Have you ever caught yourself feeling a little jealous when you saw women going to the spa regularly; getting a manicure and pedicure every week; shopping in the middle of the day; going on regular vacations? I can admit, I have. My younger self would call them either spoiled housewives with rich husbands or Trust Fund babies. Although my younger self’s theory may be true in some instances, my older self realizes that these things were just their form of self-care.
Life can really take a toll on you if you let it. It can age you 20+ years, make you sick or worse. As women, we tend to look out for and after others – spouse, children, parents, employers, clergy, etc. – quicker that we will for ourselves. For some reason, it is branded in our minds that we are the fixers; problem solvers; superwomen. Here’s a little secret…We’re NOT! How can we take care of others when we can’t or aren’t focused on taking care of ourselves? This year, 2021, I vowed to be intentional with scheduling some “Tanya Time’. Tanya Time occurs every two weeks and includes activities as simple as reading a book for 30 minutes on my scheduled day to spending a few hours in the spa, pampering myself. Need some self-care ideas? Check out the list below:
- Take a 30-minute walk around the neighborhood.
- Curl up in front of the window and read a book.
- Sit down, Relax and Listen to your favorite song(s) for a couple of hours.
- Get a massage.
- Get a manicure and/or pedicure.
- Go buy a new outfit and/or shoes.
- Go buy a new handbag.
- Journal and write out your thoughts/feelings.
- Light an incense or candle and meditate.
- Take yourself to brunch, lunch, or dinner.
- Catch a matinee.
- Go for a walk around the lake.
- Go outside and enjoy the fresh air.
- Start that new hobby that you’ve been meaning to start for the past few years.
- Get a blanket and lay out in your yard at night to look at the moon and stars.
- Craft.
- Color in a coloring book.
- Take a hot bubble bath with candles lit all around.
- Take a nap in the middle of the day.
- Go for a drive with the windows down.
Self-care doesn’t have to be expensive. However, self-care is so necessary. Self-care aides in our mental stability and enhances our overall mood. I encourage you to get a planner, schedule your self-care days and really put forth the effort to stick to taking that time for yourself!
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