If you’ve ever dreamed about taking a day off from all of your responsibilities, read about the BEST way to take off! You’ll feel like a new person, refreshed and energized. Who said grown-ups can’t have a pajama day?

I have a guilty secret that I suspect many people may share. When I was young, I used to skip school occasionally and pretend to be sick so I could take a “pajama day.”

Oh, memories of those days still make me smile.

I first started taking Pajama days when I developed a love of reading. There’s nothing like being home alone in a quiet peaceful house, reading books and snacking on ice cream. I had no place to go and nothing to do but relax.

As I got older and approached high school, I stopped this fun habit. I learned to be serious and responsible and do what I was “supposed” to do.

But those sinfully decadent pajama days have stayed in my mind. Now that I have kids and life goes at 120 mph, thoughts of those pajama days have returned. How would my life change if I stayed home in my PJs and just relaxed???

Trying it Out

I decided to give it a try. My plan was simple (perhaps too simple): on my Pajama day, I would relax without the expectation of “doing” or accomplishing anything. I chose a day where no one was home and I took a vacation day off from work.

A Surprising Disappointment:

As the day approached, I got more and more excited. Work was crazy, the house was a mess, and I was exhausted. I couldn’t wait for my day off.

When the day finally came and the kids left for school, I was ready to relax! I made some breakfast, got into bed, and turned on the TV. Ahhhh. This is the life. I was thrilled. This sense of contentment lasted all of five minutes. Soon I started getting antsy. I turned on a show I love, but I couldn’t seem to sit still and watch it. I wanted to accomplish something — anything! WHAT?!!! I’ve been waiting for a Pajama Day for 15 years. How am I not enjoying my day?

As a busy Mom, I’m not used to sitting around doing nothing. I rarely watch TV (we don’t even have cable). After years of running around being so busy, I didn’t know how to relax now that I finally had the time. Does this sound like something that would happen to you, too? As busy Moms, we’ve lost the art of relaxation. Whoever would have thought it was something that’s hard to do?

Don’t get discouraged!! It took a few attempts but I learned the secrets to creating a wonderful relaxing Pajama Day!

The Secret Sauce

The secret to a wonderful day is to prepare for your day!! Like everything in life, the more ways you prepare, the better it will go. Below are some suggestions for planning your day.

If you decide to do a pajama day, feel free to plan ways that work for you. Below is what works for me. I hope you’re able to use some of these ideas to create a relaxing, rejuvenating Pajama Day of your dreams.

Preparing for your Pajama Day

Like everything in life, the more ways you can prepare for your day off, the better it will go!

– Schedule Your Day Off. The hardest part of taking a Pajama Day is finding the courage for asking for the day off to do….nothing. Pick a day where the kids will be in school and your husband will be out. Ask your supervisor for leave in advance, just as you would do if you were going on vacation. Once your day is set, don’t tell any of your family or friends. After all, if your phone rings all day you won’t have the relaxing day you were anticipating.

– Clean your House. If you can, try to clean the house in advance so that you won’t be tempted to clean it during your Pajama Day. You’ll also be happier and calmer if you’re in a clean environment.

– Prepare your Food. Part of the fun of a Pajama Day is eating yummy food. Stock your fridge with foods you love (healthy or unhealthy!) so you’ll have nibbles for your day. If possible, make dinner the day before so that you don’t have to use up part of your day cooking for when the family gets home.

– Make a list of what activities you’d like to do. For many of us busy women, we’re not use to having spare time and once we have it, we have no idea what to do with it. To keep yourself from feeling bored or anxious on your Pajama day (or worse yet, resorting to chores!), prepare a list in advance of some things you may want to do on your day. Include more items than you will actually do so you can pick and choose, depending on your mood. Some suggestions are sleeping (yay!), reading, crafts, journaling, swimming, walking, listening to music, and watching TV.

Enjoying Your Day

Below are some tips for enjoying your Pajama day.

– Getting dressed is optional. There’s a reason it’s called a Pajama day! However, sometimes staying in my PJs can depressing, so if you’d like, feel free to get dressed but just be sure to wear something comfortable.

– No housework allowed. There are absolutely no exceptions to this rule. You have the rest of your life to organize your house. Don’t do it on the one day you set aside for “you.”

– Leave the house only if it nourishes you. For some introverts, leaving the house, even to go on a walk, may deplete you. Others will feel caged in if they have to stay inside all day.

If you decide to give a Pajama Day a try, let me know in the comments below how it goes and what you did!!! I’ll be especially curious to hear how you felt afterward.

Final thoughts:

Taking a Pajama day may be impossible for some, BUT, promise me that even if you’re not able to take a whole day, you won’t give up on this idea! Even a few hours of doing nothing rejuvenate you.

Whether you’re able to take a whole day off or just few hours, you may want to consider making this a regular part of your routine. Making it a habit to take some time to relax is where you’ll really see the benefits.

Enjoy!