It’s 7:00 on a weekday night and it was a rough day at work (or at home). You spent all day scrunched up in front of a computer, or your boss decided that the project you thought she forget about needed to be done yesterday, or the kids decided to redecorate the bathroom (with toilet paper), or the dog decided to make a new bed for himself (using the clean laundry that wasn’t put away yet). Your head is pounding and your TO DO list for the rest of the evening is as long as it was first thing in the morning. YIKES!
Time for “the min-vacation!” We’ve got three 30-minute mini-vacation ideas just for you (and yes guys, you can DO these mini-vacations too). They don’t cost a dime and they won’t leave a mess. And if you are worried about missing a favorite TV show, remember, there will ALWAYS be a re-run. Your mini-vacation, your “interlude” comes first.
The 30-minute “Clear Your Head Stomp”
Without a doubt, this is my favorite way to clear the cobwebs from my brain. Start with a glass of water, put on your walking shoes, and head outside. Grab a partner, friend, or neighbor. Remember to take the dog (and a plastic bag).
This isn’t a power walk – this is an evening walk. Check out the neighborhood as you go. Look at what’s growing in people’s gardens. Look for birds and other wildlife. Breathe in the fresh air. Watch the skies change as the sun goes down for the night.
Enjoy the company of your walking companion. Talk about anything, but work and the kids.
When you get home, have another glass of water. Your body should feel re-hydrated and refreshed. Perhaps that headache that’s been nagging at you all day will have disappeared as well.
The 30-minute “Personal Spa”
Listen up dads! If you want to pamper that special gal in your life, then give her 30 minutes of complete privacy in a warm bubble bath (without kids knocking at the door every couple minutes!). Take the kids to the park so she has complete silence for half an hour (Mmmmmmm).
The personal spa takes a few minutes to set up, but I bet you can SHOP at home FIRST for everything you are going to need. Here’s the steps:
- Quickly clean up the bathroom. Scrub out the tub, haul out the laundry, clean the sink, and wipe the mirrors. If you have time, sweep the floors to ensure no hairs or dental floss get tangled around the tootsies.
- Go on a treasure hunt: You are after a couple candles and some bubble bath, bath beads, bath powder, or any other bath product that was once a gift and has since been lost amongst all the toothbrushes, toilet paper, scrub brushes, and other bathroom paraphernalia. See if you can find some special shampoo, conditioner, and fancy soap. While you are digging around in the bathroom cabinets, look for fancy back scrubbers, sponges, or other pampering treats. Light the candles and set them on the counter by the sink (anyone who has splashed water into the hot wax of a lit candles knows NOT to put the candles next to the bathtub – been there, done that LOL). Set the rest of the stuff along the edge of the tub.
- Remember to dig out a pluffy large clean towel and hang it up on the towel rack. (This is a bonus point for dad – leave an “I love you and I have the kids for the next 30 minutes. Enjoy your personal spa!” note on the counter).
- Fill up a glass with something special to drink. We have plastic wine glasses, so once in awhile, when I want the VERY decadent personal spa, I will enjoy a glass of wine. Usually, I just like a glass of ice water. Also SHOP at home FIRST: have you been hiding a stash of chocolate or other treat from the kids? Dig out a couple pieces and bring it into your personal spa.
- Last, but not least, quiet music and something good to read. I set up my boom box just outside the bathroom door (I don’t like electrical stuff in my bathroom while I am having a bath). Load up some of your favorite calming music (Norah Jones, Josh Grobin, and William Joseph are my fav’s). Bring along a magazine that you have been meaning to read or that latest novel that has been sitting on your nightstand for the past couple weeks. Mmmmmmmm!
- Enjoy the quiet time.
The 30-minute “Curl Up With Tea and a Good Book”
Do you have a special spot in your garden or on your deck? Last Saturday I watched my neighbor sitting on a lawn chair in front of his garage. “This is the first time I have sat all day,” he said enjoying the warm spring breeze and the quiet. He sat there for over an hour. A mini-vacation. Me, I like to curl up in my swing in the back yard or on my front porch. Add a cup a special tea and the newspaper or a good book and I have every thing I need for my “interlude.” Once in awhile, my husband or one of the kids will join me and it becomes a mini-vacation for two. Quiet and simple.
Side note: If it is nasty outside, turn off the computer and the TV, light a candle, and curl up in your favorite comfy spot with a good book. The cup of tea will still taste just as good. (Remember to blow out the candle when you leave the room.) Don’t be surprised to find your little ones curling up in the same room with a good book in their hands.
A mini-vacation doesn’t need to be complicated nor expensive. SHOP at home FIRST. With a little creativity and a little imagination, you can find a way to enjoy a 30-minute “interlude” from the chaos of the day. Turn off the TV and teach your children how to enjoy quiet time on their own as well.
Take care of you,
Cindy
Return to "Vacations - Rediscover Summer Fun" Main Page
