How a Busy Mom Added Nearly an Hour of Self-Care to Her Daily Routine
After the year we’re having, we could all use a break—and perhaps no one more so than parents. As it turns out, it’s impossible to keep a tidy house when everyone is always home living, working, and virtual learning in it!
While it can feel like there’s never enough time to pack in everything on our to-do lists, here’s some encouraging news: Based on data from the U.S. Census, people from around the world are “getting back” an average of 54 minutes each day by skipping the daily commute. Sure, that time can easily be absorbed by washing piles of laundry or squeezing in one more conference call, but here’s a better idea: Use those 54 minutes to do something just for you. That’s the idea behind our 54-Minute Challenge, a project we’re presenting in partnership with Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day® where we ask people how they’re using their “extra” hour.
Fans of Texas-based Ashley Rose follow her on Instagram at @sugarandcloth because they love how her transparent, relatable approach to all things DIY allows them to see beyond the perfectly stylized Instagram squares, while in her bio’s words, “raising kind humans along the way.” According to Ashley, once it became clear that waiting out the pandemic was going to stretch far longer than a few weeks and become our new normal, “that’s when I realized I needed to find a way to make some dedicated ‘me’ time.”
Sure, her day encompasses the usual dishes, spills, and frenetic joy of kids playing dress-up. “Momming right now: It’s messy, rewarding, chaotic, fulfilling. It’s loud. And we’re always home together.” In the past, the evening hour was a catch-up time filled with chores and to-dos. But now, Ashley uses her 54 minutes to create and indulge in small pleasures all her own, from her lakeside home in Houston.
For Ashley, self-care is about more than pampering her physical body. “The most important thing for me is that it’s something that truly helps my mind feel rejuvenated. If I could compile all of my favorite things into the ultimate 54 minute routine, it would be time alone with cool air, soft light, something creative, and possibly a cocktail in hand.”
Ashley’s respite is her home studio, where she paints by the light of the sunset and a Mrs. Meyer’s Basil Tin candle. “We always have candles going. They’re my ride or die. Lighting a candle during the day is the same effect as freshly cut flowers. A little sensory pick me up is always a good idea. And you can never go wrong with a classic Mrs. Meyer’s candle!”
Painting, like family life, is a process that requires patience. So is the practice of dedicated relaxation time. “I’m OK with this being something of an open-ended process. Anytime after bedtime is mental clarity time. Not every day. But some days. After I paint I feel clear. It’s kind of like a breather from all the critical thinking. The noise. The momming. Being able to create something that I don’t have to share, that doesn’t have to have a specific outcome—that’s my new ritual.”
Ready to start the process of your own 54-Minute Challenge? Find a quiet spot and a meaningful activity to refresh both body and mind, and set the mood with Mrs. Meyer’s air care products. Thoughtfully made from plant-derived ingredients, these room fresheners, scent sachets, and jar candles will help you create your ultimate me-time moment.