3 Simple Ways To Unwind: Take a moment to enjoy the journey that is life....
Cookies,  How To,  Musings

3 Simple Ways To Unwind

May 4, 2015 / 141 Comments

Pepperidge Farm® Milano® cookies sponsored this post about taking time to unwind and transition to calm after a busy day.

3 Simple Ways To Unwind: Take a moment to enjoy the journey that is life....

If your day is anything like mine, you probably feel like a cross between “Taz” the Tasmanian Devil and Wonder Woman. I (thankfully) have a husband who’s willing to pitch in with the housework, and yet I still burn the candle at both ends on a daily basis.

  • I’m sure I can squeeze one. more. load. of laundry in before bed.
  • I should really unload the dishwasher before I sit down.
  • I’ll edit one more series of blog photos before calling it a night.
  • I can definitely squeeze in a mid-week grocery trip between dropping the eldest off at dance and picking her up two hours later.

Why sit when I can do ALL the things ALL the time? I actually don’t have a great answer. It’s not like I’m trying to impress anyone. My husband knows how to decompress.

I have girlfriends who understand the importance of carving out “me” time that doesn’t involve freelance work (<— me).

The only time I’ve been able to figure out how to pull away from the day-to-day chaos and savor a simple, disconnected life has been during recent family vacations. But that’s merely a break for a week or two. I believe this transition can (should!) also be applied to my normal days, not just my vacation days.

3 Simple Ways To Unwind

milano-cookies-reading

1. Close the laptop. (At least for a while.)

It’s not realistic for me to close my laptop after work for the whole evening. After my day job, my freelance work begins, and unless I want to start my day at 4 a.m., some of that needs to happen at night. What I’ve started doing, however, is keeping the personal laptop closed until after dinner during the week. When I get home from work it’s all about making dinner (which I happen to find relaxing and fun), hanging with the family, and not staring at a screen. I even {GASP!} try to leave my phone in the other room – close enough to still hear it ring, or chirp with a text, but far enough away that I’m not swiping to check updates ALL. THE. TIME.

2. Leave the dishes and don’t worry about the laundry.

The Type-A in me wants all the counters clean, dishes unloaded and loaded into the dishwasher, and that last (well, almost last) load of laundry started before heading to bed for the night. Sure, it’s nice to have a clean kitchen. But not at the expense of relaxing a bit in the evening or going to bed at 11 p.m. instead of 10 p.m. A year ago I would’ve given myself side eyes for even thinking about a leaving a dirty kitchen until the next day. Like any habit, I’ve grown to not mind so much. Sure, I might have to re-wash a load of laundry that didn’t make it to the dryer in the same day, but the world WILL NOT END because of it. Truly. (And, it means I can get to bed earlier. Zzzzz…..)

3. Enjoy a special treat each night and really savor it.

I love a glass of wine in the evening after the kids go to bed (okay, it’s often just after I get home from work – same difference). But what I enjoy even more these days is a little habit I’ve developed to transition from mom, freelancer, marketer, friend, wife, etc. to just having a little time to myself. The introvert in me needs it. It’s called: MILK and COOKIES. And sometimes: WINE and COOKIES. Yes, I bake cookies weekly. But not all the cookies I love are baked from scratch – I’m not a homemade cookie snob! Take Pepperidge Farm® Milano® cookies, for example. I love the soft cookie mixed with a thin chocolate center – sweet, but not too sweet. It’s nostalgic; my parents used to buy them when I was a kid. My current favorite is the Orange Milano. The light citrus-y scent spills out of the bag as soon as it’s opened, and yet the orange doesn’t overwhelm. It’s delightful!

3 Simple Ways To Unwind: Take the time to enjoy the journey that is life....

Milk and Milano cookies are the perfect book-reading companions, great for decompressing and enjoying alone time. I can get sucked into a novel sooooo easily, which can be a problem when it comes to hitting that 10 p.m. bedtime. HA! I also take time to watch my favorite shows once the kids are in bed (Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones, Homeland) or a great movie (Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Julie and Julia), and settling in with milk (or wine!) and cookies. It’s a great transition from hectic juggling of all the things, into a little space for myself. To pause and reflect upon how great life is, and to truly appreciate the small things.

Check out Pepperidge Farm® Milano® on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

How do you unwind and grab some “me time” after a chaotic day? Leave a comment below to enter for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card.

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Last Updated on December 4, 2016 by Liza Hawkins

Hi, I'm Liza, a self-proclaimed word-nerd who loves getting sucked into whimsical stories and epic movies. I have laid-back, practical attitude towards life, and as a foodie at heart, I relish the chance to both cook and eat. (No picky-eater here!) Always on the hunt for good eats, easy recipes, binge-worthy shows, relaxing road trip destinations, the perfect mojito and time to finish my novel!

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