Why you should have a Do-Nothing Day

Jan 10, 2020 | Uncategorized

Why you should have a Do-Nothing Day

Sometimes it feels like every minute of every day holds something that needs to be done. That there’s always something you should be doing. Have you ever been in bed on a Sunday night, wishing that the weekend had its own weekend? If this sounds like you, it’s time for a Do-Nothing Day!

What is a Do-Nothing day?

A Do-Nothing Day is exactly what it sounds like. Well…almost. I don’t mean a day where you just sit and stare, David Puddy style (Seinfeld fans, anyone?) It’s not a day where you literally do nothing. (Although it CAN be, if that’s what you need.)

It IS a day where you take a break from all the “doing” in your life…It’s giving yourself permission to rest and enjoy, instead of focusing on everything that needs to be done. Time to spend on the things you don’t normally make time for. A day dedicated to whatever sounds fun at the moment. A day to ignore the to-do list, in favor of a little fun or rejuvenation.

Why on earth is a Do-Nothing Day a good idea?

If you’ve gotten used to always being busy, the idea of taking a day to do nothing might make you cringe. Maybe you’re a little bit of a productivity junkie and taking time off seems foreign to you. I get it and I’m right there with you. I still can’t sit down to watch tv without hearing my mom’s voice in my head telling me to do something productive… (She was limiting my screen time, and that’s not a bad thing, but it followed me right into adulthood!)

But taking a day off of “busy” to enjoy life is worth getting past the initial discomfort of the idea, for several reasons:

A Do-Nothing Day will actually make you more productive. Taking a little time off from doing will re-energize you and when you get back to it, you’ll find that you have so much more motivation!

A Do-Nothing Day is a great self-care idea. I’ve said it before and I’ll probably say it again. It really is okay to take a break! Use that time to take care of yourself and simply recharge.

And because life is about more than just getting things done. While “doing” does get things accomplished, how often do you really remember the days that you spent marking things off your list? Probably not that often. It’s important to take a break from everything now and then and actually live. Everything on your to-do list will wait, I promise. (By the way, if your to-do list is getting a little out of hand, check out this post: How I Stopped Letting My To-Do List Control My Life

How to plan your ideal Do-Nothing Day

It sounds a little silly to plan for a day without plans, I know. If you’ve been with me for a while, it’s no secret that I’m a planner. I make a plan for everything. And a Do-Nothing Day is no exception! Why in the world do I plan for a day that is, by definition, a day without plans? For a few reasons:

First, having a planned day to ignore my to-do list takes away any guilt I would usually feel about not spending the day being productive. I’m not being lazy or avoiding work, I PLANNED to do this.

Also, I like to have things prepared. I’ll make sure there is food in the fridge ahead of time, so I don’t have to worry about figuring out what to eat. I’ll make sure I do a few normal chores a little ahead of schedule so my day off doesn’t lead to more work later.

And finally, I plan it out because it doesn’t happen often and I want to make the best of it!

The first thing to do is decide what your ideal do-nothing day would look like. If you woke up one morning with nothing at all that needed to be done, how would you spend your day? Chances are, this is going to look very different for every single one of you reading this. If you’re an active person, it might involve going for a long hike. If you’re a social person, it might mean brunch, then a street festival with friends, followed by dinner with your besties. Introvert-types might want to stay at home all day and not talk to one single person!

My perfect do-nothing day usually looks like this:

Start the day by sleeping in…no alarms, no rush to get moving. Have a simple breakfast and a quick shower, put on some cozy lounge clothes or pajamas. Curl up on the couch for an ENTIRE movie. (You know, without pausing it every 45 minutes to fold the next load of laundry.) Then, probably spend a little time with whatever I happen to be crocheting, or maybe just reading a book. If I’m feeling particularly energetic, it might mean a little baking or cleaning out a closet that I’ve been meaning to get to. And finally, snuggling up on the couch in front of the fireplace with my husband.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting that you plan out each minute of your Do-Nothing Day…that would defeat the entire purpose. But I do suggest at least planning for the following things:

Check the weather

If you want your day is likely to involve outdoor activities, make sure to schedule it on a day that the weather will co-operate. Also, if you want nothing more than a whole day to spend reading, rainy or snowy weather is perfect.

Let your family or friends know you have “plans”

This is your day. You’re off-duty. You’re free to say no to invites and free to accept them if you’d like. Just remember that you’re allowed to have a day off now and then.

Get your supplies ready

If your Do-Nothing day involves baking, cooking, or eating, make sure you have the supplies on hand. Nothing ruins the vibe more than having to unexpectedly run to the store for supplies

Now you’re ready! Take the day you’ve planned and enjoy it to the fullest!

What does your ideal Do-Nothing Day look like? Drop a comment below and let me know!

