Maybe the cats are on to something?!
There’s something almost instinctive about the first stretch of longer days. The sun comes out, the air shifts, and suddenly people start moving. We notice the weeds. The gutters. The cluttered garage. We make lists. We tell ourselves this is the weekend we finally “catch up.”
And certainly, there’s satisfaction in getting things done. Caring for our homes and responsibilities matters. But I also want to gently make the case for something else: not giving every ounce of renewed energy back to productivity.
The world has felt heavy for a long time now. People are tired in ways that sleep alone does not fix. Money is tight. Stress is constant. Many families are carrying quiet worry every single day. In times like these, rest is not laziness. Connection is not wasted time. Small moments of enjoyment are not indulgent.
Some of the most therapeutic things available to us are still completely free.
Walk slowly around the block without turning it into exercise. Sit in the sunshine for ten minutes and actually notice the warmth on your face. Watch your grandkids at the park instead of checking your phone. Call your mother. Call your adult children. Call your oldest friend just to say hello and hear their voice for a few minutes.
Human beings regulate each other emotionally. We settle through connection, rhythm, sunlight, movement, familiarity, and moments of safety. Cats seem to understand this perfectly. They find the patch of sunlight and simply rest there without guilt. There may be something worth learning in that.
And for many people, slowing down can initially feel uncomfortable. We have become so accustomed to measuring our worth by what we accomplish that stillness can feel unproductive, even irresponsible. But nervous systems are not machines. They require recovery, pleasure, and moments of quiet in order to function well over time. Children especially benefit when adults are emotionally present rather than perpetually distracted by tasks. Most people will not remember whether the flower beds were perfectly weeded. They will remember sitting on the porch with you. They will remember laughter, conversations, trips to the park, and feeling emotionally safe in your presence.
So yes, mow the lawn if it needs mowing. Clean the garage if it’s driving you crazy. But try not to spend every extra hour proving your usefulness.
Leave some room for being alive, too.
