Take Your Time Do it Right

I’M BACK!! Did you do it? Are you wondering what I’m talking about? Well let me tell you. Last week I talked about taking time for yourself. I challenged everyone to take the day or start with baby steps and take a few hours and pamper yourself. Did you do it? Don’t worry, if you didn’t read last week’s post here it is, Real Love.

So here’s my story. I took the baby steps route. Friday I left work a few hours early and went to the mall to do some window shopping. I didn’t need anything and I used the time to get my steps in. I had my earbuds in listening to my happy music playlist. It was relaxing, I felt like I had my own theme music as I walked the lonely halls of the mall. Leisurely going in and out of different stores, no rush, and no fuss. As I’m writing this I realized this was pathetic. I can do better than this. So when I got home I remembered what I did in the past to relax and get away from it all. Now I am going to expose myself and tell my dirty little secret.

Once a month, I would add an appointment on my work calendar, a full day of “doctor’s appointments”. On that scheduled day I would get up in the morning, get dressed and leave the house as if I were going to work. Hence the reason for the quotes above, I did not go to work that day and of course did not have any actual doctor’s appointments. Not telling my child and/or my boyfriend (wow that is a weird title when you get to a certain age, should I call him my man-friend or life partner okay I digress) that I was playing hooky. I would schedule a mani/pedi and a 60 minute massage (different locations). I mean technically couldn’t the nail tech and the masseuse be considered healthcare professionals? I’m just saying. A day of pampering and the excitement of playing hooky made it an adventure. Because of course, I couldn’t do this in the town that I live in and risk seeing a co-worker or a family member. I would travel to a town not to far away and not worry about anyone recognizing me. Between appointments I would go somewhere that I have never been before to have a nice quiet lunch, take my Kindle and read a book while enjoying my meal. Now that I am in reminiscence mode, I remember having this amazing salad with prosciutto, pears, walnuts, spinach, and a champagne vinaigrette. The little cafe had a fireplace that I set next too while reading my book. What a day. Sidebar, I could probably recreate that salad at home.

This can be done on a budget as well. My favorite place to find discounts for a day of pampering is Groupon. This site always has discounts for spas and you may luck up on a few discounts for restaurants. So here we are another weekend, a long one for some of us. Get out there and take care of your mental state. Don’t forget, I will be asking.