Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Do you ever have a day to yourself? Do you ever have a few hours to yourself? I think it’s so important to do this when you can. A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to do this. When my kids were younger and in elementary and middle school, I took off one day a year while they were in school just for me. In the summer, I had a babysitter come a few times a summer to give me a few hours. There is also your kids’ father – ha! Tom was able to hold down the fort, too. He never gave me a hard time about needing my ME time. Anyway, no matter what stage in life you are in, I urge you to take some time to yourself.
Step One:
Do not feel guilty. You work hard all the time and are always there for everyone in your life. Put on your oxygen mask first, yada yada.
The rest of the steps for me (yours will look different!):
Sleep in later than normal.
Go to gym (start coffee before so it’s ready and my reward for the gym)
Devotional and blog reading with lit candle with coffee mug warmer going – can I be anymore high maintenance? Currently using a beautiful Capri Volcano candle given to me by my bestie when I brought her food for a surgery – I said you negated my good deed t by giving me a gift for said deed!
My husband is spoiled so I still made him his yogurt parfait for work and lay out his banana and 3 cutie clementines. I’m anxious to get him off to work – today is about me adiós! Don’t let the door hit ya on the way out!
Kitchen clean up – Yup left the clean dishes in the dishwasher before bed and now the dirties are marinating in Dawn. Oh well. I CAN go to bed before the kitchen is clean. I sleep just fine. He, he.
*Bonus -The Big Boo Cast Podcast came out so I get to listen to it while cleaning.
*Bonus – Just got a lovely new springy Method kitchen cleaner that makes me want to clean!
Empty trash because the next day is trash day and also empty the kitchen recycling bin. Decide it’s time to get rid of random liqueurs for cocktails and alcohols I don’t like. Ain’t nobody got time for that or space for that. I have a built-in bar that maybe I can one day make look cute and show you. I also put random glassware in a box for Goodwill. I had a couple of other bags in the back of my car for Goodwill.
Make my breakfast and enjoy it outside with my book because it was 60 degrees! Somebody picked a good ME day!
Take a body shower and do hair minimally and get dressed minimally.
Do Goodwill drop off. Feel great and lighter!
Go get a spray tan (Gotta use my month’s membership, you know?)
Go to Trader Joe’s – my happy grocery store. I have a list, but I do let fun things jump into my cart. I get meal inspo, too.
Unfortunately I had an appointment at the Apple Store. I waited and waited while watching several geniuses milling about. Finally, my genius was ready for me. It was fine. It was just annoying. I was there for one of my kids’ Airpods.
Drive home. Unload. Make myself lunch. Eat on the patio with my book.
Do laundry. Clean a bit more. Fill bird feeders. How you do you know you’re old? You feed birds and watch birds and then talk about it.
Reward myself with my favorite chair on patio and my book again.
Get up to move laundry and fold laundry but literally the chair is my home from 12ish to 4ish.
Start dinner.
Tom comes home and dinner is at stopping point so I am able to walk with him.
Eat dinner.
Watch Tom watch a show while I do computer and phone things.
Clean up dinner.
Shower.
Watch Bravo’s Summer House – a guilty pleasure.
Bed around 9:30.
I had the best day! I know it doesn’t sound like much, but I felt human again. I had been on autopilot and the slowing down and the savouring of my time, the sunshine, and the time at home did something amazing for my mental health. Please take care of yourself! What do you need? Tell your loved ones what you need. It’s ok. You are not superwoman.
Tell me what you will do with your ME time in the comments.
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
That sounds like a wonderful day!
LikeLike
I wished I had left the house one more time but I was worried about afternoon traffic. Other than that it was perfect!
LikeLike
Love this post! So true about the birds. Hahaha
LikeLike
Thank you! Ha!
LikeLike
I feed the birds too. I got overly excited when I saw a red cardinal and blue jay this winter. I guess the older I get I notice the little things more I was telling everyone I spoke to I saw a robin (we live in PA) which we don’t have during the winter.
LikeLike
Bwahahaha, don’t let the door hit ya on the way out – ha!!! I hear you. Since we both work from home and spend practically all of our time together when my husband does have some place to be I am anxious for him to go! I love my alone time.
Glad you had a great day with great weather. A day like this is definitely what I need to feel like myself again!
xo,
Kellyann
LikeLike
Good for you! You work so hard and this is great to do for self care. I laughed at the bird comment! Have a good day!
LikeLike
What a great day! I do love a mix of relaxing /slow time and productivity. Like how you “batch” your errands – I kind of do that on those kinds of days off – force myself to be productive for an hour to then do what I want the rest of the day 😆
I love a mani or pedi. I love to treat myself with a Diet Coke from CFA 🙂
LikeLike
It’ll be a few weeks before I can have the house to myself for a me day! I’m okay, though. I stayed home yesterday, contrary to what I’d said I would do. I was tired of getting up and getting dressed early for the hospital, so it felt luxurious to stay home and lounge. I did all the house things and some computer things, and I finished another book. I know that Todd was here, but it was almost like he wasn’t here. He was pretty quiet all of yesterday, because he was tired from not sleeping the night before. I’m going to work for two hours today, so I’m excited about that, strange though it may seem, and then I’ll have a grocery pick-up, and later on I may get my nails done. I can’t leave him for too long alone with the dogs, because they require frequent bathroom trips outside. Those are all things I like doing on a me day, though, which is why I mention them.
