Issue #140 | October 16, 2026 | Previous issues​

Hey Reader,

I'm writing in my pajamas under my warm covers.

It's Thursday, 8 p.m. I should have been done writing my newsletter by now.

Usually, I write them on Thursday and schedule them to arrive in your inbox Friday morning at 6 a.m. That way, I don't miss a week.

But instead of spending the day writing, I went hiking with friends.

The leaves are changing here in the Hudson Valley, and who knows how much longer they'll last. Last year, the colors were dull and short-lived. But this year they're vibrant with varying shades of gold, orange, and deep red.

So, I chose to spend the entire day in nature rather than sit at my computer all day.

And it was worth it.

But this girl is cooked. LOL.

And yet, even after a beautiful day with friends, there's that little voice that says you should have stayed home. You could have gotten more done.

It's a constant battle between rest and the "list".

You know which list.

The never-ending to-do list

Do you ever sit down to rest only to find your brain continues to harass you about responsibilities?

Mine does this all the time.

I can be sitting somewhere perfectly comfortable, with a cup of black tea and a good book, and meanwhile my brain is conducting an inventory of everything I haven't finished (or started).

The laundry. The emails. The writing. The bills.

Cleaning.

Dinner.

And don't even get me started on other things I should be doing.

I've been thinking a lot about what it would mean to be free from being perpetually available and perpetually responsible.

Because there is always something that needs doing.

ALWAYS.

And if I have to wait until everything is done before I can rest, well, I suppose I'll be resting sometime around the year 2087 (or, more accurately, in the grave).

So I've been playing around with a rather rebellious idea.

What if I just decide I'm finished for the day?

Cue several gasps from the audience. 😲

Not because everything is done.

But because I'm done.

Imagine that.

Because otherwise, when does Anna get to just be Anna?

And what does Anna like to do best?

Write, of course!

On Tuesday I managed to squeeze in about thirty minutes of writing.

Now, in my ideal writer's life, I would have three (or more) glorious hours of uninterrupted time to write.

Preferably in a charming cottage with a view of the beach or of horses grazing. And absolutely nobody asking me questions or needing me for anything.

Instead, I got thirty minutes.

And you know what my first inclination was?

To discount it.

Oh, for crying out loud.

I WROTE.

Why can't that be enough?

I'm beginning to realize how often I do this to myself. I take something perfectly good and diminish it because it doesn't resemble the imaginary version I had in my head.

Thirty minutes of writing becomes a disappointing writing day.

An hour of rest becomes an hour I could have used more wisely.

And so on.

It's an exhausting way to live.

And from what I've seen lately, EVERYONE is exhausted.

What about you?

How was your week?

Are you waiting for permission to be finished before allowing yourself to do something you enjoy? Or simply rest because you need to?

You could paint yourself right into a boring corner of life by over-optimizing your schedule.

Life is full of wonderful things to explore.

Beautiful places to see (often right in your neighborhood).

I want to actually LIVE my life.

Not just organize and optimize it.

Sometimes that means abandoning a perfectly good plan or a neatly organized day just to go look at trees or leaves or flowers or clouds.

Yes, I know. The family needs clean clothes. They're hungry. Bills don't pay themselves.

But the reality is to-do lists NEVER get shorter.

And life NEVER gets longer.

So go enjoy a beautiful day outdoors with friends.

Guilt-free.

I promise your laundry has no other place to be, but you do.

With love,

Anna

P.S. Tell me, what's one thing you're going to do this weekend just because you WANT to? Hit reply. I'd love to hear!

​aferalhousewife.com​