They say March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. For me, though, March came at me like an old, dilapidated lawn mower on its last legs wanting to chew up everything in its fateful path with its dull, rusted blades. Like, can you chill March?
Unfortunately, I was the unsuspecting pedestrian on that stupid path.
Basically, the last four weeks have been hectic and dysfunctional to say the least. I came down with a lazy cold in early March and after I recovered, Charlotte caught whatever I had. Just as we were all starting to see the light of day and feeling positive vibes again, I came down with another stubborn cold. Evidently, I caught what she gave me that I gave her. SOMEONE EXPLAIN SCIENCE TO ME!
None of it was Covid, thankfully but it was back-to-back ridiculousness. And each time either of us got sick, we had to isolate (no work or daycare) for five days which meant having to juggle real-time childcare needs with real-time work emergencies at the same bloody time. So, most of March was a blur for me.
When things go awry, I tend to function on the lowest level. I do the very minimum to get through my days: eat bread, sleep, work, keep child alive (obviously not in that order). And that’s how I’ve been coping the last few weeks. Thus, lots of things have gone to the wayside, namely maintaining my seasonal chores and my blog (apologies to all my blogging buddies for not being able to keep up with your posts).
But something else happened in March that I didn’t expect. I put myself higher on the list of priorities. Yes, I did the minimum to function, but I also included myself on that list of “minimums.” I honed in on the things that had the ability to either calm me or centre me. I focused on joy and the things I could control instead of madness, then I muted the chaos, even if it was just for an hour.
I read somewhere that doing things you genuinely enjoy naturally boosts your ‘feel-good’ hormones (dopamine and serotonin). For that small window of time (once a day or once every couple days), I did what made my soul happy.
I coloured… a lot! Get started with these supplies.
I delved into the compulsive and addictive world of paint-by-numbers (once you start, you can’t stop)! Try it yourself.
- *Paint-by-Numbers “Dolomiti Mountain“
- *Paint-by-Numbers “Music and Monkey“
I decided to treat myself to a low-maintenance skincare regimen. Check out what I got.
Ta-da!!



What sorts of things do you do for self-care?
Hang on, be right back. I think I hear someone sniffling…
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I have been in the exact same boat with getting sick repeatedly. The only difference is I’m the one that’s catching it from my kid over and over again and I still have a cough that I just can’t seem to shake! I love that you are doing paint by numbers and other things to enjoy your time while you get through it. Hope you’re feeling better now!
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Yea I just have no idea if I am catching it from her or she’s catching it from me but literally, every time she goes back to school she’s sick or I am sick (so maybe it is her)! Just hoping all this is worth it and it’s building a strong immune system for her! Hope you feel better too LaShelle- sucks to be down!
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It’s not just you! We’ve been in the same boat. I have had a cough I can’t get rid of for over a month. My kid keeps catching stuff too. He’s missed over a month of school this year (not consecutively) but I keep getting doctors notes because we just can’t help it. I can’t send him if he’s running a fever, coughing up a lung or puking 🤷♀️. He’s been off this week for spring break And I couldn’t wait for him to have the week off so that way he isn’t catching anything. Personally think it has a lot to do with social distancing and the pandemic, there’s these super bugs that are out right now because we haven’t been building up our immune system
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Wow back to back colds and looking after someone with a back to back cold! That’s insane 😮Minimum things to do? That would have to be playing Candy Crush or eating my Nonnas home made chicken noodle soup.
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Ohhh Nonna’s chicken noodle soup sounds perfect right about now! I was hoping that was the last of the colds for a long time but Charlotte seriously developed mild sniffles this week and I am just hoping it doesn’t progress any further than that! LOL our immune systems (though weak before) must be strong as steel now!!!
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We are just heading into winter. It has been raining all through summer. Me thinks a miserable winter ahead aaaah chooo!🤧🤧
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Who knew paint-by-number had gotten so – artsty? I especially dig that monkey!
