You deserve a break: at home or in the sun!
Why you should treat yourself to a day off and a video tour of hotel Esencia ! #44
We were scheduled to go to France for another holiday home search this weekend but we decided to cancel at the lat minute as we didn’t have any house visits lined up and the air controller strikes concerned me. (I was right actually I saw that our flights both got delayed 😅).
I kept the day off and decided to have it as “day to myself”.
It's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of daily life, and sometimes we forget to take a step back and prioritize our own self-care. But setting aside just one day for yourself can have a profound impact on your mental and physical well-being.
I really experienced it this Friday as I woke up on a peaceful morning, and savored the quiet stillness of the morning once Mr Big and Mademoiselle had left the house. I then had a lovely 2 hours call with a dear friend who always brings me so much joy.
As the day unfolded, I indulged in more “just for me” activities: a body massage at my local beauty salon, then a home made lunch of galettes (savourty buckwheat flour pancakes) while watching Top Chef (my French followers will know that program) and an afternoon of puzzles. I love puzzles and Mademoiselle gave me two for Mother’s day the week before.
The day ended with a lovely romantic diner with Mr Big at our local one Michelin star restaurant. I got lucky to get a table last minute and Mademoiselle was at a friend’s for a sleepover so all stars aligned 💙.
Not once during the day did I seat at my computer. Between work, From the Poolside and my own interest for all things geeky, I spend way too much time on it.
Instead, I had a day where I savored every moment, feeling grateful for the opportunity to slow down and just be. By the end of the day, I felt refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to take on the world again.
Now that my company has increased our annual holiday allowance from 25 to 30, I may repeat this every quarter.
So why not schedule a day for yourself? You deserve it. If you can afford it, I really encourage you to do it.
New content this week
Hotel Esencia video tour
I finally published the full video tour of Hotel Esencia. You can click above to watch it or view it on YouTube.
Extra finds
Maison Volver Camargue House
From 1400 euros for a weekend - Check latest prices and availability
In Provence, his Mas offers a building of 200m2 composed of 4 bedrooms and their private bathrooms, an equipped kitchen, a large living room that can accommodate up to 8 people and a pool.
They also have a hotel in Arles, 16 rooms with no pool in the district of the Cavalerie, in the heart of the historic center, 300 meters from the Amphitheater.
Papotte
House for 2 people from €600 for 3 nights. Check latest prices and availability
In the Ouche valley, not far from Beaune, an old 15th century mill has now been transformed into four rental houses. In 2.5 hectares of land, the houses can welcome either 2, 4, 6 or even 15 people. 2 architects have introduced light thanks to the huge bay windows and the Japanese-inspired layout, and magnified down to the smallest detail. There is a café with a small, well-sourced grocery store (artisanal juices, organic wines, Plaq chocolate, etc.), and the vegetable garden to get your supplies. No pool
Herangtunet
From 150 euros - Check latest prices and availability
Squeezed in between the Hegge Fjord and Jotunheimen, Norway’s highest mountain range, one can find the village of Heggenes. Here, at 500 meters altitude, surrounded by woods and water, sit Herangtunet, a boutique hotel all in wood. Five rooms and in a fully furnished apartment. No pool