Last month as I wrote this post I realized what I desperately needed was a personal day to reset myself a bit. I remember first hearing the term from pop culture but when I entered the work force after college I became aware of just how important opting into a personal day can be.
When I worked a more corporate job it often felt like we were meant to have a proper excuse to miss work. A doctor’s appointment, vacation, family duties, etc. But I often thought about how important “mental health” or “personal” days are. Sometimes you.just.need.a.break.
Now I’m not a person that sits still well so personal days for me certainly don’t mean sleeping in or binge watching a show. Rather it means doing things that make me happy and relaxed. So the other week when I decided to opt into a personal day, I blocked my calendar and planned a series of things I knew would leave me feeling better. First up? I set out for a favorite breakfast spot in the West Village (Buvette) and saddled up to the bar. I ordered their oh-so-fluffy scrambled eggs with parmesan and prosciutto and an iced Americano and soaked up the scene. Then I walked around the West Village for an hour. It was quiet, so peaceful and the perfect temperature. I next made my way over to Washington Square Park where I called a friend and caught up with her for 20 minutes before I headed over to New York Pilates for a reformer class.
Upon finishing my class, I headed over to Jersey City to visit a friend who had recently had a baby. My friend Jaime is one of those people who is always a breath of fresh air and leaves you feeling better than when you arrived to see her. She’s like a human dose of an upper – ha! Our visit included a late lunch outside with a glass of wine and proper catching up.
As I made my way home at 3:30, I was relaxed, restored and ready to take on the rest of the week. My best piece of advice? If you’re feeling worn down, burnt out, overwhelmed or just in need of a reset, take a day. And don’t feel like you have to have all these grand plans because you’re taking a day off. Rather, plan the things that bring you joy. The recharge will last you much past your day off. And, if a personal day isn’t in your future anytime soon, there’s always self care Sundays!
Blouse // Shorts // Heels // Bag // Sunglasses
p.s. the dress I’ll wear all summer & outfit ideas for this season.
I’m loving those shorts! The buttons and the ruffles are so cute!
xx, Merritt
The Style Scribe
Such cute details right!? Think you need ’em 🙂