Our Christmas holidays are finally coming to an end. In our three week break, we’ve managed to get Covid, completed our isolation, been to Melbourne and back to see Jamie’s family and pick up our pup, and then finished it with a week long “stay-cation” at home.
I’m so glad we decided to do nothing for our last week of holidays. Sometimes a good stay-cation is just as relaxing, if not more, than packing up and going away somewhere.
I love a good holiday but sometimes it feels like you’ve barely had time to stop and rest when you go from a jam-packed trip and then straight back into work. And after the year that was 2021, rest and relaxation was high on the agenda for the last week of our break.
With a stay-cation, there’s all whole lot of rest and relaxation of a holiday, without any of packing/unpacking of bags, or itinerary to follow and no long drives or hours of traffic to sit in.
Our mornings started the same way most days. We’d wake up relatively early (by choice and not from our alarms, which makes such a difference in my mood for the day), then we’d take Daisy out for her first walk and then have coffee and a home cooked breakfast together. Over breakfast we’d decide what to do for the day.
Should we go to Manly for a long walk? Should we do a Bunnings run and fix up the gardening? Should we go to the dog park? Should we finally organise the spare room? What delicious dinner should we cook up tonight? Should we get beer or wine to go with dinner?
Everything was decided on the day depending on weather and what we were in the mood for. No hard or fast rules, and no set plans. It was a nice change from my usual “I’ll live and die by my Outlook calendar” mentality that I tend to go by when I’m at work.
It was also a lot of quality time together for Jamie and I. We’re both gearing up for a pretty busy year at work, so having a full week just the two of us (three if you count our little Daisy), was a nice way to start the year.
Now that it’s coming to an end though, I hope to take some of the same of the habits I started during my stay-cation into the new year. Like heading out for a walk instead of downing coffee first thing in the morning. Eating more meals at the table instead of my desk or in front of the TV. Finding time to read for enjoyment rather than thinking of it as chore. Slowing down when I need it, rather than always pushing through. Drinking more water. Moving my body because it feels good to do so, rather than forcing myself out of guilt or dislike for my own body.
They’re not “resolutions” as such, more a gentle promise to look after myself a little better this year. What things would you like to do this year to take better care of yourself? Would love to hear yours!
Pictures: Terry Creek bushwalk / tiny dog vs big bush turkey in our yard (tiny dog won, bush turkey was hiding in the tree after she chased it out of our veggie patch) / day out at Manly Beach / our long eggplants ready to pick / first corn cob / Narrabeen Lagoon walk / stone fruit season / potato and veggie breakfast hash with crispy eggs and avo / Manly Lagoon dog park / Bunnings run / necessary holiday nap time / Warriewood Beach / Bunnings hat hiking chic / chilli calamari, pan fried gem fish with butter and crispy garlic, garden salad and homemade chips in the air fryer
Laura x