It’s only the third week of school, and I am burnt out. I do not have the space to talk to anyone outside my immediate family and a few friends. Between Monday and Wednesday, my home suffers. My goal is to not let my home suffer this semester. Tonight, I did three loads of dishes, cooked dinner for five, and continued my love-hate relationship with Pride and Prejudice. This is a book I am finally reading because I am taking a Jane Austen seminar this semester. This post is about the importance of rest, and at this moment, I do not feel I get enough rest.

I had my yearly physical this afternoon, and the nurse practitioner I met with said I needed to rest more and work on my stress. I got teary-eyed because, at the moment, I do not honestly feel I have the time to rest. I looked up ways to relax, and based on my findings, I am listing five things I can do. From time to time, I will do an update to show that I am holding myself accountable and practicing some of the list, maybe all of the list.

Ways to relax…

• Take a bubble bath
• Take a slow walk around the neighborhood
• Dance like I do not care who is watching (Done 02/11/25)
• Snuggle with a cat and watch a movie without looking at my phone
• Meditate for at least five minutes

I believe I will accomplish the “bubble bath” sometime this week, as my niece surprised me today with a self-care kit that included bath bombs and a bubble bar. I have to remember, as the wise Ms. T once told me, “If I am not taking care of myself, then I am no good to anyone around me,” and she is right. With the advice of my doctor and what I know to be accurate, I will try and rest. What are ways that you rest? I know rest can look so different to so many.