So we’ve been in this pandemic for over a year now.. right? This means that a majority of us are working from home now more than ever, avoiding crowds for the most part or slowly getting back out in the public depending on how careful we’re trying to be. Just as COVID-19 hit us last March, I was just moving into my home. The upside of this was that I was able to get my place in order much faster than I would have going into the office every day for 8 hours. This means boxes were unpacked much quicker, decorations are where they should be for the most part much sooner than normal. However, I’m spending so much time at home these days that my new home doesn’t feel so new to me anymore because I’m always here! Not by my own choosing. I usually take at least one trip, preferably by flight, every year. That did not happen in 2020. I went absolutely nowhere. So I decided why not capitalize on the space I have now. I was in a one bedroom apartment downtown for the last 5 years prior to moving back to the suburbs. Now that my space is more than doubled and I have a backyard I decided to bring my travel destinations to my home in more creative ways. I purchased a hammock for my backyard along with an umbrella to sit outside for my breaks from work with “work” being a bedroom dedicated to being an office.
Since I love the water, I played with the idea of an above ground pool but considering the amount of space it would take and the fact that I can only enjoy it during certain months, I decided against it. I began seeing hot tub advertisements all over Facebook then I remembered the advantages they provide for overall stress relief, pain relief, and inducing sleep. It hit me! I need a hot tub. I suffer from arthritis and joint pain due to various injuries and sleep is not something that comes easy for me. Why not make my backyard my ultimate retreat space? Well, that’s what I did. I purchased a Master Spa Twilight 7.25 and placed it on my deck. This allowed me to conserve the space in my already cozy back yard for my hammock, a bench, solar lights and whatever else I decide to throw back there. After that I decided to beautify my covered porch area a little with stringed lights, chair cushions for the table and chair set I brought from my apartment downtown, and some plants.
My logic is, if I’m going to be stuck at home, why not have some of the comforts I enjoy when traveling at that home that I’ve been told to stay in for safety. Truth is, these are investments into my self-care regimen. COVID-19 has presented struggles to us all in different ways even if that means restricting our travel and interaction with the public. The best part is that I don’t have to book a date and time for my retreat. Nor do I have
