I feel so rested today! I was only minimally functional yesterday, and skipped my workout in favor of lying on the couch. I took A to the orthodontist and that was the big outing for the day. We also went for a slow 30ish minute walk.
Josh did all of the more challenging parenting tasks including taking C & G to soccer (she apparently spent the entire time playing around in the dirt — her own sandbox?) and taking C to get glasses.
I slept approximately 9.5 hours last night and it was amazing. (G also slept beautifully and for the past 2 nights did not attempt to get out of bed even once. She DOES seem to do much better without a nap though on Friday she took a short one and did okay.)
I am reading Do Nothing by Celeste Headlee (prior BOBW guest!) which is all about overwork and the importance of rest. And I get it.
I can find it very hard to let go of my own self-imposed routines and expectations, even when I need a break. But it’s necessary sometimes. I often surprise myself at how just 1-2 days of intentional relaxing can serve as a reset.
Obviously I am not at the life stage where I can just put my feet up all day (though that honestly sounds amazing . . .) but yesterday was pretty close.
TODAY:
❏ Do the run I didn’t do yesterday
❏ Menu plan (including a minimalist Thanksgiving we are planning to make since we are staying home. Roasted chicken in lieu of turkey. Some kind of corn pudding (Unger family recipe, will obtain). Something green (green or kale salad with apples & nuts? Maybe this one?). And dessert — probably my non-traditional but totally delicious key lime pie with whipped cream.)
❏ Possible beach trip
We have decided not to travel over Christmas break (we had previously had the idea of going to Amelia Island to meet up with my sister, but she is rightfully concerned about driving so far with her now almost 1 year old). Nothing really seems worth the effort, expense, or potential COVID exposure. Not to mention the fact that G is still in that age group where travel sleep can be really dicey (and really unpleasant!).
Just more to look forward to in 2021 I guess – Josh and I were already dreaming up ideas. Future family ski trip . . . bike trip . . . hiking trip . . . and someday a family exploration of New Zealand? Time will tell I guess!
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I’m also deliberately observing Saturdays as OFF right now, doing putter-around-the-house stuff like reading, yard work, going through old magazines, etc. Also sleeping in.
Your minimalist T-giving sounds good. Ours is larger in terms of sides but we’re swapping with another single mom friend, and I really like leftovers.
I feel like I read Do Nothing…but remember absolutely nothing about it, so maybe not? I’d love a review.
Enjoy your Sunday!
Yay for a good night of sleep and G not fighting bed time. I bet you feel like a new woman! Our son slept in until almost 8 today (we are all battling a head cold) but I was up at 6 and could not fall back asleep. I know 6 is sleeping in for you, though! I’m in the final week of pregnancy so sleep is extra challenging right now. Can not wait to have this baby out of me!!
We are just doing a small 3-person holiday. And I am really mailing it in since I’m so restricted with my gestational diabetes diet. But my husband and son won’t care. We will still have turkey. I’ll make Christmas more special since I won’t be on a restricted diet anymore. If we were gathering with my family, I would bring my usual Brussels sprout salad, link below. I just buy them shredded and skip the fried onion part. It’s a really good salad so something to consider if your kids eat Brussels sprouts. Our son 100% wouldn’t!
https://iowagirleats.com/fall-shredded-brussels-sprouts-salad/
I am a big fan of the car nap as a way to transition from naps. It doesn’t work at a full day of school/day care obviously… but if I could get a toddler to take a 20 minute snooze in the car at an early-ish time (I tried to never have the wake up be after 2!) then I was ensured enough of a rest to get them through the day and even into a more peaceful, less intense bedtime sleep. And waking a child up from a car nap always seemed easier than from a bed/crib nap. It also worked during the transition from 2 naps to 1 – with my babies- with a short drive (with a 10-20 minute nap) between, say 9-10am (in my world, that worked). I usually took that drive whether or not I had anywhere to go. I live in a suburban-rural area so I got to explore lots of nice places and drives and could bring my other kids in the car and we’d listen to music. No one minded!
Glad you are feeling better. I get the feeling of not wanting to let go of self-imposed routines. I woke up with cold symptoms today and feeling blah, but am reluctant to let go of my exercise streak. Thanks for the reminder that it’s good to take care of yourself and break routine 🙂
We also have key lime pie at Thanksgiving! Although it’s not traditional, we find the flavor and temperature are especially nice after the usual heaviness of the meal itself. I am curious for your corn pudding recipe (if it is share-able) …
this happened to me exactly. Saturday I was zero energy and did nothing, sunday I was full energy and still did nothing because I love doing nothing these days. will blog about it, how my productivity/efficiency self changed during the pandemic to slowdown and value what’s real.
Thanks for sharing the fact you are finding it super hard to let go of your own self imposed routines and goals. I can totally relate and sometimes feels like a crazy person! Definitely do have some breaking points from time to time where I tell myself “I am just going to let go of everything today and go with the flow”.usually does not last more than 1 day but so helpful!
We are doing chicken for thanksgiving as well. A few years ago it occurred to us that we could stop doing turkey since no one in our household even likes it! It’s funny how we tend to get so wrapped up in tradition sometimes without stepping back to question it.
Need key lime pie and corn pudding recipes! 🙂 So glad to hear the nap situation is working itself out. I wandered around yesterday trying to get work done but was so burnt out it was ridiculous. I actually stayed in bed and watched Sunday Morning today, a luxury I never allow myself. I definitely need Celeste’s book too. Good for you for taking a day off!