Assignment: Medium-Size "Love To" List

For a super planner like me, addicted to busy-busy-busy, planning a day of absolutely nothing seems like the perfect antidote, luxurious even. If Monday is jam-packed then Tuesday is rest, creating a balance logical to most people.Turns out, when it comes to free time, I am not most people. This approach is too overwhelming for me (hence yesterday's mood). And yes, I see the irony is being overwhelmed by too much free time. Apsht.A few weeks ago, I started making little lists. When the empty space of the day would start to crush my work-a-holic soul, I would jot down simple things that I enjoy and could do with my free time. They became Love To lists (I just made that up. I may change it). This was working, but again, yesterday's mood was not overthrown. In fact, all day my mind was blank, like I was in a fight or flight panic over WHAT TO DO with my time and I couldn't think straight enough to even name "Take a bath" or "Read a book".Pathetic, I know.Of course I bring all of this to therapy. And here is where we both decide that if I'm going to to go all CT on this problem's ass, then "doing nothing" isn't going to work. I need some type of structure.My little assignment, which I don't usually receive b/c that would just feed into my issues, is to list things I enjoy doing to replace the sessions I'll be missing as my therapist heads for maternity leave. Then, I'll use some of the $ I'm not spending on sessions to essentially treat myself.Aka: Me Time. And doesn't that make the shame gremlins swirl?It's like a bigger version of the Love To list I mentioned above and a smaller version of a Life List (too daunting right now). Oh and you know so much crap is coming up around thinking I don't deserve that time or that I don't work hard enough to earn that time or that, ahem, I don't give myself enough credit. All topics I'm sure we'll be visiting in the near future.I'm also seeing a connection between this medium-sized task, the pull to draw inward during this Pisces vibe and the possibility of doing the Artist's Way during that chunk of time I'm off of therapy. All the ideas point to "Take care of yourself" and "Create".I'm trying - I'm blogging more, trying to listen to my body, and now I'm drawing (some of my doodles are in this post). It feels right to grow in this direction. Even my horoscope says:

Artistic activities or those involving healing are enhanced today, Pisces. Whatever you try is going to be more a part of your very being than it would be at other times. Love, art, psychic or spiritual activities - all should take on a new meaning for you at this time. This condition should last for a long time. Make the most of this energy now and your skills should continue to grow.

And my new mantra, also courtesy of my horoscope:

Change does not have to be intense and traumatic -

but it does take work.