Little holidays are sanity savers and are an intentional part of my everyday life. Parenting can be all consuming at times, and taking little moments in between it all, keeps me grounded, helps me to feel like a myself and gives me joy…joy I share with everyone around me. They key for me is enjoying small joys, woven into the day, that don’t completely consume my time.
What I look for is investment, not procrastination.
Joy and beauty.
Edifying things, not wasteful things.
Chapters, not stories. Because stories are made up of chapters.
Hopes and dreams without discontentment.
Time woven, not caught.
Because you can’t keep time.
Taking little snippets here and there — looking for ways to include the things I love through the day — is a choice for me, even when I’m really busy. I’ll show you some of the things I love, and you can tell me yours.
Cabins
A quiet spot in the woods, to read books and drink tea. This is a dream of mine. This image was taken by Anna Ådén and featured on a simple blog I love, filled with cabins from all over the world. Sometimes, when I stop for a cup of tea, I look at a few cabins, and feel so refreshed and inspired. And maybe one day, I’ll have a cabin in the woods too.
Art
Art fills me with wonder, and creating is important to me. I adore Bec Winnel’s hand-drawn work, and enjoy seeing the her progression shots on Instagram. It makes me want to draw, and I do draw, not because I’m good at it, but just because.
Travel
I would love to live overseas, particularly Ireland. There is something about the country that fascinates me and hope one day, to have a family holiday there. So, if I have a few moments, I might google a few holiday homes (like the one below). It’s fun…and you just never know.
Tea (& Coffee)
A friend gave me a ceramic travel mug for my birthday, and I use it all the time. Before I rush out the door to get the children from school, I’ll often make a cup of to take with me to enjoy in the car. It’s something I relish: that quiet time in the car before I see the kids.
Walking in their shoes
There is nothing quite like taking a day to walk in the shoes of my kids, at their pace; they so often help me to see the important things. When I’m overwhelmed, I make myself stop. To take stock. Last week, I cleared my entire Wednesday so I could spend the day at the museum with my son. All the important stuff, didn’t seem so important anymore, and I was able to reassess.
I can so easily get caught up with things…and yet I don’t want to miss out on this precious time before my son starts full time school. Sometimes, I have to say, “Today, I will stop and engage with my kids. I will walk in their shoes for a day.” It’s like a mini holiday. Not always relaxing, but grounding…and a surprisingly good break from things.
When you live what you love, it’s amazing what opportunities arise, not because you look for them, but because you see them when they come by. Opportunity is everywhere.
Below is a list of some of things I weave into my days, weeks and years.
- Go outside in the sunshine for a few moments
- Stop for a cup of tea (and brew it in a teapot)
- Ring a friend
- Look through old photos
- Google Real Estate for a dream home (anywhere in the world!)
- Pray
- Go for a walk around the house (twice)
- Research the next family holiday
- Put lipstick on
- Wear a flower in your hair
- Flick through a magazine or junk mail
- Arrange flowers in a vase
- Read one chapter of a book
- Pick up a special ornament or keep sake in your hands and reminisce why it’s important to you
- Buy a travel coffee mug and use it for tea, coffee and smoothies when you need a pick-me-up while taxing kids around the place
- Go outside and look for something amazing
- Take 5 deep breaths
- Enjoy nature, like listening to the birds sing for a few minutes, looking at the sky or one of the 105 ways to enjoy nature
- Buy nice stationery and drawing materials and doodle something, anything while you are making dinner or anytime you have few spare moments
- Have a shower
- Lie down for 3 minutes
- Look through a coffee table book
- Be curious, and do light research
- Look through a recipe book, and mark recipes to try
- Read one post from a favourite blog
- Take a photograph of something that makes you happy
- Eat 3 pieces of (good quality) chocolate
- Love the moment with the kids
- Scroll through old SMS messages from someone you care about
- Light a candle
- Play your favourite song
- Put moisturising cream on your hands before bed
- Wear a necklace
- Drive to somewhere with a nice view
- Be still
11 Comments
Flutterbon
August 8, 2012 at 7:34 amMy Mum used to say, “Change is as good as a holiday.” I remember this particularly because sometimes, all I need is to change something in order to find that little holiday everyday. Change pace, change coffee cup, change tone, change undies (lol because that was one of the changes Mum used to joke about).
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
August 13, 2012 at 12:27 pmLove that. Change something.
Rebecca
August 8, 2012 at 7:52 amI would also LOVE to live in Ireland, My own Familes Heritage and even though I’ve never been I feel a deep connection to Ireland an It’s my Dream to atleast visit there once in my life with my Daughter.
The Beach at anytime really but first thing in the morning and late in the afternoon are more special to me, the feel changes at those times.
Music, anytime I can lose myself in my love of Music is a deep and soul cleansing time.
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
August 13, 2012 at 12:27 pmOh yes! I love the beach too. It feels so free, doesn’t it?
ms v
August 9, 2012 at 10:36 amA lovely post. Think I might have to research some holiday sites for inspiration. I like to take “time out” with my favourite mug and a pot of tea also. I drink it sitting at the kitchen table and looking out at the garden (while reminding myself NOT to think about the gardening I haven’t done!).
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
August 13, 2012 at 12:31 pmThat sounds lovely Ms V
Sepi
August 10, 2012 at 3:24 amI love to read a good book even for a few minutes or to meditate also gives me a boost.
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
August 13, 2012 at 12:32 pmYou’re a better woman than me. I love reading too, but I just want to read, and read, and read. haha.
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