Sometimes You Just Need a Self-Care Weekend

How my dog inspired me to cancel plans and chill.

My family always left the Christmas tree and decorations up through the Epiphany, which is January 6. Not sure if that was an Italian thing or religious requirement, but it was the norm in my home and Jay’s too, so it was just natural to keep that tradition going.

A couple days ago, however, our dog decided she had had enough Christmas. 

As I was cooking a classic Monday night dinner of meatloaf, rice and peas, I hear Jay and Bria coming up the stairs and through the front door after a walk. Before I can see what happens, Jay screams out and I see the Christmass tree knocked flat out, half-hanging off the side of the living room couch. Shattered ornaments and pine needles covered the couch cushions and floor. Even worse, all that funky, dingy tree water had spilled into a huge puddle on the floor, soaking into the carpet and splashing up on the upholstery. Of course, the dog was going ballistic, shaking off a string of lights to sprint around the room and bark her head off. It was as crazy as it sounds.

To be honest, I’m surprised the tree even lasted as long as it did with Bria. She's a very spirited puppy (and so appropriately named; Bria means lively/spirited in Italian, and o dio does she live up to her name). Forget waiting for the Epiphany, this was the epiphany!

Cleaning up the tree was not on the list of things to do. We were looking forward to a relaxing Monday evening before getting back into the swing of things, but there we were. We dug deep and got things cleaned up before we could eat and then finally laid down to relax and watch a favorite show or two. And even as we settled in, a quick check of the schedule for the week ahead revealed plans for that next weekend. We had some fun things on deck, but seeing that after a crazy week of holidays, travel delays, and dog-leveled Christmas trees made me realize that all I wanted was a weekend for ourselves -- a self-care weekend! 

We needed that quiet time alone to decompress, get a few little things done we’d put off til after the holidays, and enjoy some old-fashioned R&R. And you know what? That’s perfectly okay! With that shared realization, we politely reached out to various friends and acquaintances to reschedule, canceled a reservation or two, and took much-needed deep breaths. And we did that without an ounce of guilt or hesitation. And that’s the big idea: you can take a time out without any justification. You get to reset and get back into a healthy groove for the brain and body alike as the new year begins.

Suddenly feeling liberated, it prompted me to think about what a great self-care weekend might look like. Here’s what I came up with:

Staying Home

This speaks for itself! Dig in, get comfy and go nowhere in particular!

Sans Kids 

Schedule sleep-overs at a friends, or visits with grandparents or cousins if possible!

Time in Nature/Outdoors

A long walk outside, a trail hike or bike ride -- whatever you like, just move and breathe in that good fresh air!

Cooking Together

Or ordering something we love, along with a glass or two of dry red wine (less sugar the better. FitVine is a great option in moderation) 

Conversation 

Taking time to really talk about the present and future goals or things that are important to us. It could be big things or little, but speaking -- and listening! -- without being distracted is the key here. 

Quiet Time

Read, meditate, create vision boards. This may sound corny, but trust me, it works and it’s fun to visualize and talk about your dreams!

Sexy Time

Can’t wait to try on one of my slinky new Christmas gifts! 

A Good Show or Movie

I love to snuggle up with the pup. Her favorite spot is under the blankets right between mommy and daddy!

That’s my recipe and what I’ll be up to this weekend. Don’t be surprised if you call or text and I don’t answer!

What’s your plan for a great self-care weekend?