Well, we couldn’t get out and about for this latest edition of the travelogue. Winter had its way with us, foiling our adventures and the chance to write home about them. Nearly a foot of snow fell overnight, followed by an endless day of steady sleet and freezing rain. Add in the bone-chilling temperatures to make the weather outside all the more frightful. Weekend plans? All cancelled. Travel to new places? Thwarted. What about some fun in the snow? Short-lived after being pelted with pouring sleet. Our kids would have to wait out the storm for some sledding. Even our dog knew better than to venture out into the blizzard. Talk about feeling trapped and snowed in!
If you’ve ever been caught in a similar situation and found yourself stuck indoors, then read further for some self-care tips to survive the storm. Canceled appointments and activities sure can be frustrating, even maddening, when they throw off your kids’ routines. But it can also feel liberating when that schedule is thrown out the frigid window, and you are forced to stay home with nothing to do. There’s no rush to get the day started, so we are keeping our pajamas and sleep masks on for a while. Join in for a SleepSwag kind of day! Here are some ways to make the most of this downtime, all while avoiding cabin fever:
- Stay in Bed: There’s simply no place to go, which means you have full permission to spend most of your morning cozied up in bed. So go ahead and snooze some more! If you can’t fall back asleep, don’t remove your sleep mask just yet. Take in that full blackout experience with some deep soothing breaths, meditating, reflecting and ruminating on the serenity of the moment. Let any sense of time slip away, thanks to the gentle, silky hug of your sleep mask.
With no alarm clock to force you up, it’s the perfect time for some hurkle-durkle, the age-old Scottish practice of lying in bed for an extended period. Push that luxurious sleep mask above your eyes, and curl up to a good book. Or read some of our previous editions of our travelogue! Maybe take a short mid-morning nap if you fancy one. Whatever you do, embrace the SleepSwag lifestyle and keep relaxing in true Scottish fashion!
- Savor that Coffee: When it’s finally time to crawl out of bed, throw on a comfy robe and head to the kitchen to relax with your hot drink of choice. Unlike many mornings when it’s chugging a to-go mug during our commute, we can actually enjoy the freshly brewed coffee while lounging around some more. Every warm sip tastes better when looking out at the blustery snowfall. Take your time, top off your mug, and reach into the cookie jar because at some point, we will be shoveling all that snow. So better to warm up while you still can!
- Use Aromatherapy: We may be stuck in the middle of this winter weather, but we can still dream of a tropical escape. Channel some island vibes with SleepSwag’s Bermuda Room & Body Mist. A few sprays will enlighten your senses with uplifting bergamot, warm cedarwood, and refreshing grapefruit essential oils. Better yet, pull down that sleep mask, close your eyes, and imagine a mini-vacation on the beaches of Bermuda. This bottle will take you to paradise!
- Get Your Game On: By now, the kids are bouncing off the walls, looking for something to do. And they’ve been on the screens for way too long already. They may have received the “Do Not Disturb” signal when they first saw you in bed, sleep mask and all, but they may not share our same joy for rejuvenating self-care. Pull out the board games because there is no better time for a marathon round of Monopoly! Play some classics or make up your own challenges. You could even throw your sleep mask back on for a blind taste test…but play at your own risk in case your dear family tries to sneak in some gross concoctions!
It’s a good thing we recharged during this downtime indoors. The next day was an active one with plenty of outings. We had to chisel and clear the icy snow, strenuously shoveling the concrete-like chunks, now infamously known as snowcrete. There was plenty of sledding down the icy hills, as well as partaking in a complex snow fort project. Our dog also took us on several excursions to the local park.
By the evening, I was ready to get back in my PJs and dive into bed for an early bedtime. And what better way to cap off the winter games than to slip on my favorite silk sleep mask and spray some crystal sleep mist. This snowcrete isn’t going away anytime soon, so I will be resting until further notice. If you’re looking for me, I will be in my warm, dark cocoon. You should do the same, because we all deserve that kind of luxury. Until next time and new travels, sweet dreams, dear SleepSwag community!