Finding the Zen today

Finding the "Zen" in Sunday Chores

Is there anything better than a clear, sunny day in Spring? Today is one of those perfect days where the air smells like spring, the birds are chirping and the sun actually feels warm on your shoulders.

I have a long list of outdoor chores to get through, but instead of looking at them as "work," I’m trying to see them as a way to clear my head. Here is how I’m turning my to-do list into a "to-enjoy" list:

1. Composting as Meditation

There’s something very grounding about working with the compost pile. It’s the ultimate cycle of life. You’re turning old scraps into gold for the garden. As I’m turning the pile today and filling in some spots in the beds, I’m using the repetitive motion as meditation. No podcasts, (some) music on low, mostly it is just the sound of the shovel and the birds.

2. Basking in the Sun (Literally)

We spend so much time under artificial lights. Today, I’m making sure that even while I’m pulling weeds, taking fallen branches down to the fire pit, or tidying up the yard, I’m taking "sun breaks." I’ll stop for a full minute, close my eyes, and just let the sun hit my face. It’s like a battery recharge for your mood.

3. Walking Among the Flowering Trees

The best part of the chores today is the commute between them. Walking from the shed in the meadow to the garden beds means passing under the flowering dogwoods. I’m making a point to actually look up at the blooms and new leaves instead of just looking down at the dirt. It reminds me why I love having a yard in the first place.

My takeaway… Chores are still chores, but doing them in the sun makes them feel a whole lot lighter.

Are you tackling any "productive peace" projects this weekend? I’d love to hear what you’re working on!