1. Doing nothing is vitally important as a system reboot. I spent some time up in the Yosemite area. Frequently, I would sit and look up at the trees and sky and just watch the way the wind blew the leaves, the way the pine needles would fall from the branches, the chase of the butterflies and birds. It was like watching water flow -- healing.

2. Reading for pure pleasure is bliss. Sometimes I read to understand what an author did or I'm critiquing the whole way through. But to set aside the writer hat and just relax and enjoy the story was such fun. I read quite a few books while I was away. My favorite reads were Moonglass by Jessi Kirby and The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder. If you want to read a book that shows you how to make every word count, creating character and story and romance, read Lisa's novel in verse. It's amazing how complete a story can be in so few words. And if you want to read a story with a beautiful setting, well-drawn characters, and a satisfying healing arc, read Jessi's beach novel. I recommend you read them both

3. Seeing new things is inspiring. While at Yosemite, we hiked The Mist Trail, which climbed steeply alongside two waterfalls. The trail gets its name from the fact that one usually feels a mist from the waterfalls when climbing. But this year, the water levels were so high that the water hitting us from the falls literally felt like a rainstorm lashing us. Did I mention that the water was melted snow? We froze! But as we were being inundated on the slippery trail and I found myself wishing I had windshield wipers on my eyeballs, I started laughing. (Yes, people looked at me like I was crazy, but so what?) I laughed because it felt so ridiculous and so unfamiliar and so refreshing. The granite rock all around was beautiful, the falls were gorgeous, and the drenching water was alarming and freezing and delightfully ridiculous. Point being, it reminded me to get out and do different things more often. Otherwise we get stagnant, going through our same routines every day.

4. Internet breaks are a necessity. The Internet is an amazing gift and connects our whole world, but sometimes it starts to feel like information overload. And sometimes we're not even aware of the overload. So taking time out to connect with the real world and the people in our immediate vicinity only can settle us in our bodies in a way that has become unfamiliar. Try a little time away from your computer and see if you agree.

5. Taking time away doesn't change the life we come back to, but it can change the way we see it. It can help us feel grounded and recharged and ready to re-engage in new ways. So even if you can't take a big chunk of time or even if you can't afford a big trip, take a little time for yourself, even if it's just to sit in your backyard or on your fire escape and stare at the sky. You deserve it