Today’s post was going to be about a hike at Mohican State Park. However, a few things happened that changed course a bit:

1.) It rained all day yesterday in both Columbus and up in Loudonville (according to The Weather Channel app.)

2.) I’d worked Saturday morning and had my folks out Saturday afternoon and evening. So by bedtime on Saturday I was toast.

3.) I slept in. Which was awesome, don’t get me wrong, but sleeping in always throws me off.

So instead of hiking, I decided to stay in and have a lazy-ish self care afternoon. I figured that since the last three weekends have been on the go, a day in might be what the doctor ordered.

In spite of how much I promote self and especially soul care on here, I do a questionable (at best) job of practicing what I preach. My brain is constantly thinking of things to do, and feeling like I need to squeeze as much as I can into evenings and weekends. I already know seven or eight hours are going to be dedicated to sleep, and about nine-and-a-half or ten hours (including my time commuting) are dedicated to work. So that really gives me three hours in the morning and two or three hours in the evening to household management, errands or self-care.

And as much as I shouldn’t, I do put housework above self-care. I can’t stand living in an untidy or disorganized home, and the condition my place is in is often a reflection of my mind. Back when my relationship was ending and I was struggling with my mental wellness, my carpets had a thick layer of cat hair and my kitchen left everything to be desired. Getting through the day was enough of a struggle, so cleaning couldn’t be further from my mind.

Since then I’ve been maintaining a tidy place and breaking chores up so I don’t spend an entire weekend getting caught up with laundry or scrubbing the bathroom. Turns out doing it that way creates time for at-home facials and maintaining painted fingernails. So yesterday afternoon, after getting the grocery shopping done, I decided to have a lazy-ish day dedicated to self care. It was only lazy-ish because I had a load of laundry to do and meal prepped for the week ahead. But once those chores were done, I popped a frozen pizza in the oven and it was time to couch potato.

My lazy day consisted of touching up my fingernail polish, eating too many Reese cups and pizza, and then once my nails were dry going to the gym. I took the week off since running my marathon, and decided it would be a good idea to do some lower body resistance training. My hips are still a little tight and my hamstrings sore – which took me by surprise during a single-leg Romanian deadlift – and I know it’s from sitting all last week. That lifting experience was followed by a half hour in the sauna.

As simple as the sauna is, it’s one of the few things I do that I consider a luxury. I’m one of those always cold people, and winter coming is both boon and bane of my existence, so I swear by the sauna to try and get my body at a comfortable temperature. Studies have also shown that saunas help with lowering blood pressure, promoting muscle rebuilding and improving cardiovascular health. I feel like I’d be foolish not to use it.

After pre-heating the sauna, I spent 30 minutes in there nodding off and relaxing in the warmth. It’s been a few weeks since I was last in there, and I forgot how pleasant it is to just relax and not plan a million things to do once I’m back home. I pretended I was someplace warm and sunny, with a beach and turquoise waters right by me. I’m sure I was smiling like a cheese ball in there.

I finished off Sunday with an at-home facial and curled up to Marina. You know, I realize now there’s not a lot to write about my lazy-ish self care Sunday. But maybe that’s the point. You all know the saying – a Sunday well spent brings a week of content.

Yours in reading and running,

Allison