Yesterday I had just about had it with . . . well, basically everything. I felt tired, stressed, sad, and generally OVER the current situation. But I did one thing right: I made the decision by noon that I was just going to give myself a full on BREAK.
Clearly I wasn’t able to pack up for a solo island vacation (though that sounds amazing). Instead, my break was freedom from my self-imposed goals, habits, standards. I did have to work, generally wrapping things up before the start of a week off (!). Away messages were set, inboxes were (somewhat) emptied. But I will admit I did not work with the same intensity I usually do.
I slept in (until 7, let’s not get crazy)
I did not work out.
I did not meditate.
I did not fill out the daily page in my bullet journal (I KNOOOOOW!)
I ate whatever the #*#@!(# I felt like (including a Haagen Dazs bar, obviously)
The only thing I read was the start of Sex and Vanity (compelling so far, I love Kevin Kwan!)
I walked a total of ~3000 steps the entire day (says my Garmin)
I may have watched an episode of Schitt’s Creek during ‘work hours’. (Not saying I did . . . or that I didn’t)
I let the kids start evening screen time 40 minutes early so that I could clean up the house in peace
I spent a restorative hour or so listening to light and comforting podcasts (Forever 35, Girls Next Door, Spawned, Edit Your Life) while writing things in my bullet journal. It turns out this is a very relaxing combo of things to do for me. I spent time thinking about how I’d like to spend this week OFF (!!!) from work. FUN FACT: I have not had more than 1 work day off in a row since winter break, which was not particularly fun since Josh had to work the whole time.
And you know what? I do feel better today. Much more motivated. Excited to make the most of this much-needed time away from my workplace. Excited to have a week off where my husband is actually off too (it has been a year since this has happened).
SO, a reminder to myself: sometimes a great habit is to just say #$(*@&#-IT and abandon all of the ‘good’ habits that are self-imposed and just wallow in the experience of a less-than-ideal day. I feel better now and zero regrets.
ONWARD AND UPWARD AND OMG I’M ON “VACATION”!!!!
13 Comments
glad to see you’re feeling better already and i hope you can enjoy your week off as much!
I love love loved Sex and Vanity. Not sure if it was that amazing or I just needed the mental break. Hope you have a refreshing week!
Enjoy the week!
We may be looking at a staycation too. At first I considered just opening up my schedule to patients, but I don’t think travel is 2020 is really going to be a thing, so if we are staying home I will NOT work and we will plan some fun local activities and days at home and make the most of it! It is still time away from the responsibilities of work…
Enjoy, Sarah! Your habits will be there when you return 🙂
It took me a while to realize this, but turning all “achievement” and self-imposed, “healthy” habits off for a day is often a great reset for me. It takes effort and energy to be disciplined.
Love this! It’s a great reminder that a day off can be so helpful in resetting energy, and that it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. In the past I’ve been attached to doing habits every day, so I don’t “break the chain,” but I’ve gotten better at taking a day off and then returning to habits the next day without feeling guilty about skipping.
I hope you have a wonderful, much-deserved week off!!
watching [& rewatching] schitt’s screen has been my main form of self care during this whole time. it’s so good.
I had a pretty crazy week myself and lots of my normal habit stuff just didn’t fit in- or it would have been an uncomfortable stretch to make it all happen. I had to let go of some stuff this week too. I’m glad you had a pretty wide open day and were able to use it to recover. The worst is when you’re feeling like that and need a break but CAN’T take a break due to work/ other obligations/ etc.
oh i’ve been there many times before! but even then you can still take breaks from healthy eating, workouts, etc!
we all need a break from everything even good ones or the husband. hahha…. it makes us appreciate more what we do.
glad you feel better today.
i really like your new bullet journal layout, can you talk about more the weekly/monthly/yearly pages? I might get a journal today and finally get it started.
I am glad you gave yourself a much needed ‘break’. It’s necessary from time to time. I am also off this coming week. First real vacation since our FL trip in Florida. I have take a day off here or there but not a stretch of days. We are going up to my parents lake home for the week so it will be a nice getaway and a much-needed break from our house!
Enjoy your time off!!
Thank you for posting this. I’ve had days like this and knowing that others sometimes phone it in and may (or may not) watch, say, 30 Rock during work hours makes me feel less alone!