I’d been contemplating for months booking a mini-getaway at a local hotel or resort, just to clear my head and get some uninterrupted rest. You know how it is when you have young kids – weekends are no longer yours, and you find yourself surrendering to the dozens of “mommy” calls in the morning and the ever-growing list of things to do around the house.
I hadn’t gotten around to making a reservation, but hubby gifted me a hotel stay for Christmas. Chile!! Can I just say I had never packed an overnight bag so quickly?!
I grabbed the essentials, along with President Obama’s new book, a few coloring books, and a bottle of Malbec (which, who are we kidding, is most certainly an essential item LOL).
The staycation was great – with the exception of a false fire alarm at 1am (ugh), but the experience spoke volumes to me about how I can change my approach to self-care.
Sometimes all you need is a physical change of environment
Let’s face it. It’s hard to practice self-care in a busy, bustling, noising house. You need a physical space that is interruption-free. We all tend to make the best of it in our homes by simply shutting the bedroom door, or “hiding out” in a particular part of the house, but there’s nothing like literally separating yourself from the sounds of the house (laughing, ringing phone, doorbell, television, etc.).
Go with the flow
I had my Christmas weekend all mapped out, and of course this pleasant surprise quickly changed those plans. And honestly, what I had planned just wasn’t that important in the grand scheme of things. While we’re used to planning every minute of every day, we should be open to what the day will bring.
It’s okay to have nothing to do
The first thing I thought when my husband told me to pack my overnight bag was, “What am I going to do while I’m there?” I mean, I could finally get all those things done that I can’t seem to complete at home, right? But the whole purpose of the staycation was to break away from the rigid schedule and the pressures of getting tasks done. After I checked into the hotel, I stretched out on the bed (after sanitizing the room, of course), and dozed off and on with the television on for a while, and treated myself to a nice dinner.
I can’t remember the last time I had nothing to do – and it felt great! I’m starting to master the art of “just being”…there’s something about stillness that is therapeutic and helps to reset and regulate your thoughts and emotions.
Your family will survive without you
A family friend jokingly asked, “OMG Dionne, what are Ed and the kids going to do with you gone for so long?”, as if I was traveling to Dubai for a month. “What if there’s an emergency?”, he said.
If 2020 hasn’t taught me anything else, it’s that we have a good foundation, and we gon’ be alright! And um…H-E-L-L-O??? There’s another adult in the house who is totally capable of taking care of the kids, and making the right decisions in the event of an emergency.
We need to model self-care for our children
On my way out of the door, the kids wanted to know where I was going, and I was completely honest with them. I told them that mommy was going to stay the night elsewhere and get some much-needed rest.
Outside of enjoying a good book, I don’t recall ever seeing my own mother take the time to rest, unless she was sick. Our children need to see that their parents have interests outside of the home, and that we require space to rest and recharge.
Needless to say, I foresee more regularly-scheduled staycations in my future! It was great to come back home after having a full-night’s rest and a clear mind. It made all the difference in the world – such a short amount of time.
When was your last staycation? Did you truly enjoy it? Share your experience below.