Running by myself every evening either after putting DD down to bed or while my husband does it (we trade nights).

Reading. I usually read lots of literary fiction, poetry, and academic literature, but I just can't right now. So I'm reading really light fiction, romance and stuff. It's a great mental break.

10-15 minutes of DuoLingo every day. Again, just a nice break for my brain.

Limits on my social media and phone use. Sometimes I break them, but I do better when I limit how much Twitter and Instagram I expose myself to. Plus I don't feel good about it if I'm glued to my phone during time I am meant to be working or with my kid. I'm time strapped as it is -- I don't need to exacerbate the problem.

I give myself random days off. I try to make them to coincide with rainy days and then I take the day off from work and do "cozy day" with my daughter. We watch movies, wear our pajamas all day, bake, read, and relax.

Setting good boundaries with family and friends. I give myself permission to end phone calls or FaceTime calls whenever I need to. I allow myself to take time to reply to texts or emails, without guilt. I tell people if they are bringing up a subject that is upsetting to me or that I don't want to discuss right now, and I don't apologize for it.

I tell my husband when I'm starting to struggle, and we talk it out.

I try to be very forgiving of the days or weeks when my mental health struggles. It's a pandemic. It's a lot. It's normal to struggle, to feel angry or powerless, to not know how to handle it sometimes. Survival is enough. Survival is success.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I started building miniature doll house rooms. The kits on Amazon are like $40 and I'm almost embarrassed by how much I'm enjoying them. Just love creating tiny things with tons of detail.

Brilliant idea. I loved this as a kid and my DD has never been interested.

Enjoy! https://www.amazon.com/Hands-Craft-Wooden-Puzzle-Miniature/dp/B07BZ67J17?ref_=ast_sto_dp

Puzzles

My six-year old daughters will help me with them, as will my husband, but sometimes I stay up just to work on them by myself.

Anonymous wrote:I started building miniature doll house rooms. The kits on Amazon are like $40 and I'm almost embarrassed by how much I'm enjoying them. Just love creating tiny things with tons of detail.

Brilliant idea. I loved this as a kid and my DD has never been interested.

Walks outside really help me. I try to do 2 a day.

Yoga and strength classes on zoom or just free you tube videos.

No drinking (I find it dehydrating and disruptive to sleep) and healthy eating (most of the time). Sweets are my downfall but I'm pretty good at moderating. I do a couple of really good desserts a week, and watch my portions.

Trying to stick to good sleep routines.

Trying to limit screen time. This one I'm not so great at. But I do podcasts, so at least I'm not staring at a screen all the time. I'm on social media too much though and I'm reading too much news - election, COVID, etc.

Reading for pleasure.

I had a good meditation routine right when lockdown started and I've abandoned that. Need to pick it back up. I do try to go outside to my backyard every day and spend a few minutes looking up at the trees. I find this very calming.

I started building miniature doll house rooms. The kits on Amazon are like $40 and I'm almost embarrassed by how much I'm enjoying them. Just love creating tiny things with tons of detail.

Nature
Decluttering
Weeding
Reading
Working out
Meditation
Managing expectations for everything - this is a pandemic!!

This too shall pass...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m the original poster for ice cream and I’m so happy that so many people share my self care treat! I also don’t drink, smoke, or do drugs. I have eaten at least a half pint of Ben & Jerrys most days (and lost weight, without much working out. I think being at home is better for my eating). So:

Favorite ice creams? Flavors?? I love B&J Milk and Cookies, which I hadn’t heard of before the pandemic.

I'm one of the meditating posters, and I have also been eating more ice cream!

My favorite is Moorenko's, which I get at our local grocery. My favorites are chocolate chip (more like stracciatella), mint chocolate chip, and peppermint stick. Soooo good!

I love peanut butter world by Ben and Jerry's. Moorenko's sounds amazing. I am hearing of it first now!

It's local to Silver Spring, so I'm not sure how available it is too far afield from there, but if you're ever in the neighborhood, check it out!

There’s a new Moorenko’s opening soon at Eastern Market!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m the original poster for ice cream and I’m so happy that so many people share my self care treat! I also don’t drink, smoke, or do drugs. I have eaten at least a half pint of Ben & Jerrys most days (and lost weight, without much working out. I think being at home is better for my eating). So:

Favorite ice creams? Flavors?? I love B&J Milk and Cookies, which I hadn’t heard of before the pandemic.

