Help! I'm possessed, by the demon of busyness.

So I took a couple of days off. As seems to be the case often, I only take leave when my brain hits a hard stop, my blood stream seems to now be purely filled with fumes, and I start speaking gibberish at meetings. Not what wellness coaches would call best practice, but that's me. So I took two days off. I should probably have taken more, but the genius in me figured if I take Thursday & Friday, then couple that with the weekend I should be dandy by Monday! I played the system. I think.

I really should have taken more days. It's been months since I last took leave, and every time I thought of doing it there was always something. An important deadline to be met. Some work that I just couldn't leave undone. A critical meeting that I couldn't afford to miss. And my favourite one, what exactly i'm I taking leave to go do?

I can feel the couch bums raising their eye brows wondering what's wrong with me. I told you already. I'm possessed. So yesterday I woke up at 5.30 am, my usual wake up time. I'd switched off my alarm so i could sleep till lunch time. Apparently my circadian rhythm is on point, so there I was, 5.30am, eyes wide open, staring at my blissfully asleep wife with envy. I had the naughty thought to pinch her then act asleep. I didn't do it. Years of marriage have taught me the repercussions of coming between her and her blessed sleep.

So I went back to sleep, or rather tried. I put on some ocean sounds meditation thing on Youtube. I tossed, I turned, I had a fitful dream, then another one, then I thought I was drowning in the ocean, so I switched off the damn youtube video. At 7am I gave up and went to look for my morning coffee, another ritual. I've been reading this Mario Puzo novel. That's the guy who wrote The Godfather. Mafia stories intrigue me. I haven't had time to read it properly, so guess what, a full day with nothing to do? I was going to indulge in Mario. It would be heaven. Or so i thought.

45 minutes later, I was ready for an activity change. Don't get me wrong, The Last Don had rocked my world for those 45 minutes. I just happen to be the type of creature that likes to indulge in a variety of activities in succession. I was going to go back to the novel later, I just needed to switch to something else for a while. I decided to watch some TV. Netflix and chill. What better way to kill a few hours? House of Cards. I've been meaning to finish that Series. My coffee had grown cold so I went and warmed it, back to the Couch, switched on Season 4 episode 1 and settled in for some political thrill.

All credit to me, I watched two episodes. They were great. Claire is finally going gang ho on Francis, taking her rightful place by his side, and he's not having it. Brilliant TV! But I was ready to switch to another activity. My back was hurting from all these cushions. My coffee was finished. I wanted another one. My brain was going to sleep. Which I know is the whole point of taking a break, but I didn't like that. I like being engaged. That's why reading is so relaxing for me. I can conjure up images in my mind, picture the characters, build mansions, go on quests, fall in love, it's a glorious experience. So I went back to Mario Puzo. It was 10 am. Still morning, with a whole day ahead of me, and nothing to do. Lord help me.

I could go on and on but I think you get it. I'm the kind of person who needs a to-do list of relaxing activities when he's on leave. For a creative problem solver, I am painfully uncreative when it comes to how to just chill out. By the end of day one, I am ready to go back to work. To being busy. To thinking. To solving problems. To building things. I'm one of those strange folks who look forward to Monday. Don't judge me. I dread Fridays. They signal the beginning of a period of nothingness, filled with family activities and...nothingness. I hear of people who sleep in on Saturdays and I wonder what super powers they have. I hear colleagues talk of catching up on Movies like they are going to meet some old friends and I croak in puzzlement. A night out Partying no longer holds the appeal it had in yester years. Hangovers now feel like fatal Malaria attacks, so no thank you. I used to indulge in endless outdoor activities, but on doctor's instructions i'm barred from all physical activity (ok not all), and walking in the pack does not qualify as a physical activity for me.

Anyways, I made it through Day 1 without slitting my wrists. Today is day two. Same morning routine, save this time i decided to do some writing therapy and tell the world my problems. Now I feel like I should have started this article with, "Hello, my name is Alex, and i'm a Busyness Addict...". What do y'all do when you take three weeks leave from work? Help!!!