not be the time for great literature or technical nonfiction, but it could be perfect for a light book or magazine, or just flipping through a coffee table book or a cook book. An audiobook can be appealing too. All you have to do is listen. You don't even have to

turn pages. You could listen to a podcast while walking outside or on a treadmill if it's dark or if the weather is bad. Simple craft projects can sometimes hit the spot. Sketching, doodling, or coloring doesn't take much energy. If you are a knitter, Knitting something uncomplicated, like a scarf for a dishcloth could feel pretty brainless. Walking, stretch shaking, or yoga can also feel good. Some cooking projects might be appealing. I'm imagining something like baking a cookie recipe

that you know really well. You will feel satisfied by having done something. In bonus, you and your family will have something tasty as a result. Or maybe you choose something modestly more substantial, like banana bread or muffins, and then you get to eat those for breakfast the next morning.

What a win. If you are sure that all you want to do is sit and zone out, you can still choose a focal point besides the TV or your phone, a fire pit or fireplace, or your backyard can be a calming place to rest your eyes, watch the birds if it's light, look up at the stars if it is not. In any case, try identifying five to ten low energy intentions to give shape to leisure time when

you might think you want to do nothing. Make this list somewhere you can reference, like on an index card or the notes app of your phone as you were going into some downtime like a weekday evening, or maybe post kid activities on a weekend day. Choose one. That way, you will be prepared to enjoy your leisure time even if you don't have any energy to spare in the meantime. This is Laura, Thanks for listening, and here's to making the most of our time. Thanks for listening to Before Breakfast.

If you've got questions, ideas, or feedback, you can reach me at l Laura at Laura vandercam dot com. Before Breakfast is a production of iHeartMedia. For more podcasts from iHeartMedia, please visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.