Shutdown Food for Thought: It's OK to Laugh

In the style of a typical Friday, I'm guessing we're all in that "end of the week" mindset where we're tired, slap-happy, and ready for the weekend. For as weird as this has been, I want to encourage you to put work and school aside and try to enjoy as much of a normal weekend as possible while still social-distancing and not travelling. That becomes harder to do when we've been working virtually all week feeling tied to our devices looking for updates, news, connections, etc., but please take some time to disconnect. Give your brain and your eyes a break. Put that phone on Do Not Disturb, close that Laptop/Chromebook lid, and take some time for yourself. There will be plenty of time to get that inbox cleaned up on Monday morning when you open it back up.
In that slap-happy Friday vein, I know we've all heard the cliche that laughter is the best medicine. On a personal note, it took some good old-fashioned belly laughs with my family after my Dad passed away a few years ago for me to truly subscribe to that cliche, but now I do wholeheartedly. So, I just thought I'd share a few of my favorite memes from this past week to hopefully give you a little chuckle and get to the weekend.

No other statement has more perfectly described my wife on Monday morning of this past week.  Sorry, Helen, but it took less than two hours to wipe that whiteboard and replace the perfect plan with a workout.

Hey, something is better than nothing, right?

I'm sure all of us could get on board with this one...

Those of us with our own kids might sympathize with this one.  I'm not saying this schedule matches my family 100%, but it's close enough to strike a nerve with me.  The only thing missing is the part where they turn into rabid, fighting raccoons any time they enter the same room as the other.

But really, in all seriousness, make sure to take some time to take a break for yourself this weekend. Those of us that are caretakers, and I know there are plenty of us, need to remember that we need to take care of ourselves if we are going to continue taking care of everyone else. Part of that is remembering to take a break. Home all week or not, tomorrow kicks off the weekend. Use it to refresh and recharge. I'll be back Monday morning in your inbox!