With everything going on in the world, it is so extremely important to take time out for yourself. I am on 24/7/365 when it comes to Little Man, so when I can escape and get time to myself, I truly do treasure it.

I managed to get an extra long shower in this morning (15 minutes versus my usual 10), and it made all the difference. I felt a little selfish, but I figured, Little Man was with his Daddy, Granma, and Granpa, and they were making breakfast, so I would take some extra time for me. When I emerged half an hour later, he was fed and cuddled up with Daddy reading through all of his books.

In one of my FaceBook mom groups, a book club has been started. We have two different books we are reading (I’m doing both, but you are free to just choose one). I’ve finished the sections of each book before next week’s Zoom calls, and I have realized just how much I have missed being able to sit down and read a good book. I’ve gotten my reading in during naptime, once I’ve gotten Little Man to bed at night, or when he is sitting and playing on his own. All of this reading has happened since Monday! I’ve finished Part One of Where the Crawdads Sing, and the first five chapters of Pride and Prejudice. I’m not really enjoying Crawdads, but P&P is one of my all time faves, and it’s been years since I’ve read it (I did sneak in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies several years ago, though!).

As I’ve said, it’s important to set some time aside, at least once a week, for yourself. I used to get monthly massages at the local community college, but that is no longer an option. I don’t have many opportunities available around here for a massage, not without driving forever to get to it. Those massages were my mood equalizers. I always felt refreshed and ready to go after getting one. Reading was another of my go-tos for years. I fell away from that, especially once I had Little Man and could not get the time to sit and read without him grabbing at my book, or if I would try to read, I would pass out because I was so relaxed!

I know I loved going outside and walking barefoot in the grass when Little Man and I were at the lake the past few weeks. Our ground here is too sandy to do that; so many ant hills, and I’m allergic to ant bites! That doesn’t stop me from walking the yard with Little Man, stopping every once in a while to just close my eyes, and open my senses to what is happening around me. It’s called grounding for a reason; it brings you back to basics and gets you re-settled.

Self-care is so incredibly important, even more-so now that we are all under some form of a lockdown with COVID-19 happening. If you are not at your best, you are of no use to anyone else. Just taking a few minutes a day to focus on you makes all the difference. Savour that cup of coffee. Go for a short walk. Read a chapter in a book. What have you not done in a while (that you can do from home) that relaxes you and puts you in a positive mood?