Stay Home Because You're Well Day

Though today is Stay Home Because You’re Well Day, any day would be a good pick to just stay home and relax for your own mental well-being. It can be hard to do this with an economy where jobs are sparse and workers are in abundance, but if you do have a job in which doing so would be safe—by all means, do it.

Here are some ideas for your Home Because You’re Well Day retreat.

Do Something You Never Do

Visit a vineyard. Attend a cooking school at your local grocery store. See a craft demo and think about doing it on your own at home. Go ride some bumper cars, a go-kart, or play at an arcade.

Have a Date with Your Child

Take him or her out for a special treat—maybe a trip to the museum or out for an ice cream cone. Make it a special day just for the two of you.

Do Something You Miss Doing

See a movie, work on your hobby (car tinkering? model building?), paint, do whatever you normally like to do but haven’t had a chance to do for a while.

Stay Well!

Schedule a visit for any immunizations you’re due for, get that annual checkup you always somehow miss, see the dentist, whatever. If nothing else, hit the Y or your local rec center and give your body a nice tune up.

Peruse the Library

For some reason, this is one of my favorite things to do when I can actually do it. Have you ever even wandered into your library’s teen section? What about a trip down memory lane with some children’s books straight out of your childhood? You might be surprised at what you find.

Set up a Home Spa

Of course, if you can afford to go to the real thing, by all means, go for it! But if you can’t, grab some Epsom salts, your favorite lotion, a scented candle, bubble bath and whatever you need to relax in your bathroom.

Get Into the Christmas Spirit

Play some Christmas tunes, decorate the house, make a gingerbread house, go see Santa and have your picture (or your kid’s picture, or even your dog’s) made with him, whatever. See some holiday lights. Pick out a new ornament—or make one. Get yourself jolly as the season begins.

Get Holiday Gift Shopping Finished

If you absolutely can’t help but do this, then go ahead—but at least do something fun while you’re at it. Make cookies, make your own wrapping paper, something.