Motherhood isn’t an easy task no matter what age your child is. Beijing’s new mom Camilla Kongshavn’s Instagram stories are posts of her new baby girl Iva who’s napping, eating, and showing off her cute dimples. Iva is an absolute dream, but it begs the question. If Iva is only sleeping a few hours a night, when is mommy getting her rest?
My friends with older kids are scrambling their brains trying to find the perfect Christmas gift and plan the perfect Christmas holiday for the whole family. Desperate searches for unique hotel suites that can fit the whole family, and restaurants for a Christmas dinner that’s both lavish yet still family-friendly, can be a serious drain on a woman’s psyche. But this kind of stress isn’t just around the holidays. While the rest of the family relaxes, she’s stressing out about how to make the most of their family time together, what to do after the holidays, where to go for Chinese New Year holiday or the next birthday. In short, her brain is making plans and lists and going a million miles an hour.
According to Dr. Art Markman, professor of Psychology and Marketing at the University of Texas and Founding Director of the Program in the Human Dimensions of Organization, mental health days should be a regular part of life. According to Markman, “If you are feeling high levels of stress and anxiety on a regular basis, then you should consider working with a therapist or psychiatrist to determine whether your feelings reflect depression or an anxiety disorder. Each year, about 18% of the population is likely to suffer from depression and anxiety disorders. If you find that anxiety is really getting in the way of your ability to live our life fully, you should get checked out—sooner rather than later.”
Although Markman’s advice is for taking a mental health day from work, it applies to motherhood since this is a 24/7 full-time job. Taking a spontaneous mental health day doesn’t mean spend the day doing the chores and catching up emails without your child around. It’s a day that should be dedicated to focusing on yourself where you can ask yourself the most basic questions – are you happy? If you’re not, what can be done to improve your situation? It’s a time to breathe, and relax, pull yourself together before heading back headfirst into the trenches.
Finding a mental health day in Beijing needn’t cause you any stress. There are plenty of places that are perfectly suited for a day (or even a few hours) of uninterrupted zen.
Just a Few Hours to Spare
For those with just a few hours of “me-time” to spare, a nice long lunch at TRB Forbidden City by yourself is just thing to remind you that you’re a queen. They’ve got a way of providing unfussy yet attentive service that calms you down inside and reminds you of the more beautiful side of life.
While a spa day might sound cliche, there’s a reason why it’s so popular. Luckily for us, Beijing is full of spas at every price range. Whether it’s a fancy hotel spa day or a low budget local place, having a few hours to zone out and just be pampered will do wonders for your mental health.
A Whole Day Just for You
Hotel staycations are one of the best things to do for a mental health day. Physically putting yourself in a different environment where you’re the one getting taken care of for a chance lets you relax both physically and mentally. You needn’t go far for a staycation. There are plenty of hotels in the city with winter deals.
Grand Hyatt Beijing is a hotel that’s located in the center of the city but lets you feel like you’re on off on an island vacation. Their signature resort-style tropical Club Oasis indoor pool features mini-islands and palm trees. From now until March 31, 2020, they’re offering guests up to 20 percent off their standard rate with their special winter offer if you stay two consecutive nights.
East Beijing Hotel is known for being family-friendly, but they’ve also got an early bird special room rate. Confirm your me-day 21 days in advance and get 30 percent off of their Best Available Rate (BAR). Confirm it 7 days in advance and get 25 percent off BAR and spend the weekend in their indoor infinity pool and enjoying all the tasty items on the in-room dining menu.
Former beijingkids editor Pauline van Hasselt is planning another one of her fun-packed Beijing Women’s Retreats on May 23 -24 at East Beijing Hotel, where ladies enjoy a weekend of pampering, food, drinks, and a mental health retreat with a group of funtastically cool women.
Photos: unsplash, remotelands.com, booking.com