I'm one of the meditating posters, and I have also been eating more ice cream!

My favorite is Moorenko's, which I get at our local grocery. My favorites are chocolate chip (more like stracciatella), mint chocolate chip, and peppermint stick. Soooo good!

I love peanut butter world by Ben and Jerry's. Moorenko's sounds amazing. I am hearing of it first now!

If you’re a Ben and Jerry’s fan, I just got an email that CVS is doing a $2.99 promotion.

Anonymous wrote:I’m the original poster for ice cream and I’m so happy that so many people share my self care treat! I also don’t drink, smoke, or do drugs. I have eaten at least a half pint of Ben & Jerrys most days (and lost weight, without much working out. I think being at home is better for my eating). So:

Favorite ice creams? Flavors?? I love B&J Milk and Cookies, which I hadn’t heard of before the pandemic.

Haagen Dazs peanut butter and chocolate.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m the original poster for ice cream and I’m so happy that so many people share my self care treat! I also don’t drink, smoke, or do drugs. I have eaten at least a half pint of Ben & Jerrys most days (and lost weight, without much working out. I think being at home is better for my eating). So:

Favorite ice creams? Flavors?? I love B&J Milk and Cookies, which I hadn’t heard of before the pandemic.

I'm one of the meditating posters, and I have also been eating more ice cream!

My favorite is Moorenko's, which I get at our local grocery. My favorites are chocolate chip (more like stracciatella), mint chocolate chip, and peppermint stick. Soooo good!

I love peanut butter world by Ben and Jerry's. Moorenko's sounds amazing. I am hearing of it first now!

It's local to Silver Spring, so I'm not sure how available it is too far afield from there, but if you're ever in the neighborhood, check it out!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m the original poster for ice cream and I’m so happy that so many people share my self care treat! I also don’t drink, smoke, or do drugs. I have eaten at least a half pint of Ben & Jerrys most days (and lost weight, without much working out. I think being at home is better for my eating). So:

Favorite ice creams? Flavors?? I love B&J Milk and Cookies, which I hadn’t heard of before the pandemic.

I'm one of the meditating posters, and I have also been eating more ice cream!

My favorite is Moorenko's, which I get at our local grocery. My favorites are chocolate chip (more like stracciatella), mint chocolate chip, and peppermint stick. Soooo good!

I love peanut butter world by Ben and Jerry's. Moorenko's sounds amazing. I am hearing of it first now!

Walks with my preschooler (we leave DH and dogs are home)

Medical appointments (necessary and some which were put off until now):
-derm
-new glasses through Warby
-endoscopy
-considering dentist

For grocery orders, I sometimes choose a luxury item that only I like - last time it was Laurel Chantal truffle goat log and fancy whole wheat crackers.

New clothes - looong overdue, I bougtt HT several new T-shirts. Now I need pants and new sneakers.

Harry Pottery movie marathon. I’m 4 movies in.

Anonymous wrote:I’m definitely drinking too much. I kept telling myself that this time won’t last forever and I should be kind to myself and stop feeling guilty for indulging. But I’m having 2-3 glass a night, every night. I used to be a 1 glass a night 3-4 times a week. I am seriously just SO stressed about the school situation. It’s literally driving me to drink. I did buy a peloton so I’m also exercising more than I used to.

Try substituting tea. I got into the habit of making a glass of detox or herbal tea at night before watching my "me" tv shows and the ritual knocked out my desire for wine.

Anonymous wrote:I’m the original poster for ice cream and I’m so happy that so many people share my self care treat! I also don’t drink, smoke, or do drugs. I have eaten at least a half pint of Ben & Jerrys most days (and lost weight, without much working out. I think being at home is better for my eating). So:

Favorite ice creams? Flavors?? I love B&J Milk and Cookies, which I hadn’t heard of before the pandemic.

I'm one of the meditating posters, and I have also been eating more ice cream!

My favorite is Moorenko's, which I get at our local grocery. My favorites are chocolate chip (more like stracciatella), mint chocolate chip, and peppermint stick. Soooo good!