Hooray! You’ve managed to carve out time from your non-stop schedule just for you. How will you spend your afternoon? Even if you only have one hour or just five minutes, make the most of it with these private time ways to enhance your life. You’re worth it! And, there’s more good news! Being good to yourself doesn’t have to break the bank.
An Afternoon of Delight Visit Your Local Farmer’s Market With springtime here and summer around the corner, local Farmer’s Markets are bursting with fresh bounty. Bring a market basket, dab on a bit of sunscreen, don your favorite walking sandals and hit the street! Take in the wonderful aromas and colors of farm-fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, honeys, and pressed oils. Let your senses inspire you to make that Dutch crumb peach pie or a zesty fresh salsa when you see what the market has to offer. By the time you meander your way to the other end of the street, you may feel a sense of rejuvenation and creativity.
Go Tea Tasting Gone are the tea rooms of yesteryear, where the main focus was petit-fours and fruit-studded scones. Today’s tea houses can be found in the Chinatown neighborhoods of larger, metropolitan cities. Patrons can discover the many varieties of herbal and medicinal teas like Silver Needle and Ginseng Oolong. Relax and learn about their many attributes. If you’ve been forgetful lately, stayed out into the wee hours, or are battling digestion issues, there are teas known for their particular qualities, and every one of them is a soothing joy to sip. Many of the better world teas can cost as much as $200 a pound. Happily, a small quantity of the really good stuff can be had for under $15 and will last for many cupfuls, often re-steeped once or twice more. Tea tasting, however, is free, and a soothing way to spend your private time.
Peruse Your Favorite Thrift Store Spending the afternoon visiting a handful of high quality thrift and second hand stores is not only fun, but provides you with the satisfaction of finding one-of-kind items for a steal. Perhaps you collect table linens from the 50’s. Or maybe vintage clothing is your thing. Of course you may have to sift through modern day junk to find the golden egg, but it’s time well spent when you come up lucky with that unique find.
Get Subject Savvy Reading has always been a tried and true relaxer. The local library works, as does your favorite book nook, complete with specialty coffee drinks and a cushy chair in the corner. Why not get up to speed on a few new subjects while you have all those books at your fingertips! Wander around aimlessly. Find a topic that interests you. Plop down in that leather chair and have a good read. Has the topic of global warming kept you out of politically correct conversation? Want to know more about the Dalai Lama? The goal here is to relax, unwind and learn something new. Didn’t finish your research? That’s okay, just put the book back on the shelf, get yourself a java refill and know that there are plenty more topics available the next time.
What to Do With an Hour (or less!) Get a Foot Massage Face it, the best part of a pedicure is getting the foot massage, even if only for a fleeting minute or two of the treatment. Many of today’s walk-in nail salons also have a massage-only menu. If they don’t, just ask. Choose from 10, 15, or 30 minute massages for the feet, which often includes a refreshing foot soak with aromatherapy oils. Sometimes referred to as reflexology, the gentle probing and massaging of points on the feet are aimed at specific organs or the respiratory system, and promote stress reduction as well as release of tension. It’s all good at an estimated dollar a minute for the session.
Find Your Inner Super Model Nothing says “Glam Pamper” more than having a pro do your makeup while you sit at the department store counter, poised and primped waiting to be discovered. It’s a girly, extravagant, yet inexpensive way to spend your private time on you and you alone. Changing your look for the fun of it can put a little pep in your step. Hate the look? No worries; just wash it off. It was fun while it lasted!
Choose a Different Path Walking is not only a great form of exercise, it allows you to think quietly while you contemplate life’s challenges or charter goals. Changing your scenery may be the link to help jog new thought processes. Spend your private time walking in different neighborhoods known for their stunning architecture or brilliant blooms. Or, choose a new path by a creek or lakeshore trail. Sometimes, you just need a fresh perspective.
Give Love, Get Love Visit your local SPCA shelter and ask to hold and pet the animals waiting to be adopted. Spending even just a half an hour providing gentle touch to homeless kittens and abandoned dogs can bring a deep sense of nurturing comfort, not only to the animals but to your heart as well. Animal Shelters often have “visiting rooms” with chairs for volunteers to sit, hold and play with the pets, keeping them calm and loved. Spend your private time at the shelter and you’ll be surprised with the satisfaction you’ll receive in return.
Take Five! Strike a Pose Master “Downward Dog” and a few other yoga basics. It only takes a few minutes to find your inner self. Stay focused, aim for balance, and find your core. Or, simply stretch it out (think high school gym class) to add flexibility and give you a little breather in the middle of your day.
Make an Impromptu Bouquet You’ll find satisfaction in simply arranged flowers (or branches, twigs, and herbs). Find a pretty vase or tie a ribbon around a mason jar and get creative with what you have in your garden. What’s hanging over the fence from your neighbor’s yard is fair game as well. Five minutes’ worth of snipping and arranging will bring five days’ worth of smiles every time you see what you’ve created.
Lay Down On the Couch Prop your feet up and place two, wet, cold green tea bags over your eyes to calm puffiness and rejuvenate your senses. Tea bags mold well to your gently closed eyes and do a good job of keeping out the light. The antioxidant properties known to green tea hold additional benefits for the delicate skin around your eyes.
No matter how you spend your private time, just remember that it doesn’t need to cost a lot to pamper yourself, learn something new, or refresh your soul.
Natalie Bettencourt spends her private time freelance writing in Northern California. She can be contacted at getmetoca@sbcgobal.net . 
