Treat Yo'Self!

Who knew what 2020 would bring?!

Let’s face it..

We are all in need of some pampering right now. This global pandemic has thrown us all for a loop and stress is running amuck in our country. Maybe you’re a parent dealing with the worry of homeschooling or the health and safety of them going back to school. Maybe you’re someone who’s endlessly searching for a job because unemployment is running out. Maybe you’re someone whose high risk and feeling a little cabin fever… Or maybe you fall somewhere in between.

Never the less, your mental health matters. Part of taking care of your mental needs is to stimulate your senses that spark the endorphins that bring you joy.

And how do we do that?

TREAT YO’SELF!

 

Here are some [cheap] ways you can pamper yourself:

1. Call a friend to catch up. Is there someone you haven’t talked to in awhile? Put the kids down for a nap (or “quiet time”) and give her a call. Save it for the weekend if you have to and make your husband take the kids out to play for a while. Enjoy a nice, long chat that’s mostly about your friendship, not your kids. Feel happy because you’ve remembered old parts of yourself and gotten a verbal hug from a friend.

2. Have a cup of tea or coffee: You might do this every morning, but do you really enjoy it? Set out to enjoy it this time. Choose a nice-flavored beverage instead of the plain-old usual stuff. Take it to a comfortable spot and just sip it and enjoy it. It’s not about waking up, getting your caffeine fix, or simple hydration. No, it’s about a quiet moment with a soothing, delicious drink. Variation: wait till the kids are in bed and make it an “adult” beverage.

3. Take a warm bath: Make the bath warm, add some bubbles or herbs to make it fancy, light a candle, turn on some music, bring a book. Or just take a nap. Afterwards mix a drop of peppermint and lavender oil in with some coconut oil and massage it in your temple and neck and shoulders. This seeps into the muscles to continued relaxation.  

4. Have tea and cookies with a friend: Remember those days of long, uninterrupted face-to-face conversations over tea or coffee? And how they’re so far gone now? Well, find an afternoon where you can join your friend – at your place or hers, or virtually – alone to talk and share a snack. Catch up and enjoy!

5. Wear a fancy outfit on a regular day: We all are to the point where we just wear sweat pants and t-shirts all the time. Make-up? Who has time? And fancy clothes seem impractical. Maybe they are, but don’t you feel pretty and happy in them? Do your hair, put on make up, and wear earrings. Who cares if no one sees you?

6. Read a good book (or magazine): Who has time to read? But make the time. Take it in that bath with you, or just read during nap time or after your kids are in bed for the night. Sit back and get lost in the fantasy world of a novel, or just someone else’s life (like in a magazine). Make it a fun read, though — parenting tomes don’t count.

7. Buy yourself a little something! Buy yourself a pretty smelling candle and light it whenever you’re feeling stressed. The happy smell and cheerful flicker will lift your mood instantly. Other ideas are a new robe, cozy socks, a back massager, or a foot spa.

Take this time to appreciate the slow down! Soak up the little moments, stretch and just BREATHE!

Tips provided by The Art of Simple by: KATE TIETJE