Q&A: What Are Your Day Off Rituals?
So what exactly is a “day off?” I very rarely have a day off. Not even on weekends. I’ll still find myself digging into my inbox or finishing up projects I haven’t quite put my finished stamp on. So, in order to answer this most pressing question, I will look to my weekend routine.
Go to the Gym
I think it’s a pretty well established fact I start my day out, 7 days a week, going to the gym. Sunday I tend to go a bit later than normal and spend close to 2 hours there. This is longer than my usual time by only a little, but I like being able to take my time or even do more. Despite there being more people than usual, I still find the time to myself pretty relaxing. Mainly because I can completely avoid my to-do list and it makes me feel better about myself.
Yoga + Meditation
After running errands (the market, Target, etc), but before I hit the shower, I try to fit in some time to get centered. This usually is yoga (to stretch out the muscles I just worked) or meditation if I’m particularly stressed. Doing yoga or meditating gives me a chance to escape my phone for a bit too. While I use an app for these things (cause I’m no expert), I can easily set my phone far away from me so I’m not tempted to look at work email or social media.
Prep My Meals
Every Sunday, after visiting the market, I prep my meals. I prep individual salads in containers so grabbing a lunch during the week is a breeze. Lately I’ve become obsessed with fruit so I’m making fruit salads over regular salads. They are lighter and I have just been craving a lot of fruit. Sometimes I’ll just put watermelon (with a spice blend to toss on top) and other times I’ll do a combination of grapes, watermelon, pineapple, blueberries, and raspberries. It may take time to prep, but it saves me time overall which is a plus in my book.
Enjoy a glass of wine and sort my week out
This one seems the most counterproductive for a “day off” but the Sunday Scaries are a real thing, and doing this one little step makes me feel a little better. When I know of projects I haven’t finished or upcoming tasks I know I have to complete on certain days, I can easily put them into my day planner. I can do this without even touching my email which means no more increased anxiety or feeling like I need to catch up on work at that very second. Sorting my week out helps me prioritize what needs to be done and pick days where I know I can make it happen (of course it helps when there are deadlines to follow!).
