As I get older I’ve learned to value the simple pleasures in life more. My morning cup of coffee, an evening with a new book, baking muffins on a Sunday afternoon. Now that I have less time for myself I treasure even a few minutes of relaxation when I can grab them. I have a few go-to simple ways to spoil myself. When I’m having a bad day and need a pick-me-up, or I feel like I deserve a reward, this is how I treat myself.
Buying the Newspaper
I’m old school. So when I want to cheer myself up I buy a physical copy of The New York Times. It’s BLISS. Being able to fill out the crossword with a physical pen, getting newsprint all over my hands (and face and somehow everywhere?), it’s guaranteed to make me smile. Buying the newspaper also means setting side a little time, even if it’s just 20 minutes, to read it.
Cooking for Pleasure
Meal prep and planning are of course already part of my routine. But when I want a little something special I cook for pleasure. That means something wildly impractical and high calorie like bacon mac-and-cheese from scratch or double chocolate cake. Or maybe I’ll splurge on a few fresh herbs to mix into a cocktail or make a charcuterie board for dinner. Basically I give in to my cravings which I usually don’t let myself do.
Extra Reading Time
Usually I read on the MBTA going from place to place and then a bit before bed every night. Because I’m so busy books get relegated to my in-transit time because it’s time that couldn’t otherwise be spent working. When I need a break I’ll carve out an hour at the end of the day when I close out my e-mail early and read on the couch. It’s designated reading time rather than slip-it-in reading time and it feels so luxurious.
Watching a Movie
I don’t generally watch much TV. In fact I don’t own a TV so if I do it’s via Netflix. But sometimes when I don’t have the brain capacity to do anything else it’s nice to turn on an old film and whip out the truffle popcorn. I like classic movies like Casablanca, His Girl Friday, The Maltese Flacon, Funny Face, that kind of vibe. I like movies because they have a finite end point unlike shows which you can binge eternally. It’s just the right amount of time to relax without getting lethargic.
A Long Walk
This is going to sound hella creepy but I love taking long walks, especially in the winter, and watching people. Not full on stalking but just observing people out and about in their routines and relationships. I like to walk down Commonwealth Avenue because there’s so much to see and think about. The classic Boston architecture always makes me imagine what it was like to live there in the 1800s. And sometimes I can spy famous artworks in the windows of the wealthy households.
What small things do you do to relax?