Hi, this is a very first world problem by the way.... looking for ideas / inspiration on how I can treat myself or unwind when I need to but without resorting to unhealthy things.
I'm mum to a very challenging toddler with needs, and I am working etc and husband working late - basically I'm the classic tired out frazzled mum. Anyway during the week I'm quite good at getting to bed early, not drinking wine, eating v healthy meals and drinking calming herbal teas etc.
Come Friday and Saturday DH and I have got into the habit of buying wine and chocolate as a "treat" - except it's basically become every weekend! We don't have much social life nowadays so tend to watch box sets or Strictly on those two nights and it's very much the mentality of 'hurrah we made it through another tough week let's relax a bit and treat ourselves'... except that when you have a toddler weekends aren't really a break anyway! And so we end up drinking wine - sometimes I can drink 3/4 of a bottle, (I'm not very good at stopping at 1 glass) plus chocolate which I never normally eat as I don't normally touch junk food. The next morning we feel slightly rough and hungover and hangxiety etc. but we obviously still have to get up early and look after our toddler so it's not worth it!
But in the moment it feels nice to do something for ourselves and have something we don't allow ourselves during the week. We stopped getting Deliveroo as it was getting really expensive and so we now seem to be using the wine and chocolate as a treat instead!
We don't have any family to use as babysitters so only go out occasionally when we can afford a sitter. How can we feel like we are treating ourselves at the end of a busy week without actually punishing ourselves? Or is it a case of stopping this "weekend" feeling of needing a treat in the first place? Has anyone else ever been in this rut while you have young DC?