Rest, Reconnect, Reset: Our Intentional Staycation & Self-Care Reset 😴

This past weekend, husbae & I hit pause on the hustle & took a much-needed staycation. In the past 4 months, we’ve transitioned from a house of 4 to 7: my MIL had to move in, my 2 bonus baby boys are here permanently (🥰 love it when all my chirren are under 1 roof), & my oldest came on back into the nest. We’ve also had to make sure everyone was where they were supposed to be when they were supposed to be there, tried to keep our mental & physical health together (that thang is HARD when you’re never alone in the house), & sprinkle a little self-care in when we could.

Schedules could never align between his on-call schedule, me running a business, & navigating the rocky waters of managing a household of 7.  The leader of the family made an executive decision, said “we’re disappearing for a day,” & gave me the green light to book whatever. I booked a 2-hr massage, a room at the Renaissance South Park, & got hyped up to go off the grid. No phone calls, no texts, no emails, no obligations. Just intentional time to rest, reconnect, & reset — & it was exactly what we needed.

Rest, Reconnect, Reset Loading…

We set the tone from the start: phones on DND except the kids, no working after leaving the house, & no set plans outside of the massage & checking into the hotel. Setting DND for everyone is something I rarely do unless I know exactly where all my people are, mainly the Fab 4. However, I chose to step out of Anxiety Alley & declare that if anyone NEEDED to contact me, they had boo’s number. Otherwise, it was gonna have to wait. The only every-day-life item that went in my backpack was my journal. #NeverLeaveHomeWithoutIt 😉

After my live journaling session, we hit the road for brunch. Food is one of the ways to snatch my soul, & Eggs Up Grill didn’t disappoint. We didn’t care how long the wait was; time was a non-factor for once. We ate mindfully & just enjoyed each other. It reminded me of how powerful a change of pace can be when it’s done with intention.

Eggs Up Grill in Gastonia

Technology is a beast & allowed us to know that our room was ready around noon, so we headed to the Renaissance. We had a little over an hour before our 2-hr couples massage, & miraculously I took a nap. 👀 If that wasn’t an indicator that ya girl was exhausted, I don’t know what is! That hour refilled my cup enough to feel reenergized for the rest of the day.

Renaissance South Park in Charlotte

Our couples massage melted the tension away, even though I didn’t feel as zenned as I usually do when I have one. The knots weren’t as bad, probably because we’d just had massages on the cruises in March & December, but they were present. The experience helped me wind down even more & prepare for dinner though.

Not having plans made it a challenge for me because I can rarely pick a place to eat. I can pick something off of almost any menu, but I rarely ever have a taste for anything specific. I just go with the flow once that decision is made…by someone else. Surprisingly for a holiday weekend, it wasn’t overcrowded wherever we went. But to keep our good parking space & since it was nice weather, we walked to the mall & ended up at the Cheesecake Factory. (Don’t judge me! I ain’t here for the frou-frou food with unnecessarily complex names & 2 bites to eat for $100. I wanna EAT!)

The end of the night: eating turtle cheesecake with a coffee stirrer in the bed watching a ridiculously horrible Lifetime movie. The phone stayed on DND, & we were able to sleep uninterrupted for once. What better way to end an action-packed lowkey day?

We ended our 24-hr date at Snooze, which was a whole vibe. Great food, great atmosphere, great service, & a great experimental drink called Rejuvenate (pear, lemon, ginseng, agave, prickly pear coconut water, & Himalayan sea salt…see below). The whole day date seemed long, but it was exactly what we needed to rest, reconnect, & reset! Needless to say, we’ll be making it a monthly ritual.

Rejuvenate

Why Planning for Self-Care Matters

So often, self-care gets pushed to the bottom of our to-do lists—something we’ll get to “when we have time” - especially for us women. But here’s the truth: we won’t have time unless we make time. Just like we plan meetings, appointments, & goals, we have to plan our self-care, too.

This staycation wasn’t spontaneous. It was scheduled, protected, & prioritized—& that made all the difference. It reminded me that self-care isn’t selfish; it’s strategic. When we pour into ourselves, we show up better in every other area of life—marriage, work, parenting, purpose. I definitely returned home & to work on Monday like a new zenned creature in Christ. 🧘🏽‍♀️

Since we decided that we’ll make some sacrifices & put a staycation on our schedules monthly, we’ll need a few ideas so it doesn’t get boring.

5 Staycation-Inspired Tips to Reset

If you’re feeling drained or disconnected, here are 5 simple but powerful ways to reset—no plane ticket required:

1. Schedule a day (or weekend) to unplug. Block the time in advance & treat it like a sacred appointment with yourself (or your loved ones). Chile, I had 20 missed calls in that 24 hrs & who knows how many texts, emails, & DMs, but IDGAF!!! I cleared them (mostly without reading) & kept it moving. 🤷🏽‍♀️

   
   

2. Create a cozy environment. Light your favorite candle, put on relaxing music, declutter your space, & slip into something soft. Ambiance matters. Although we didn’t do any of the above, it’s the perfect way to prepare your space if you’re staying home. Getting away to a neutral space was more than enough! 🏩

   
   

3. Journal your way through it. Use this time to reflect. What do you need more of? What’s no longer serving you? Journaling brings clarity, & I sure got some during my time away from the hustle & bustle. An easy mind-clearer & mirror that reinforced to me that I need stronger boundaries! 📝

   
   

4. Connect intentionally. Whether it’s with your partner, kids, or yourself—be fully present. Talk, laugh, & enjoy moments without distraction. Sometimes you need a staycation for each one of the above. Regardless, make it count! 🥰

   
   

5. End with a plan. After your reset, jot down 2–3 small habits or boundaries you want to carry forward. This helps extend the benefits beyond the weekend. One of my definites is more time using my DND, outside of during sleep hours. That disconnect was sooooooo refreshing!

Final Thoughts from Our Rest, Reconnect, Reset

Our staycation reminded me that rest doesn’t have to be expensive or elaborate—it just has to be intentional. So here’s your gentle nudge: plan your next pause before burnout plans it for you. Your body, your mind, & your relationships will thank you for it.