As a homeschool mama of four, including two kiddos from hard places, I rarely get a true “break.”  I absolutely love and adore my children, but it can be taxing to be constantly meeting other people’s needs!  Being a mom is a childhood dream come true for me and, it is, by far, my most rewarding life’s work.  But it’s hard!

Yes, we’ve put some structures in place, like early bedtimes, to offer up the chance to wind down at the end of the day.  But typically, there’s more dishes, laundry, etc. that needs to be done as well.  You know how it goes.  The never-ending to-do list.  I also love to read and blog and garden and tend to the chickens, but sometimes even those things can feel like they are another to-do list item to check off.

Last week, my incredibly loving and intuitive husband sent me away for a weekend to the beach.  Alone, with no responsibilities.  I spent some time Bible studying, homeschool planning, painting, napping, reading, and drinking lots of coffee.  And drinking bone broth!  Ha!  It was such a restorative time for me.  And it was incredibly quite and peaceful.  In fact, it was so impactful that hubby is taking a weekend away soon, too.  We’ve decided to do it a few times a year to give each other the opportunity to recharge.  I know self care looks different for everyone, but this is definitely my version.  If you can find the time to enjoy a weekend away, do it!  And if that isn’t feasible, even an afternoon at a coffee shop or another favorite place is soooo valuable.

(If you’re looking for a wonderful book to read while taking time for your self care, Eat Dirt by Dr. Josh Axe is super interesting.  It’s all about gut health and reestablishing a healthy microbiome.  Truly fascinating and thought-provoking material.)

How do you like to recharge and practice self care?