Yours sounds lovely!
LikeLike
I would have taken myself out to lunch, all alone just me! Sounds good!
LikeLike
Next time! I definitely am embracing that more!
LikeLike
A good friend of mine used to call these days “lounging days”. I call them mental health days. Lol I stay in baggy, soft clothes all day and will lounge on the couch and watch what people call “chick flicks”. The Women, Under The Tuscan Sun, etc. I’ll eat snacks, read a bit. There is no laundry done, or cooking. No phone or computer. It is just a slow, relaxing day. One time I tried knitting w/ a movie on. I will say my children are grown and out of the house so this is easier to do now and looks different than if they were still living here. My husband is pretty good about it because this only happens maybe once a year. For dinner, we do take-out. Not much but works for me.
LikeLike
Yes! That sounds like a great day and I was hoping to have a traditional winter snow day to do that, but the three we had we had to work from home.
So important to do this from time to time.
LikeLike
Great day, Amy! I have never taken a full day, but I love to have time to do everything extremely slow! You know, really lull around!
OMG, the birds! I’m old! But so is my 22 year old, she’s the one that buys treats for the birds!
LikeLike
Do it! It’s really good for you!
Aw, she is an old soul and a sweet soul.
LikeLike
She is! How can you be such a people reader!?
I’m really happy to have find you!
LikeLike
I have many talents that go unappreciated. Ha!
I feel the same!
LikeLike
Your day sounded perfect Amy! Really wish we had a Trader Joe’s up here in Alberta, a girl can dream! Lol
Have a great Tuesday, Holly
LikeLike
I really loved it. Do you have a small specialty grocery that you could use as a sub?
I hope you had a great week!
LikeLike
It is nice to have a day to yourself!
LikeLike
It was so good for me!
LikeLike
Yes to the bird feeding and watching! And doesn’t a good podcast make cleaning so much better? Trader Joe’s is definitely happy shopping for me too.
LikeLike
Right? It’s so fun! It really does. I need to choose music more, but since I discovered podcasts, those tend to be my choice. I have your recs on my phone for spring break. Excited to find more podcasts. So fun! I feel like the best version of myself at TJ’s – ha!
LikeLike
What a great day! I try to take one day for myself too, but I end up scheduling appointments or things that aren’t so rejuvenating. You had great weather for your day!!
LikeLike
I think the key is having one day unscheduled! But, you have to get those things done, too!
LikeLike
Oh, a me day sounds wonderful! Since we’re retired, my husband is.always.around! At our last house, which was a two-storey, I could go upstairs to escape. This house is so much smaller so I don’t feel as if I escape as easily. And, I’m not going up in the attic to do it!
I guess I take my me times in increments…facials, library, park. Mike doesn’t have that same sense of needing alone time. Is that a guy thing?
Your day sounds like a wonderful day for you to relax and rejuvenate!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
LikeLike
It was! Wish I had taken myself to lunch or gone out once more. Ha – that is true. I think you’re right about guys.
BTW – every time I comment on your blog I feel like I subscribe again. I hope you don’t think I’m unsubscribing – just slow at learning how your commenting works – duh!
LikeLike
Amy,
This sounds like a great day I would have too. I so relate to you and wish you were in my town. I suck at getting together with friends and with my husband divorcing me after 33 years of being together I have too much alone time. I am so glad you and your husband walk and talk. Yes, losing a pet is so sad. I know coming home without them there is the hardest. I adopted a new cat from our shelter last June and she has been good for me. I like older cats. I love consignment stores too and buy most of my clothes, shoes, purses from there. We have 4 women owned and all good. I stop at our Clothes Mentor too. Trying to cut down on spending as I know I will have less $$ after divorce. It is just the reality for women. It sucks. My husband moved out October 2022, back July 2023 and back out again in September. He has been in relationships and that is so painful. I am in no hurry for this process as so, so painful. Thank you for sharing your life, work stressors, shopping, cooking with me. I appreciate you and am thankful for good women like you in our world.
A faithful reader,
Christa
LikeLike
Thank you for the sweet, sweet message. I will tell you what I told my sister – she has gone through two divorcees. You may have to be the person to reach out because sometimes people just don’t think or don’t know. Maybe say “I’m ready to get out and do more if your hub doesn’t want to do something or you don’t mind a third wheel” and laugh. Ask a friend if they want to consignment shop with you. They might love you to show them the ropes. Change is hard and I can only imagine the feelings you are working through. Do you have therapy available to you through work or church? It might be nice to talk out some of the feelings?
I will have you in my prayers, Christa. I want you to live a healthy, happy life with or without a partner. I have a feeling if you are open to new possibilities they will find their way to you.
LikeLike