There are so many people who find it very hard to sit down and do nothing. I know I am always ready to move on to the next thing on my to-do list. Most of us set out to achieve a particular set of tasks each day, or one big task (like cleaning out the attic or garage), but can be problematic if we let ourselves feel too much pressure to “be productive.”

When I get an idea in my head, I can’t get any rest until I do it. Years ago, people felt the need to focus on one task at a time, and didn’t burden themselves to fill a free day with so many things to accomplish. Nowadays, many us of have grown too expect so much of ourselves in too little time. It seems like the busier we are, the more we get used to doing, and we have gone from single-tasking to multitasking.

Most of us feel a real sense of accomplishment when we get things done. Crossing things off our to-do this releases dopamine, which regulates pleasure. According to Science News, “the release of dopamine also increases motivation to take on more.” This can create an endless cycle of productivity addiction. Personally, it feels good for a while, but I really need to learn how to turn it off, because it is not necessarily good for you in the long term, because burnout is absolutely real, and you will end up accomplishing nothing at all.

It is very important to find downtime in your day. According to Harvard Business Review, “creating the space for downtime increases productivity. Subject to heavy workloads and never-ending to-do lists, it’s easy to put our heads down and charge through tasks, thinking we have no time for days off, free evenings, or weeklong vacations. But driving too hard without breaks can make us less productive and less focused.” They found that downtime can dramatically improve mental and physical health, and our personal relationships too. For example, they found that employees who unplugged and took time off had reduced rates of serious health issues like coronary heart disease.

Here are some good ways to make time for yourself:

Take your dog for a long walk. You and your pet get some cardio which is good for all aspects of your health. Spending time alone with each other is vital to your dog’s mental health as well as your own.

Rethink your schedule. Make sure you schedule some downtime for yourself, as a reward for all you did that day. It will help you recharge and become more mindful. Decide when you’re going to unplug, and stick to it.

Put your phone on silent for a while. Easier said than done!  Perhaps consider making a “phone time-out” for your family too.

Find a hobby you enjoy doing and make time for it. I have been needlepointing since I was a teenager. It is therapeutic for me in so many ways. It allows me to turn my mind off, relax, and just enjoy the moment. Though I hadn’t made time for it in the past, I picked it up again this year, and I realized how much I missed it. Now I make time each day to do some needlepoint, and I’ve been enjoying seeing my progress.

Meditation can help as well.  If you do not meditate, perhaps you can find another way to rest and reset your mind and body. There are some great apps that make it easy to practice, so you don’t have to get started alone.

It may be hard for many of us to carve out some downtime in this 24/7 world. I think the pandemic has proven to all of us that we can allow ourselves some “me” time without the guilt, and still complete our daily tasks. In this current world, we need to be more vigilant than ever about cultivating the discipline to take downtime when the moment calls for it.

Onto the recipe. Another great dessert that is easy to make, but will taste like you have been cooking all day– you can use that extra time doing whatever makes you happy! As Allison Roman says, “if strawberry doughnuts are your thing, then this cake is absolutely your thing.” A classic, old-fashioned buttermilk cake with bits of berries strewn throughout, this cake manages to taste just like your favorite fried treat (without the frying!). The sweet strawberries are the perfect filling for this delicate cake, which gets its moistness from the buttermilk and eggs. It bakes up into a beautiful cake that resembles a sweet doughnut with bits of delightful strawberry in every bite.  

This recipe is courtesy of Allison Roman and will serve 8 to 10 people who can treat themselves to a delicious slice of cake.

Ingredients for Old-Fashioned Strawberry Cake:

½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick), softened, plus more for pan
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
⅓ cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
¾ cups buttermilk
10 ounces strawberries, hulled and sliced 1/4-inch thick
3 tablespoons demerara sugar, for sprinkling (you can use granulated sugar in a pinch)

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Smear or brush a bit of butter onto the bottom of a 9-inch cake pan and line with parchment paper (either cut to fit the bottom, or leaving some hanging over the edges for easy removal).

Whisk flour, baking powder and salt together in a medium bowl.

In a stand mixer (or using an electric hand mixer and a large bowl), beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla together on medium-high, periodically scraping down the sides of the bowl to make sure everything incorporates, until the mixture is pale, light, fluffy and creamy, about 5 minutes.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating to blend between additions. (This is a good time to scrape down the sides again.)

Reduce the mixer speed to low and carefully add half the flour mixture, followed by half the buttermilk.

Repeat with remaining flour mixture and buttermilk, beating just until no large lumps remain.

Using a spatula, gently fold in half the strawberries and transfer the batter to the prepared cake pan.

Scatter with remaining strawberries and sprinkle with demerara sugar. 

Bake until cake is puffed, deeply golden brown on the top and pulling away at the sides, 45 to 50 minutes. (It should spring back slightly when pressed in the center and appear fully baked where the strawberries meet the cake.)

Let cake cool completely before removing it from the pan (either by inverting or lifting with the parchment lining).

The cake can be baked up to three days ahead and stored tightly wrapped at room temperature, or refrigerated.

It’s that simple!