Your mindful decision to do something for the sake of your own happiness during convalescence was profound – and will no doubt carry over to when your more active, crazy lifestyle as mom, worker, etc,etc,etc returns centerstage. Carving out a smidgen of self-care time can become a healthy addiction! 🙂
Hang in there – I hope Charlotte and you get on the same wellness page together!
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Thanks so much Laura! I love that monkey lol haha it was a labour of love but so great to be able to work at something, little-by-little, and keep faith that it will look great in the end… and it did! I am someone who loves seeing a project to the end, it gives me such a great fulfilling feeling (could be a small or large project) so I suppose I’m always chasing that feeling 🙂
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I’m sorry to read about all the colds. Nothing wonderful about them, ever. As for self-care, I don’t do much of it anymore. Oddly enough after all these months of pandemic isolation, I’m finding that I don’t care about pampering myself like I once did. I haven’t gone back to getting micro peels or having a massage, finding I’m content to just be.
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Yea, I was lucky to get a few massages in March only because I didn’t want my benefits to go to waste but I also work near a physio/massage therapy clinic so it was convenient to pop in during lunch hour! Whatever brings you joy (and I think this could be constantly fluid and changing) is what works! That’s my motto! 🙂
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I so get what you mean. Despite not being sick I’ve been having one of those weeks where I am just doing the bare minimum to get through the days. And my over thinking brain is constantly screaming at me for not being productive enough. 🙈
Oooh love that you took up these fun activities and took care of yourself. I started working on clay projects last year but I suck at it. (I made a soap case which was the only success) 🤣
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ooh clay! I went to a clay class once years ago, it was difficult to be creative.. all I could make was a bowl lol but that would be a fun activity to do one day, one of those colouring clay classes! I know, it’s be a tough go for a lot of people, I am glad you slowed down though and just got through what you could, as best you could! 🙂
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Ugh. I’m sorry about your back to back illnesses. Same thing happened here with the flu. Me, my son, me again, then everyone else. I too wondered how that worked. Darn mutations, I guess. I totally understand the whole dialing back to the most essential functions. It sounds like you learned a few things from this experience, however, and they were good for you. (Hooray silver lining!) That color by number of the mountain and water is incredible!!
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Yes! I am hoping this is the last of it for at least a few months! Just seems never-ending at this point! After every illness, I always think, Okay this has GOT to be every virus out there,, how many more can we catch??
Yes, my colouring and painting have been lifesavers!! So relaxing, quite different from jiu jitsu!! 😉
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Ha. Yes, coloring and jiu jitsu seems like polar opposites, but both sound fun to me.
“How many more viruses can we catch??” Are you crazy? Tempting fate like that?! 😉
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Take care of yourself in whatever way works best for you. I like the idea of colouring but haven’t tried it yet. These days, everything I do is meant to take care of some aspect of my physical or mental health. But I didn’t start these things until I retired. Glad you are working on taking care of you right now.
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Thanks so much! Better late than never though, I always say! So I am so glad you’ve started doing things that make you happy and/or better your health in some valuable way! 🙂
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Isn’t it crazy that it takes illnesses to remind us to look out for ourselves? (I was the same way.) You’ve probably seen me write this before, but if I were to redo one thing about my career, I would look after myself as well as I did others. I tried to be a good husband, father, teacher, and friend, and I think, for the most part, I succeeded in all of those things. The part I failed in was caring for myself in the same manner. Combine a workaholic and a person who couldn’t say no, and it was no surprise that it eventually took its toll. I still volunteer and try to help others in retirement, but I’ve moved way up in my list of priorities. Consequently, I feel pretty darn good for my age.
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Yes, crazy for sure! I think once we hit a road block like getting sick, we realize how much one can do but shouldn’t have to do… not everything has to be done to the brink of the max… we can all learn to find some balance and that’s always a reminder to me when I am sick… I often think, I could go to work sick (pre-covid days) and double the time it takes for me to recover from a cold… OR I can take a deserved day or two to catch up on rest so that I recover quickly from an incessant cold! Stress is also a huge factor in how often you get sick or how long you stay sick too I’m sure!
