I went on a self care retreat not a momcation

My husband coordinated a spa day with a massage, facial, and overnight stay in a remote, wellness community of Georgia. *Insert happy dance!* I quickly ate dinner, so I could take my pecan pie a la mode to my room and enjoy it in bed with the quietness of my thoughts.

I slept for 5 and a half consecutive hours, which is a full night of sleep as a mom of a 3 month old and two toddlers. Then I proceeded to pump 18 oz before I worshiped, prayed, and checked some things off of my low-priority to-do list (clean out my purse, wash my makeup brushes, clean out my emails, and update my email preferences to reduce my odds of having 800+ unread messages).

I leisurely ate breakfast and drank coffee while reading a book. I ate too much. It’s been a long time since I’ve over ate – most times I’m sharing my meal because the same meal tastes better from my plate then I’m scarfing down my children’s leftovers (no waste!) before we start bedtime routines. I went back to my room to shower, pump again, pack, and get back to my loves who were enjoying a random snow day after a week of extremely mild weather. Gotta love Atlanta!

Momcation vs. Self Care Retreat

Words matter, so I feel the need to clarify what I recently learned about momcations from a New York Times’ article. “It’s so basic… I don’t need a massage or fancy dinner…” Wait, what?! Skip the massage and fancy dinner? No, thank you. I want all of that and more! I then realized that this wasn’t just about me getting away from my children and husband, this was about me recharging via the specific ways I choose to care for myself. This was a self care retreat!

I contemplated making it a group thing with some of my closest friends as this will be happening again, but a self care retreat is very personal. We all have our own specific needs and desires, which frames what we call “self care”. I shared my self care list on social media years ago when I had one child. It’s time to revisit that note in my phone and update it, because it has definitely evolved with the woman I’m becoming.

Know your Self Care 

I used to get a monthly facial and take bubble baths every Tuesday. That lifestyle is not as sustainable for a variety of reasons at this stage of my life. Here are the things that haven’t changed as my general rule is to spoil myself or simplify my day:

• Phone notifications on all apps are off. The only notification I get is for a phone call or text message. I choose the time that best suits me to check my emails and social media.
• Quiet time. This time is for me to just be quiet and connect with God while listening to worship music, praying, and sometimes journaling. I don’t always like bringing out my Bible on my phone due to distractions and haven’t quite committed to always bringing out my physical Bible.
• A quiet meal alone. I usually achieve this with a solo lunch at work.
• Not over-committing my time. I’m really finding my groove in this area. I schedule my “me time” on my calendar, and I don’t make it a habit to cancel on myself.

I challenge you to jot down your list and acknowledge when you’re truly doing something that fills your cup. I’m interested in hearing what works for you!