Spa party for one— Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask
IT WASN’T too long ago when my usual sunny disposition dissipated into thin air and left nothing but Monday blues that spilled well over into the next two weeks. I was in a constant state of annoyance and it was exhausting trying to keep myself from snapping at even the most inconsequential things. A few people noticed, much to my chagrin, and to say that they could easily read my non-verbal cues (quite easily my facial expressions) is like undermining my ability to effectively hide my emotions and dampen my dreams of becoming Emily Thorne. She was always so stoical, to a fault, but I loved that about her.
What I initially thought was just a bad case of too much missing the husband who is currently away at work turned out to be a serious and deliberate act of spreading myself too thin.
Mothers lead busy lives— stay-at-home moms, working moms, work-from-home moms or if you’re like Esme who is a mom for all intents and purposes (to be so Edward Cullen about it), have a lot on our plates that it’s so easy to lose ourselves trying to juggle everything all at once. Indulging in a little me-time may sound like a distant dream or a selfish attempt to sit motherhood out, but one has to remember that to be able to take care of a family, or a person even, one must be in a good and healthy state to do so. As how flight safety instructions put it, you must secure your oxygen mask on first but before attempting to help another person.
Carving out time to indulge in mommy me-time is beneficial for our well-being as well as that of our family’s. Me-time doesn’t necessarily require spending a fortune as we can do it right in the comforts of our own home and we only need as little as 20 minutes
to reset, and gain a new and fresh perspective on life. Here are a few things you can try to keep you from burning out.
1.) Get lost in a book. Find time to catch up on your reading and finish that book that’s been sitting on your bedside table since God knows when.
2.) Grow a green thumb. To borrow the words of Veronica Shoffstall, “plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.” There’s happiness in finding new buds in your very own garden.
3.) Learn something new. Studies show that the more you continue learning new things, the more you are challenging and stimulating your brain thus improving cognitive function and lowering your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. So be it a new hobby or discovering a talent, find a new interest that you can re-visit whenever you feel like you’re in a rut. Not only will you combat the humdrum routine of everyday life, you will also reap the benefits later on in life.
4.) Try a new recipe. Cooking might sound like a chore but it is actually a stress-reliever for some. While I was trying to make my way out of the rut I was in, I found joy in making kyaraben for Vania. It was a new creative outlet for me and a new “dining” experience for Vania. That’s a win-win situation right there.
5.) Rosé S’il Vous Plaît Put on a good music, kick back and relax. Need I say more?
6.) Declutter. If organizing your closet, shoe cabinet or pantry is therapeutic for you, I don’t see why you can’t do it whenever you have the time. De-stress, and less mess. Ahhh, yes!
7.) Go for a short walk and get a massive dose of fresh air.
8.) Take a long hot shower. There’s nothing like warm steam to relax sore muscles and open pores—yes, it can double as a cleansing step, too.
9.) Host a spa party for one. Whip out all your skin care products and get to pampering right away. I like to “stretch” out my routine for the very reason that I like the meditative aspect of a carefully curated skin care regimen so let go of the sense of urgency and just let that charcoal mask completely dry out!
10.) Go on a good detox— skin, food, social media, social life. Spring-clean your body, mind and life. The more you focus on the good, the more you’ll see the healthier version of yourself. The healthier, the better, the happier you.