“I always have this imagination, something I want to use. I don’t understand the idea of leisure time.” ~ Cher Wang
PAJAMA DAYS by Joanna Zarkadas Here's to pajama days, And the people who celebrate them. Here's to comfort over style, Uncombed hair and faces without makeup. Hats off to reading all day Or binge watching the latest Netflix series. Kudos to cold pizza for breakfast, Or hot buttered popcorn for dinner. Blue ribbons for long phone conversations with friends, And lazy couch lounging by the fire. Gold medals for forgetting about "to do" lists, Bathrooms that need cleaning, Or bills that need paying. Cheers to taking a day off every now and again Without remorse, without guilt, without judgment. High fives to sometimes doing whatever you want, When you want, and Eating whatever suits your fancy, No matter the carb count or sugar content. Here's to pajama days, And a round of applause for those who know they deserve them! ~ as posted at Your Daily Poem (September 7, 2023).
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Ah, I can just see it now — me in my jade green silk pajamas reclining on a chaise lounge, sipping a nice cup of darjeeling, dipping in and out of the latest Jenny Colgan novel, bossa nova music softly playing in the background. Secret husband Colin Firth (dressed in his Mr Darcy finest) drifts in at regular intervals with a tray of freshly baked French pastries. Not a care in the world, I feel thoroughly pampered.
If only.
I’m certainly in favor of “reading all day,” and know I’m adequately skilled at “lounging by the fire,” i.e., hanging around in general (years of practice). 😀 As for the pajamas, it’s kind of my daily uniform anyway. Skip cleaning the bathroom and paying bills? Count me in!
About those “long phone conversations with friends.” Um, no thank you (read about my love-hate relationship with phones here).
But it would be nice nibbling on chocolates and sipping tea while binge watching The Great British Baking Show or All Creatures Great and Small.
Yet . . . could I really enjoy doing these things sans guilt and remorse? Or would I be thinking of the extra calories I can’t afford, how not fun it will be to play catch-up the following day? Will my never-ending to-do list hover in the background even as I wait for Paul Hollywood to shake a contestant’s hand? I was never a zen person, firmly believing in planning ahead, being prepared. Yep, a real stick-in-the mud.
I do think part of it is the aging thing. The older I get, the longer it takes to get simple stuff done — stuff I could whiz through twice as fast twenty years ago. So, it’s important that I keep to plan. I’ve settled on a sensible compromise: give myself small breaks throughout the day (quick YouTube fix, drown in a fave tune from my iTunes playlist, reach for a cookie, read a poem, arrange flowers).
I’m simply not capable of giving myself an entire day off, even if I can convince myself I deserve it. Call me crazy, but I’d much rather feel productive. Alternating work + play = much less guilt. 🙂
How about you? When was the last time you gave yourself an entire day off? Any advice for how to lessen the guilt? Maybe in my next life I can be ‘devil may care’ Jama. 😀
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Lovely and talented Michelle Kogan is hosting the Roundup at MoreArt4All. Be sure to zip on over to check out the full menu of poetic goodness being served up around the blogosphere this week. Have a good Memorial Day weekend!
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“I’d rather spend my leisure time doing what some people call my work and I call my fun.” ~ Jared Diamond
*Copyright © 2024 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.
Jama's Alphabet Soup 
Jama, I identify with everything you wrote in this post (even the link back to your prior post about phones)! Maybe it is something in the way one is raised that doesn’t allow for day-long relaxation? Maybe it is just internal brain wiring? This may be wrong-headed, but sometimes, not feeling well is a relief because it is a valid ticket to stay in bed! Sometimes, being away on vacation allows for relaxation, but not always – there things to do, schedules to keep, places to be when on vacation. I like your solution of blending work with an occasional cookie break! The perfect day!
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I agree with the “relief” at being unwell sometimes because then you have no choice but to STOP and relax. You’re also right about being wired a certain way to keep to schedule. Vacations are another thing entirely — travel is actually hard work and for me, at least, requires a vacation from the vacation when I return home. 😀
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I’m an expert at sleeping: in a tub, on the balcony, on the couch. Add in a cuppa and a book and I’m happy as can be. No guilt. I work hard enough during the week. Hooray for three day weekends.
