As a working mom of four, life is often stressful. I balance multiple jobs, and it seems like someone in the family is either sick, has a school project due, or is going through teenage travails, which makes it difficult to find a cadence that provides balance and calm. I normally handle the daily stressors of life by drinking too much coffee and binging mindless reality TV after the kids go to sleep.
However, over the past few months, life has been more stressful than usual. One of my children is dealing with a serious medical issue, and I am swamped with deadlines that require me to work longer hours, even later into the night. Plus, summer is looming. Although I am looking forward to spending more time with my children, I dread having even less time to accomplish everything that needs to get done.
My husband suggested taking a trip to focus on myself
The stress started to take its toll. I tried the typical suggestions: going to bed earlier, deep breathing, taking walks outside, and saying “no” more often. However, none of these techniques helped, and most were difficult to implement in daily practice.
When I wore a dress inside out for an entire day and then left the house a few days later with a shirt on backward, my husband noticed that I was barely holding it together. I was simply going through the motions of life, rushing from one obligation to another, while trying to keep the house running, and it was showing. My husband suggested that I take a few days away to reset. I wasn’t sure how I would work time away into my schedule, but I was committed to making it happen.
I traveled to a bucket-list destination for a trip that was all about me
Although I travel frequently with my children, I rarely have the opportunity to plan a trip based solely on my interests and desires. This time, I planned a trip to connect with my roots, explore pop culture, and enjoy unparalleled relaxation, all things I love.
Although it’s far from my home in Washington, DC, I chose to take a three-day trip to Romania. I had always wanted to visit because my grandmother immigrated to the United States from the Eastern European country. Romania also held another draw for me. I am a huge fan of horror and wanted to see Transylvania. Plus, it’s home to Europe’s largest bathhouse, where I planned to do some serious relaxing. Planning the trip felt indulgent, but it was just what I needed.
The trip helped me reset
Although it felt like a guilty pleasure, I loved everything about my time on my own. I slept in and spent a few leisurely hours at a coffee shop, sipping a caffeinated drink made with locally grown cherries. Although I still worked during my trip, knowing I had unlimited time to myself helped me rediscover joy in my job rather than feeling like I was in a sprint to check off one task before moving on to the next.
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During my trip, I also got to tap into the old-world country of my grandmother. I watched traditional Romanian dancers at a restaurant dating back to 1899, a time when my grandmother still lived there. Although it’s unlikely my grandmother visited the same restaurant, eating cabbage and other Romanian specialties nevertheless helped me feel connected to her.
Then, I spent a day exploring Transylvania. I was positively giddy wandering through Bran’s Castle, where Dracula is said to have once lived. I pretended to enroll in Nevermore Academy from Netflix’s “Wednesday” while visiting Cantacuzino Castle, which is the setting for the infamous school for outcasts.
Finally, and possibly the best part of my trip, was spending time at Therme, the world’s largest thermal spa. There, I experienced a range of wellness offerings, from saunas to mineral baths and thermal waters, all under one roof. I loved immersing myself in European bathhouse culture. I saw a traditional Afguss performance, an interactive dance performed in a sauna, that was unlike anything else I have experienced. I felt my mind quiet and slow in a pink-salt sauna, where I was forced to put my phone away.
Although it’s hard to leave my family, they did fine without me, and the experience not only gave me the reset I needed but also gave me a better sense of myself and a newfound commitment to making myself a priority.
Although I only had three days in Romania, the trip was effective. Putting my own oxygen mask on first is something I forget to do too often, and it’s not good for me or anyone around me. I returned with a clear mind and a fresh start, much better for the experience.
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