6 quick & easy ways to cozy up your space

Aug 5, 2019 | Uncategorized

6 quick & easy ways to cozy up your space

Need a little relaxation time, like right now? One of the best ways to recharge your batteries is to spend some time in a cozy space! Curling up somewhere cozy can make you feel at-ease, safe, and comforted, no matter what kind of day you’re having. (There’s a reason we come home and put on pajamas right away…beacuse they’re cozy and comfortable, right?) Have you ever found yourself somewhere, maybe a new-to-you coffee shop or a comfy Airbnb, and wished you could just settle in and stay forever? Why not bring that same feeling to your own space?

Here are six easy ways to bring that cozy feeling home!

1. Declutter

Okay, I know we’re starting with the toughest one here. While I’m a huge fan of minimizing and decluttering (and I’ll definitely be talking more about decluttering in the future), you really don’t have to go ALL out right now. Just focus on the simple stuff. Get the clutter out of the way and get on with the relaxing!

First, pick a room. Go around a gather up any loose papers, random items that have accumulated, and things that should be in other places. For now, just dump them in a storage tote, box, or whatever you have handy and move them to another spot.

Remember, this step isn’t meant to solve the clutter problem, it’s only a temporary fix. But by clearing out some of the clutter from one focused space, you’ll be able to let your mind relax. Remember, we’re focusing on quick steps to get you to the coziness!

2. Soft blankets and pillows

Cozy is all about comfort! And comfort is all about calm colors and soft textures. Find a couple of soft blankets or quilts…the kind that you touch and just want to snuggle into. Even if it’s too warm to snuggle under a blanket, lay on top of it! There’s something wonderful about the coziness of a soft blanket. You can move them from another room if you have them or order something new like this (I love sherpa blankets, but use whatever suits your taste). Then, find a couple of soft, squishy pillows. Again, bring them from another room or try these. Add them to your little space and it will almost immediately feel cozier!

3. Lighting

Harsh lighting is SO not cozy, but it’s also really easy to fix. Aim for low and warm lighting. If it’s in your budget, add in a few small table lamps – grey or beige lampshades in particular diffuse light in SUCH a calming way. Also, did you know you can actually paint a lampshade??? I just found this out! If you don’t want to replace shades you already have, run to the hardware store for a small foam roller brush and a grey or beige paint sample. Cheap, easy, and effective! Upcycle for the win!

If that’s not an option right now, switch out fluorescent or cool white light bulbs for warm white bulbs.

Or if you’re looking for an even quicker fix, throw a colored scarf over that lamp to diffuse the light! (Be careful if you’re using standard lightbulbs instead of leds…catching the scarf on fire is decidedly un-cozy…)

I also LOVE salt lamps. If you’ve never used one, they give off a warm pinky-orange glow that looks a lot like the glow of a fire. I definitely recommend picking (at least) one up. I have them in several rooms!

4. Candles

Light a good quality scented candle. Aside from the light of the flame itself (SO cozy…), a fresh scent will help your mind relax. You’ll find it much easier to settle in for a cozy night if there is a lovely smell in the air. Now, I say nice quality, because let’s face it, not all candles are created equal. But you don’t have to invest a lot. Places like Marshalls and TJ Maxx carry surprisingly good candles! Pick out a scent or two that you like and try them out.

(If kids, pets, or health concerns are an issue, swap the candles for an essential oil diffuser and some flickering battery operated candles like these.)

5. Plants

Plants. I love houseplants. They add so much life and grounding to any space, not to mention the benefits like cleaning the air you breathe. Okay, I do NOT have a green thumb. I can kill a cactus. (My husband says I love them to death…) But even if you’re like me, you can still have some sort of plant life in your space. Look for hard-to-kill varieties, like snake plants or ZZ plants. (I must not be the only plant killer out there, because there are several companies that specifically market hard-to-kill plants.) Another option is fresh flowers – pick some up at your local farmer’s market or grocery store.

6. Music

Music has all kinds of moods. Energizing, emotional, fun, angsty…and even cozy. These days, it’s REALLY easy to find the right blend of cozy background music, without having to go through your entire mental music catalog. Spotify and even Google Music have stations for relaxing. You can even search by mood! Try a few, find one you like.

No speakers? I’m a little bit of an audiophile….my husband is a BIG audiophile. But some of the small, bluetooth speakers on the market today have a remarkably good sound quality. I like this one – it’s small (so you can move it anywhere), bluetooth (so all you need to do is link your phone), and sounds pretty darn good. We liked the first one so much that we actually picked a second!

Using even one of these steps will make your space a little more cozy and ready for a good unwinding session. All of them together will make it a lot more cozy! Grab a glass of wine, cup of tea, whatever you like…settle in and recharge those batteries!

Want to read more about bringing coziness into your life? Look into hygge! It’s all about embracing a cozy lifestyle. Here is a good place to start.