In my recent post on unconventional money tips, I mentioned that taking care of yourself is a really important part of your money management. I know I spend more when I’m stressed, tired, grumpy, or depressed. There is an emotional root to our money issues and we can’t be blind to that fact.
For the past 2 months, I’ve been working every single weekend. Some weekends I only worked 6 hours. Others I worked 24 hours, or more than a part-time job in the span of Friday to Sunday evening. This in addition to my full-time job.
It’s been exhausting. It’s tested my stamina, my relationship, and my sanity. But I’m moving through, and we’re finding a rhythm.
But this weekend some fun begins! We are going wine tasting all weekend, enjoying the beautiful terrain, lovely foods, and intense flavors. We’ll stay at a hotel (that is free from credit card points!), relax, go in the jacuzzi and enjoy the sunshine. I can’t tell you how excited I am about this! It’s finally here. It will be a short little getaway, but one that will help me reconnect to myself and my partner.
I’ve realized lately that I don’t really know what to do if I’m not working, and that’s a problem. I’m still a person, and I have hobbies and interests outside of paying off debt and blogging. Starting in May, I am going to focus more of my efforts on getting online work so I can stay at home more with my partner. I am going to practice self-care and indulge my creativity. I am going to make a concerted effort to find this elusive work-life balance that people speak of.
That’s my plan for the weekend! What are you doing this weekend to take care of yourself?
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36 comments
I love to read this. One of the hardest things that I’ve had to manage is my urge to find offline work vs. online work. I am always tempted to work offline but am always reminding myself that Online work PAYS MORE and after I get used to finding it regularly will be more beneficial to me in the long run=more time with people and more time for myself. I used to work every single weekend and that just took a toll on me in every way imaginable. At this point regardless of my debt, my #1 priority is my health, relationships with family, then money (saving/paying stuff off etc.) and finally travel. Maybe you work 3 weekends a month and free up one weekend each month to balance things out? Enjoy yourself and drink some wine for me!!
Yes, I’m realizing I’m saving money/making more if I stay at home and work. It takes energy to bike here and there, or take the bus. I’m hungrier, I’m more tired, and it is usually less, money wise. Carving out more time for myself is now a priority!
I have the opposite problem! No desire to find offline work. Yet if I can get freelance print writing work it pays way more than any web writing.
Do you have any tips on how to go about that? I feel like print writing work is hard to find.
Good job for taking some downtime. That is specifically why I don’t really hustle… because I value my time more than the extra $100 or so. Does that make me sound like a snob? 🙂
Not at all! Some things aren’t worth it, and it’s up to each person to decide that. Glad you know that about yourself!
Wishing you all the best on your goals for May. Also, enjoy that much needed fun time this weekend. You earned it and richly deserve it. It sounds exciting – a reason to sing Pharrell’s “Happy” and I’ll clap along. 🙂
Awww, thanks Jen. I was so so happy!
I’m glad to hear you’re in the midst of a fun weekend! Hope you’re enjoying yourself!
I had a blast. It was so lovely and the weather was perfect.
Good for you! I always forget to take care of myself as well. On the weekends that I’m working, I try and get a massage around the corner just so I can feel revitalized and rejuvenated!
Massages are the best way to unwind in my opinion 🙂
Hope you’re having a great time wine tasting! I try and take care of myself by trying not to overwhelm myself with too many things, social plans, etc.
It was utterly fantastic and amazing. Just what I needed! Overbooking yourself is definitely an issue when trying to take care of yourself.
Taking care of yourself is so important! This weekend I spent time working on my goals for the month. I was able to try kudalini yoga for the first time and I did all of my spring cleaning! My space looks great, my closet is organized and my car looks relaxing.
Ooo yoga sounds fun and congrats on the goals and spring cleaning. It’s nice to start the week off that way!
I’ve been trying to make an effort for more *me* time. I find in this journey to aggressively pay down debt, I have almost lost myself in the process. In January, I got back to the gym and joined weight watchers. I’m OK with the added expense because I’m working towards better health. Going back to your question, this weekend I got my first spray tan. I haven’t been to an actual tanning bed in 4 years (so glad I quit that bad habit) and I thought this might be a good option for a healthy glow. Best part? It was free! I also did my nails with a kit I got for Christmas. So, no money spent on a weekend full of *me* time 🙂
Your health is so important! Good for you for being frugal and having fun over the weekend 🙂
Great post Melanie. I feel the same way sometimes, about not knowing who I am if I’m not working. I have a very hard time relaxing when I do take time off (very rarely). I feel guilty that I’m not working and I don’t know what to do with my free time. It isn’t that I don’t have hobbies or interests, I just find myself unable to sit still long enough to complete them, I feel like I need to be working on something, be it housework, chores, yard work, farm work, my home business, work at my day job, work at my part-time weekend job, etc. It actually physically hurts my back and shoulders when I try to “relax” my muscles at the end of my day.
I’m the same way, girl. I feel guilty if I’m not working. I’m trying to work on that because I do have hobbies and interests, and we all NEED to relax at some point, you know?
I hope you had a lovely weekend getaway my dear! Was the weather as gorgeous in Portland as it was up here in Vancouver? Wine-tasting is still on my bucket list of things to do! 🙂
Yes, the weather was stunning. So perfect. You should definitely go wine tasting with J or with some girlfriends.
Whenever I have a lot of work to get accomplished, and that often happens, I always think of a quote from a former boss, “You can sleep when you die”, and I press on.
And there is also the famous quote by Gingrich, “Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did.”
Keep pressing on!
Yes, I am! I also think there is a law of diminishing returns regarding productivity though. I’m keeping on though 🙂
I really had a busy weekend because I just started my online business clothing and until now I’m still setting it up on Facebook and Instagram. And we were invited to a pool birthday party last Saturday, so we really had a blast!
Pool birthday party?! That sounds like so much fun. Congrats on starting your online business!
Sounds amazing! Hope you enjoyed every moment. Getting away on my Eurotrip has been incredible. Though I admittedly can’t totally check out for 2 full weeks.
Yeah, I know the feeling. I haven’t had a 2 week vacation in forever, and even then it was before I graduated college. I hope you are enjoying Europe while still managing your duties.
So glad to hear you had a mini-getaway of relaxation and fun! I like your strategy for May, and hope it comes to fruition for you! 🙂
I hope so too! I want to stay home more, and make more money 🙂
I LOVE wine tasting trips!!! And I have the problem of working too hard and not resting enough, but when I do, I feel so much better.
Wine tasting is a lot of fun! Trying to find more balance, but getting some rest this past weekend was great.
Hope you had fun wine tasting! Can’t wait to do some this summer!
It was lovely! You should definitely go wine tasting!
Work/Life Balance? lies…. just kidding, I hope that you are able to find it quickly 🙂 And, I hope you were able to enjoy your wine tasting weekend, it sounds like a blast!
I know, what is work/life balance? I’m looking for it! I know I keep saying this, but things will be better next month. May, I am focusing on online income and staying HOME. The wine weekend was perfect.