Happy Saturday everyone! Now I don’t know about you. Buy I’m guilty of burning the candle at both ends. I’m a people pleaser at heart and hate to let people down. Which is why I often find myself not taking time out for myself. Especially as I work full time during the week and juggle this blog around my work commitments. So it’s probably not a huge surprise to hear that I don’t often get a chance to relax. But having read (and loved) Sarah Knight’s book ‘The life changing magic of not giving a f**k’. I’ve made of a conscious effect to take time out to do the things that I want to do. And what make me happy. So here are five ways I like to relax and take time out for myself:
Pamper myself
Now this probably isn’t a big shock to most people. But I do love a pamper. Now this could be something as simply as taking the time to do my nails. Or treating myself to a manicure. But it can also mean spending the day at a spa with a couple of treatments. Now the last treatment I had, wasn’t actually at a spa. It was off Clapham High Street, but it felt like a spa! You may have seen on Instagram last month that I had one of the best facials I’ve ever had at So Me Beauty in Clapham.
Now I had a Dermalogica facial that totally transformed my skin. It was the first time my facial had included extraction. And while that part wasn’t the most pleasant. The results were amazing. Along with the initial face mapping and treatment. I feel like I know my skin a little better now. And even weeks on, my skin is still showing the results of that facial. I just wish I could visit her every week!
Exercise
This might seem like an odd one to some. But exercising is fast becoming one of my favourite ways to take time out for myself. It’s one of the things I do that is completely for me. And seeing yourself improve week on week is one of the best feelings around. Plus all those endorphins put me in a great mood! I find if I’ve had a particularly stressful day, then a run or a boxing class is the perfect way to relax. You’re not focusing on anything else during that time except your breathing and pushing your body. So it’s great for clearing your mind and helping you to relax.
Bath time
Now those of you who follow me on Instagram stories will now that I love a bath. I find there’s nothing better than soaking in a nice hot bath full of bubbles to really help you relax. There’s just something so calming about lighting a few candles, turning the lights off and just soaking in the hot water. Sometimes I listen to music. Sometimes I catch up on TV on my IPad. And sometimes I just lay there and enjoy the silence!
Early night
If I could have an early night, every night. I’d be a very happy girl! I mean it’s fair to say I love my sleep. And seeing as I have to get up at around 6.30 most mornings. I definitely could do with some more of it. But the reality is that at least once or twice a week I’m in London after work for my blog. And if I’m not in London, then I’m normally up working late creating content for the site. So early nights for me are few and far between. Which is why when I do get a chance to have one, they’re a great way to relax and take time out for myself.
Reading
Now this is something that I used to do a lot growing up. But I find that now the only chance I really get to read is when I’m on holiday. While unfortunately not as often as I like! But last month a book was recommended to me (The Marriage Lie by Kimberly Belle if you must know) and I started reading it at about 6.30pm one night. Four hours later I’d finished it. It’s a brilliantly gripping thriller that just kept pulling me in. And it reminded me of how lovely it is to really escape into a good book for a few hours.
How do you like to relax and take time out for yourself?