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I could never sleep in a tub! I’m all about comfort and like my bed. Enjoy your weekend!
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The only time this might happen is when we have snowstorms, Jama! If there is a book I adore, I “might” take longer to read, but there’s always a list. Love the poem, and “Or hot buttered popcorn for dinner.” which brings me to a Sunday evening family time with an aunt’s family who lived nearby. We had popcorn and homemade milkshakes produced with great flair by my uncle. Happy weekend to you with at least one lazy day! Thanks for the beautiful art, too. Since someone painted them, they must have had such a day in their minds, too!
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Homemade milkshakes! Sounds like a special treat! You’ve reminded me that I haven’t had popcorn in a long time. Maybe this weekend . . . 🙂
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Zarkadas poem is deliciously lovely, I like breaking off every once in a while especially in a jam packed day, and rewarding myself with painting, sketching, gardening, or reading. There seems to be too many things to do and not enough time… 💙 Robert Henri’s painting, I’ve seen it at the Met, it’s magical, the rich colors and circular movement—enticing art throughout, thanks for all Jama! 😊🦋🌻🐝
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Oh, I envy your having seen Henri’s painting in person!! Sounds like you’ve found a nice balance between “work” and play . . . but if you love your work, it isn’t really work, right?
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I’m like you, Jama. But I would like some of those fancy pajamas!
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Those fancy pjs look quite indulgent. I once had glow-in-the-dark Winnie the Pooh pajamas, but that’s as fancy as I got 😀
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Love all these odes to doing ‘nothing’ — which is not nothing! I delight in a day with no planned agenda — even the idea of staying in jammies all day. I know I’m ‘in the zone’ when I look up from my writing table and find I am still wearing them, my hair is uncombed (and hidden under my cap), and the clock has moved on without me. My coffee maker will have found me and my coffee-heater-upper (husband) will have poured me a second cup and slid it atop my stack of books. If and when I discover the hour and am ready to step away from the notebook, I will curl into a chair and gaze amazed at all that Mother Nature has done while I was busy. Usually she is far more productive than me, and how I appreciate her efforts!
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Being in the zone is such a good feeling — and once things are flowing nicely you don’t want to stop! How nice that you have a special person to bring you a second cup. 🙂
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Lovely insights, Jama–aloha!
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Aloha to you, Margo!!! Enjoy your weekend! Golf?
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No–not till Wednesday! Have a good weekend, too, dear Jama!
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It was fun seeing my poem reprinted here and I loved the visuals in the post…such luxurious luxury!
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Thank you for writing such a delightful poem, Joanna! It’s certainly given us much food for thought about how we spend our time.
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I’ve never really given myself a whole day off. I am like you, watching a show on my tablet while cooking supper or reading while having my breakfast! Enjoy your weekend.
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Sounds like you’ve refined multi-tasking to an admirable level, Joanne. I’ve never been able to read while eating — I can watch TV, though. 🙂
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I’m with you, Jama. A little work, a little play, a cookie here, a YouTube video there. Definitely jammies/yoga clothes. Mr. Firth would definitely be on scene, although not necessarily dressed as you like to imagine him . . . Now, where’s that tea?
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A kindred spirit! Comfort is key! Mr. Firth certainly gets around, doesn’t he? 😀
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Love the poem you’ve shared, Jama. An entire day off? I’ve tried, but I can’t do it! I’m good with a slow start to the morning, sipping a cup of tea while I do the NYT puzzles. But a whole day? No way!
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Glad I’m not the only one who can’t take an entire day off. Sounds like you’re not a morning person, either. More reason to like you, Patty!
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This has been a pajama day for me. I never need anyone’s permission to enjoy my retirement and let go of housework to read or write all day. Love the poem and have shared the link on Facebook.
Thank you, Jama, I love your blog.
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I’m sure I’d be much happier without having to do any housework. It’s ALWAYS there, that’s the problem. You have the right attitude — life’s too short not to enjoy each day as you’d like. Thanks for sharing on FB, Alarie!!
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Oh how decadent – and wonderful. Thanks for sharing all, Jama – and I LOVE the images you chose! You know, I always wear heels (Not) when lounging on my chaise in MY jade pajamas, waiting for a pastry-toting Mr. Firth or some other hottie….
