6 Ways to do Something for Yourself This Week

Summer can be a hectic time of year. For me, it includes giving 100% to my summer internship, taking an online class, and hitting the races. While summer is my favorite time of year, it also brings its own set of challenges, as there just don’t seem to be enough hours in the day for everything to get done- in fact, I’m writing this blog at the absolute last minute. (Go figure…)

In my experience, I’ve found the best way to remedy these challenges is to do a little something for yourself each week. Since I moved to a different part of the state for my internship this summer, I made a point to find time each week for something that I want to do for myself, simply because I think I deserve it. Since then, I’ve found myself to be happier and more productive, as well as getting out and exploring the area! Struggling to think of experiences you can give yourself? Here are 6 things I have done this summer to get you started:

Go to a movie. Do you even remember the last time you went to the movie theater? No, going with your kids doesn’t count. Growing up, we weren’t a family that hit the movie theater regularly, mostly because we didn’t have one in my town until my senior year of high school, so now going to a movie is a real treat! Each week, I block off a few hours on Tuesday night to take myself to a $5 movie in the neighboring town. It’s a great excuse to get out of the house, support a local business, and tune out your technology for 90 minutes. If you need a recommendation, I highly suggest Rocketman and Toy Story 4.

Hit up a local restaurant with your favorites on the menu. About once a month, I will take myself out to the local sports bar for wing night. I don’t go with anyone, I just take an hour or two to myself and enjoy one of my favorite meals. Sometimes, I’ll take my computer and work on things I enjoy, such as writing for the blog, while other times I’ll just sit and enjoy the silence and calm of doing nothing. Once again, I’m all about supporting a local business, and Miller’s is my absolute favorite place to treat myself!

Give your feet some loving with a pedicure. I feel like we all have one or two things in life we know are somewhat unnecessary expenses but we do them anyways. For you, maybe it’s your Netflix subscription or buying name brand bottled water. For me, one of those things will always be an occasional pedicure. I mean, let’s be real, what’s better than sitting in a massage chair, soaking your feeting, dazzling them up with a fun color, having a great chat with your nail tech… I could really just go on and on. My two favorites are Secret Serenity in Harlan and Crown Salon in Emmetsburg. (Men, you can totally get pedicures, too.) A word from the wise: don’t sit with your head in your phone the entire time. You’re there to relax, right? What is relaxing about cranking your neck to your chin and starting at other stuff that will probably stress you out for 45 minutes? Take time to chat with your nail tech or just close your eyes, sit back, and enjoy.

Take a walk and explore your neighborhood. Or, if you have seen every inch of the town you live in, drive to the neighboring city and check it out. One night, I headed to the town just east of where I lived and checked out some of their historic homes and scenic areas. It was not only a great way to see something new, but fresh air and a good walk always clears your mind!

Check out a local event. Okay, so the title of this blog post probably should have been more along the lines of “How to Support Local Businesses and Organizations.” But in all seriousness, heading to an area event is a great way to try something new, support a community, and meet new people. Participating in my summer hometown’s festival was great because it exposed me to the people and culture of my temporary home in the most authentic way. Plus, your typical small-town midwestern community event will probably have pie made by church ladies for a free-will donation. Who can turn down the perfect slice of cherry pie?

Read a book, which is something that I wish I did more often. Books are great because they are relaxing and enriching all at the same time. I recently bought a variety of books from inspirational to biographies and political to financial that I can’t wait to dive into, and while I’m not always the best at it, I try to set aside at least one day a week for some serious reading time. It’s definitely one of my favorite bedtime rituals!

There you have it, folks: 6 easy, effective ways to do something just for you. Is there something from this list you will be trying soon? Or maybe you’ve brainstormed your own idea? We’d love to hear about it in the comments!