Need some quick + easy self care ideas? I’m sharing five ways you can use your car for a quick getaway while you’re cooped up at home.
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Lately I’ve been craving some ‘me time’. Don’t get me wrong, all this extra family time is great! But sometimes you just need a break, ya know?
Living in an RV and sharing a tiny living space can make it tricky to get any alone time, even more so now that we have a little one crawling around.
Want to know a secret?
The car is actually an awesome place for a quick escape from being on mom-duty.
Yep – whenever I need some alone time, the cab of our truck is where I’ve been enjoying some peace and quiet.
It’s a totally selfish few minutes (sometimes a whole hour!) where I make the decisions and completely disconnect from the world.
Have you tried this?
Even if time is short, it’s so important to make taking care of yourself a priority in between taking care of everyone else.
Need some tips and ideas for taking a moment away? Here are 5 things I’ve enjoyed doing during my self care time-out in the car.
5 Ways To Use Your Car For Self Care
1. Solo Coffee Date
I try not to make a habit of going out for coffee, so it’s always a special treat whenever I get to swing by the Starbucks drive thru for a hazelnut latte. (Iced of course!)
There’s just something about sipping your coffee in the silence of your own vehicle that is instantly relaxing.
2. Listen To Your Favorite Tunes (Or Podcast)
Listening to a favorite song for five minutes can be such a mood-booster.
Whenever I find myself in a grumpy mood, a good sing-along session to some 90s country will instantly take me back to being a kid sipping on a Capri Sun after swimming in the pool all day. Ahhh, the good ol days of zero responsibilities!
If you don’t have any favorite tunes, consider listening to a few minutes of a podcast instead. They’re so many great ones out there on all sorts of different topics.
3. Take A Scenic Drive
When I have some extra time and Mike is on baby duty, I love to take a drive down backroads and enjoy the scenery.
It may sound cheesy, but driving around with no place to go makes me feel like I’m myself again – beyond being a wife, a mother, a homemaker, or any of the other hats I wear on a daily basis.
Sometimes I listen to music, but other days I turn the noise off and let myself get lost in my thoughts. The only rule is that I’m not allowed to think about my to-do list that’s waiting for me. That can wait until I get back home.
4. Treat Yourself
I love fries. They’re one of my favorite foods ever.
And on those occasions when I’m practicing some self-care out in the car, I love to take a short drive to pick up my favorite salty treat. (Totally partial to McDonald’s fries over here.)
5. Get Lost In A Book (Or Magazine)
I’ll admit it, I don’t read many books these days. But on days where I only have a few minutes for my moment of zen out in the car, reading is an easy way to relax without even leaving the driveway.
I’m learning that reading is actually one of my favorite ways to practice self-care as a busy mom. Getting lost in a book (or magazine), even for a few minutes is so relaxing.
If you only have a few minutes, treat your brain to something calming like reading a daily devotional, or shoot for just one chapter of a book you’ve been wanting to finish. Of course you could always catch up on a recent post from one of your favorite bloggers, too. 🙂
Next time you’re needing an escape from the four walls of your home, head out to your car and get ready to relax!
Going to the spa and getting pedicures aren’t the only way to practice self care. You can easily get time away from the craziness of home/work/life to cherish yourself and enjoy your own company from the comfort of your car.
Are you thinking to yourself, ‘This sounds great, but my car is NOT comfortable’…?
I get it! In the 7 years we’ve been married, Mike and I have owned a lot of vehicles – and not all of them were what I would consider comfortable.
But I can honestly say that our current truck checks all the boxes for me when it comes to comfort and I LOVE spending quiet time in here.
Curious about which cars would be perfect for your solo time away from the house? Check out Autotrader’s picks for the 10 Best Car Interiors of 2020. Interior features are extremely important when determining which car to buy and their list will help you decide which perks are must-haves for the inside of your car.
Autotrader brings more trust and speed to online car shopping and buying. They have tons of helpful articles to help you choose a car that makes the ride (or 10 minutes of relaxation in the driveway 😉) as comfortable as possible.
I hope you found these tips for quick + easy ideas to practice self care from your car helpful!
What’s your favorite way to spend some alone time? I’d love to hear all about it in the comments below!