What I’ve discovered as I get older is that sometimes I’m barreling through a to-do list, or planning one, and before I know it I’ve ended up blowing off an hour or a few, or maybe even going on an errand and adding a walk or a duck into a shop or two or something. I probably don’t plan enough time off, so my tired psyche overrides my plans!
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Your psyche is wise — steering you into diversions when you need them. Reminds me of the quote, Life is what happens when you’re busy making plans.
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I felt so validated by Zarkadas’ poem! I use the more informal and perhaps colloquial term “jammie day.” Snow days were almost always jammie days, though they most often happen when I’m in a happy flow of productivity — be that reading/writing sewing/creating or even cleaning/decluttering — and can’t be bothered to/don’t have any need to get dressed in “real” clothes!
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Hooray for Jammie days! Lots of good stuff gets done without having to worry about “real clothes.”
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Alas, I am incapable of giving myself off as well. This statement is me…”I was never a zen person, firmly believing in planning ahead, being prepared. Yep, a real stick-in-the mud.” How can it also be your? LOL. I love how the color green (my fav) shows up in all of these paintings. I am in my PJ’s at the moment…but have plans to go to the farmer’s market with my daughter in a bout 20 minutes. Again…cannot sit so long. Great post. Thank you!
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Another kindred spirit — thanks for noticing the greens (my fave color too)!
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Hi, Jama! I am all about being productive! People comment on what I get done and the energy I have – I wouldn’t have it any other way. But, as you said, in getting older we have to give ourselves a break (and some grace) allowing more time to do what we feel we need to accomplish. Thanks for posting this! I enjoyed it!
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I’ve never quite been able to understand the concept of “recreation.” Productivity feels more relaxing to me because there’s visible progress most of the time.
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Love this, Jama. I find it hard to follow my own non-agenda most days, but recently I found I did exactly that on Mother’s Day. And I didn’t feel guilty, more like rested. As my husband reminds me – one of these days you’ll retire (though I did that ten years ago!). Thanks for the wonderful insights.
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Nice to hear you had a good Mother’s Day, free of guilt!!
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Ah, devil-may-care Jama! Thank you for this totally delightful poem! I’m terrible at days off, particularly at taking a work day off. I think it’s especially hard for those of us who don’t work a 9-5 office job that can be left at the office. To truly relax and indulge, I sort of need to be out of the house, away from my laptop, my to-do list, etc. But I adore this poem and covet days like this in my heart. Though I agree about phones. Still, a Zoom with my sister is great! Thanks for this smile this morning, Jama!
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Nice to know you feel the same about phones — esp in this day and age of people being addicted to their phones. You’re right about the 9-5 thing. “Writing” is a 24-hour process — the mind is always “working,” even subconsciously.
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Jama, what a fun poem. I loved imagining doing all the things in the poem, but unlike you I didn’t daydream of the consequences of doing them. As a retired person, I find I can easily take days off to do nothing (or next to nothing). My schedule is definitely a gift and a joy.
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Lucky you!
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I’m with you, Jama, on this equation: “Alternating work + play = much less guilt. 🙂”
I feel like I don’t have a ‘zen’ gene, but I do like to indulge in “hot buttered popcorn for dinner”. The art in this post is stunning.
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I need to practice being more zen. 🙂
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Jama, what a fun poem; I love it. I love staying in my jammies because I love being comfortable. The paintings are beautiful, and I especially like Mademoiselle Breakfasts in Bed because she’s with all the cats and because of the bright colors. I always enjoy mornings being purred up by my cats. I never feel guilty about spending a day hiking in the woods, cross country skiing, reading books, and letting the cleaning wait… Everyone needs me time, time to unwind, do something that makes you happy… After giving yourself the time you deserve you will feel rejuvenated and be more productive. Thank you for post and take some me time, Jama.
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Great philosophy about allocating “me time” — we all need to recharge and rejuvenate to be at our best.
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I love the poem and I love those green pajamas! Although, I must say that they look less like my pajamas (which = shorts + t-shirt) and more like something I (actually, some other incarnation of me) would wear to the theater. 🙂
I do love taking an entire day off! Try it sometime — cold pizza for breakfast, chocolates and All Creatures mid-day, and hot buttered popcorn for dinner. You deserve it, Queen Jama!
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