By Krista Ehret
Women are notorious for doing everything for everyone
except themselves. With work, husbands, children, friends and organizations, we tend to dole out all of our time and energy and leave ourselves at the bottom of a very long list. For so long, there has been a stigma with taking some time to focus on yourself. It’s been considered “pampering” and a luxury that wasn’t for the normal, working mom.
However, times are changing and we’re hearing the term “self-care” pop up more and more and learning how important it is to make it a priority. Self-care is defined as “the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one’s own health.” It can be as simple as a mental health break in the form of a hot bath, a beginning of the summer pedicure, or a weekly yoga class. It’s doing anything that’s just for yourself and is mentally or physically healthy.
After recently spending a full day with three of my closest girlfriends, I realized that being with these ladies is a form of self-care. Several hours of laughing, venting, reminiscing and more laughing is a great form of free therapy. I ended the day feeling happy and refreshed. Why not combine the concepts of “girl time” and “self-care” into one fun girls’ night-in? Chances are, if you’re in need of some “me” time, your friends are as well. I plan to try this out soon myself, so here are a couple of tips that I’ve come up with:
Main Event Ideas. While a movie night is always fun, you don’t get the chance to chat and connect. For this type of evening, try to pick an activity that enables some conversation and bonding time (it sounds cliché, but you need it). We’re lucky to live in an area where there are so many options. You can host a yoga class, wine tasting, mani/pedi or massage all in the comfort of your own home. I would avoid anything that requires too much “work” like a cooking class. We cook enough as it is. I also wouldn’t include anything where there’s pressure to buy a product at the end of the session (skin care parties, etc). If bringing an aesthetician or trainer into your home is a little too pricey, there are plenty of ways to DIY with homemade face or foot masks, workout videos on Amazon Prime, or even a puzzle. The point is to have fun and refresh mentally in a healthy way.
Keep it Cozy and Low Maintenance. For all other details, just keep things simple. Pick an area of your home that is comfortable with minimal clutter (don’t worry about cleaning the whole house). Get some relaxing aromatherapy going with essential oils or candles. Put out some cozy things like soft blankets, throw pillows and a candy dish with dark chocolates. You always need food and drink when you entertain, but don’t go all out. The point is for things to
be easy, even for the hostess. Buy pre-made healthy snacks such as a veggie tray, cheese tray, hummus and spinach dip, pita chips, chef salad, etc. Offer some sparkling seltzer water, wine and maybe even champagne. Focus on easy set-up and easy clean up so you don’t1538 Cha immediately have to snap out of relaxation mode post event.
Routine is Key. Don’t let this get-together be a once in a blue West moon occurrence. Pass the torch and let someone else host. Monthly would be ideal, but every two to three months is probably more realistic. Plan ahead, as girl time/ “me time” is the first thing to get forgotten when schedules become too busy.
Practicing self-care is a great gift to give yourself this Mother’s Day. It’s not selfish, it’s vital. It takes a few times before the guilt subsides, but it will subside. Remember the airplane instructions in regard to the oxygen masks? You have to take care of yourself before taking care of those around you. Giving yourself this chance to breathe makes you better for the masses waiting not so patiently for your time and attention.
