New month, new changes, right? We’re half way into the fifth month of 2019, and have I got some news for you! I switched jobs!
It’s been a whirlwind of a time. 2018 was the second hardest year of my life, but 2019 has been the craziest. I don’t know if it’s something about turning 25 and hitting my quarter life crisis, but I’ve just started realizing what I find trivial and what I deem important to my happiness. However, that is a post for another time.
Today, I want to focus on my week off – the first time I’ve really taken a break in the past 6 years. I don’t know why it’s taken me this long to really take care of myself, but I guess the older I get, the more I try to find time for myself knowing that I am happiest when I am still.
So here’s a recap of what I did during my week off, and I hope it inspires you to treat yourself when you get the chance.
Saturday, April 27
Thomas and I had a friend’s kid’s birthday party that Thomas was catering, so I went to support him and celebrate a 1-year-old’s birthday. I later went to the Aveda Hair Institute and got my hair done semi-professionally for the first time EVER. I had an awesome stylist named Ayana who transformed by hair with some foilyage. I am obsessed with my hair now! I have wanted some dimension in it for forever, so I am so happy to have gotten my hair done for a fraction of the price with the Aveda Hair Institute.
Sunday, April 28
After a very chill Sunday morning (my favorite type of morning), Thomas and I headed up to Athens to pick up some blueberry bushes from his friends. We ended up going to a delicious Peruvian restaurant where I had Lomo Saltado. Can I just say that I fell in love with that dish? I ended up googling a recipe for that the next day. I’ll update The Kelly Charm if I ever end up making it.
Monday, April 29
I went shopping for home goods – couch pillows, storage baskets, dish soap holders, etc. I can’t tell you how nice it was to go shopping in the middle of the day. There were no lines. All the aisles were empty. And most importantly, I didn’t have anything else to do, so I was shopping completely unrushed.
Then Thomas and I went to an Intro to Product Management class with General Assembly that was super informative. I got a lot out of it and realized that at my next job, I will basically be working as a product manager.
Tuesday, April 30
On Tuesday, I went back to TJ Maxx and bought earrings for the first time in 6 years. The last time I wore earrings was in 2013 for my sister’s wedding which gave me a nasty infection because my ears are so sensitive. But I decided that I would invest in some quality tiny studs that wouldn’t make too big of an impact, but they sure did make me feel pretty.
Wednesday, May 1
Ah, the first day of May! On my calendar, I have marked the first of every month as my “house check-up” day, so I just take a moment to see what things I need to tend to (i.e. toilets, laundry, floors, counter tops, etc.) Although it’s just housework and not necessarily focused on “self care,” it doesn’t bring me joy to have a clean and organized house.
Thursday, May 2
Thursdays are my favorite days of the week, so I made sure to work on my fitness by hitting the gym! I spent two hours in there and made sure to focus on cardio and strength training. I am no fitness guru, so I won’t even try to recommend any fitness ideas. Personally, I enjoy warming up with some cardio, then focusing on different muscle groups by using machines for my legs, arms, back, and abs.
Friday, May 3
On Friday, I made sure to connect with a friend. I had spent the whole week working on me and my abode, but it’s also important to connect with people who are a positive influence in your life. I met up with a friend who was also starting a new job and grabbed lunch.
Saturday & Sunday, May 4-5
In the last few days of my week off, I spent the rest of that time with family. I helped by sister watch her kids and soaked up all the time I could with my niece and nephew. They grow up so fast, so I was glad to be present for a little period of time.
So that was my week off. I spent a lot of time taking care of myself and learning to enjoy having downtime. I have spent the majority of my life always trying to be busy and do more/be more, but I was able to take a break and realize that I needed to focus on all the little things that make me happy.
It’s never easy to take time out of your day to treat yourself, so I won’t even preach about doing that. It’s hard. I have never been good at taking care of myself because I tend to prioritize other things and people above my needs. But I will say that I realize how important it is now. And I hope that if you’re reading this, you become more conscious of what your body is telling you and look for moments in the day where you can prioritize yourself.