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This is a short and sweet, peppy, update post that I rather enjoyed! Although sorry to hear that you and Charlotte were sick ugh!! I love that you put you on your list tho, that was a great instinctual move. And I freaking love your paint by numbers art!! 🤣😍 Hmm my self-care prob involves eating fun/nutritious food, watching media things that make me happy, and talking on the phone! Hang in there sister, and I’m glad you survived!
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haha thanks, I am quite impressed with my art myself LOL… I just need to figure out how to build a frame and get it hung!
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Ha ha. I’m glad to hear you’re focusing on what’s in your control and practising self care. It’s so important. For me, self-care is about getting outdoors, listening to music, or singing—especially singing. Let’s hope April is a better month for you.
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Yes! Same here! I love music and rely on it greatly to uplift my mood quite often (in the car during rush hour, during the day to pass the time)! Getting that fresh air also does wonders for me!
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Paint by numbers is pretty danged fun indeed! Took me a while to realise that I didn’t need to follow the lines to a tee, and the process became that much funner after. My pet peeve is coming across some jars of paint that are already dry, lol.
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OmG YES! I feel like I found someone who understands me lol so when I did my first paint-by-numbers, I was sooo focused on getting it within all the lines and perfection was my enemy… it’s also why I delayed starting it too, I got so in my head about it lol in the end I was like, c’mon it’s literally a painting, it’ll be fine/fun! LOL… but once I got into it, it was less daunting and more fun to create! 🙂 Yes, the gummy paint isn’t the greatest but there are ways to work around it 🙂
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I’m glad to read those colds lead you to self-care, that’s one of the best medicines for beating them in the long run. When my kids were young, colds were just part of parenting. I’d never recommend wishing life to go by faster, but one day, when your nest is empty, you’ll be less prone to colds ;-). PS – It is ABSOLUTELY okay to let your blogging efforts pause when you need to. Nice job on the coloring and painting!! Oh, and I found my way here via Yvette’s Prior House and Ally’s Spectacledbean!
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Hey Shelley! So glad to have you here, thanks so much for reading and commenting! Yes, every time I find myself dreading a parenting phase, I try to remind myself that this doesn’t last forever and one day I may even miss it! 🙂
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You’re welcome – thank you for the warm greetings. Parenting is the best life-time job you’ll ever have 🙂
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I’m glad you’re feeling better Jen and look what you discovered along the way to get you thru your family’s own March Madness – you ended up with some March Gladness. Your waistline thanks you that you didn’t continue eating bread. 🙂
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March madness it was indeed!! 🙂 hahaha I really wanted bread, but when I get sick all I can seem to realistically stomach is soup and lots of it! hehe I am thinking stopping by my local Cobs for some fresh baked sourdough this weekend though 😛 cue the drools lol
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I’m drooling from afar thinking about that crusty sourdough! 🙂
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Coloring… YES! You deserve some you-time that’s not all about keeping your kid alive! (Love how you phrased that!) 😀 And that’s quite a handsome monkey!! Nice!!
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haha thanks Meg!! 🙂
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I hope everyone is on the road to recovery! Meanwhile, I love your self-care routine. I can’t remember the last time I painted by numbers. Yours are beautiful!
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Thanks so much Crystal! 🙂
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I hope you finally shake the illness for good. At least you explored some great new ideas and things to do. Spring can be very healing. Best to you, Jen.
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Yes, I am waiting for the healing part of Spring to arrive at my doorstep! I need it more than ever!!
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Here’s to spring!!
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I’m glad that you two are feeling better! And I’m glad you’ve managed to not forget yourself in this mess 😉 Those paintings are so gorgeous! Doing what makes us happy is really priceless sometimes! Hope your April will be better 😉🌸
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Thank you so much!!! 🙂
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I bought my friend a Mommy Swears coloring book for her birthday. 😀 I wonder how relaxing that was to color. I hope you’re all recovered now!
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Hehe I’ve seen that one! I feel like I’d enjoy that thoroughly! LOL
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