Self-Care First, Dishes Later!

Let’s get real—being an adult is exhausting. There’s work, kids, errands, responsibilities, and by the time the day is done, you’ve given 100% of your energy to everything except yourself. Next thing you know, it’s 7:00 p.m., and you’re debating whether to power through or just accept your fate and go to bed.

Here’s the deal: the laundry can pile up. The dishes can sit. Your to-do list will survive if you take a minute (or an hour) for yourself. Trust me, I’ve tested this. The world has yet to end because I ignored my sink for a night.

Self-care isn’t just bubble baths and spa days—it’s whatever keeps you from turning into a burnt-out, overworked shell of a person. Maybe that’s exercise (go for a walk, stretch, do yoga—whatever doesn’t make you miserable). Maybe it’s eating something with actual nutrients instead of just caffeine and vibes. Maybe it’s blasting your favorite music and having a five-minute solo dance party in your kitchen.

For me, it’s quilting. There’s something about firing up my sewing machine and diving into a new project (yes, I have unfinished ones—no, I don’t want to talk about it). Or if I’m feeling lazy, I grab my knitting, throw on a movie, and call it “kitty cuddle therapy.”

Need more ideas? Here you go:

✔ Take a guilt-free nap. The laundry isn’t going anywhere.

✔ Read a book for fun. Not for work. Not for self-improvement. Just because you want to.

✔ Go outside. Touch some grass. Breathe fresh air.

✔ Say no to things that drain you. (Groundbreaking, I know.)

✔ Put your phone on Do Not Disturb and enjoy some glorious silence.

✔ Buy yourself flowers just because.

✔ Take a bath so long you come out looking like a raisin.

✔ Do something creative—paint, write, bake, or doodle like a five-year-old.

✔ Call a friend and actually catch up. Not just text, but talk.

✔ Sit in total silence and let your brain breathe.

Sometimes, self-care means being around people you love. Other times, it means avoiding people entirely. After a long workday, I don’t want notifications, alarms, or background noise. I want peace. I want the slow tick of my cuckoo clock, the rhythmic clicking of my knitting needles, and a cat who thinks personal space is a joke.

I used to feel guilty about taking time for myself—until I realized that not taking time for myself was the real problem. This isn’t selfish. It’s survival. So, what’s your go-to way to recharge? Drop a comment and let’s talk self-care—because trust me, the dishes can wait.