Over the last few months, I’ve had to really prioritize my health. For me, right now, that’s meant a lot of time at home. Extra time in my bed, hooked up to my feeding tube, and the rest of the day spent at home, trying to take it easy at not overexert myself. While this might sound ideal, after a while, I find myself starting to feel a little bit stir-crazy. It can feel monotonous to do essentially the same thing day after day!
Whether it’s for a health-related reason like me, or for some other reason (like working from home), I’m sure that there are other people out there who are spending their time in the same place, day after day. I’ve come up with some tips and tricks to make days at home feel more special – that make them feel like more of an experience – and I thought I’d share.
Always Change Out of Pajamas
I am not someone who needs to be dressed in a full outfit to feel productive for the day, but I do need to change out of my pajamas. It’s just a nice way to delineate between day and night – a way to set the scene even if the scenery itself is staying the same. I tend to keep it pretty casual most days – I’m fine in a t-shirt (and am constantly searching for the “perfect” one). I also love something like a cashmere t-shirt, which feels a little more dressed up than a regular tee, but is still super comfortable.
And some days, I do put on a full outfit just to sit at home! For me, time at home feeling special doesn’t necessarily mean fancy, though. Cashmere feels fancy, so it feels special to me. Maybe for you it’s something different! But I don’t think you have to be wearing sequins or velvet to get the effect. It’s more about a small thing that feels slightly luxurious to you.
Lip Balm and Perfume
Just like I’m not going to get dressed in a full outfit every day, I don’t like to do a full face of makeup every day when I’m at home. But I do like to do a little something, just for me. So I’ve found that perfume and a little something on my lips is the perfect combination for me. I have quite the collection of fragrances, and it’s really fun to pick one out each day to kind of set my mood. My current favorites include Phlur’s Cherry Stem, Le Labo’s Vanille 44, and Rare Beauty’s new fragrance, but this changes almost weekly.
The same goes for a lip product. It’s just a little something that makes me feel polished and put together, but is incredibly low effort, which is important for me right now! I love something with a little tint, but still doesn’t need to be applied carefully (or even while looking in a mirror). My current lineup has Tilt Beauty’s Grip Stick, Rhode’s lip gloss, and Violette_fr’s lip gloss.
Light the Good Candles
Basically, I don’t save the nice things for special occasions – my daily life is the special occasion that I’m celebrating, and I want to make sure I’m enjoying it! One small way I do that is lighting my favorite candles – just for me, and just because. Right now, I have Hotel Lobby Candle’s Napa Valley lit, flickering a few feet away from me. I love both the light it casts and the scent, which is so perfect for fall. It’s another way I’m setting the mood – creating a luxurious vibe, even if it’s just for me.
If you’re not a candle person, I’m sure there’s something else that would serve the same purpose. Maybe you eat dinner on the nice dishes! Whatever it is for you, it’s about pulling out “the good stuff” to enjoy.
Changing Up My Scenery
It’s really easy when you’re spending a lot of time at home to become a bit of a potato. To spend hours in the same room, reading or watching tv, and just letting the time go by. So when the weather cooperates, I force myself to go outside and sit on my patio. This isn’t really a hardship, of course, because I do love my patio, but it’s just about changing things up and keeping myself from becoming too stuck. And if you do have outside space, take advantage! Nothing helps me feel more un-stuck than going outside and feeling the fresh air. It really does make me feel like I’m in a different space completely.
The magic isn’t in any single one of these, but in putting them all together. It’s about making an event out of your everyday life! So wake up, put on your fanciest cashmere, spray yourself with your fragrance du jour, and light the nice candle. You’ll feel like you’re doing something special, even if all you’re doing is resting and relaxing.
