Funemployment

For my funemployment month, I was mostly booked with pre-wedding prep, wedding, and honeymoon. I had a little over 2 weeks before my big day where I was free as a bird. Food crawls were off the table post my Kleinfeld’s wedding dress fitting. Jetting to a faraway land was also out of the question for fear of some crazy travel snafu keeping me from my own wedding day. Really, all I wanted was to spend some quality time with myself, exercising and journaling all day. 

The Miraval, a luscious spa in the Berkshires, offered HIIT, yoga, meditation and spin along with healthy meals and phone free zones. I would treat myself to 2 days away at an amenity filled paradise. The Miraval would not be a miracle worker but I still had hopes of cleansing some of the pandemic muck I was carrying. My Dad had been dead 2 years and I was about to have the wedding of his dreams without him. I just wanted a space to go where I could spend time processing that chapter of my life before turning to the next page. Really though, it felt like I was finishing a book in the series of my life and was ready to start the newest volume. Before I could start living my next book, I needed to spend some time digesting the book I was in, answering those reader questions at the end. 

But I got COVID and couldn’t go! The Miraval refunded me and at least I would be COVID free for my wedding. I turned my housebound COVID attention to Peloton-ing my heart out and researching future trips on the internet. 

Still determined to enjoy at least one night alone, I explored staycation options via my Chase rewards points. A luxury hotel where I could wear a robe and be alone sounded great, albeit a little bit overpriced if all I planned to do was read and write. I kept scrolling until I found the absolute perfect spot - The Equinox Hotel. Located in Hudson Yards, I could staycation for a night and exercise for hours, just like I planned to do at The Miraval. I woke up on a Monday morning and when the COVID test surfaced one line, I booked the hotel and left 20 minutes later. 

Rolling up to Hudson Yards with a backpack and a smile, I breezed past the more elegant entrances of hotel guests climbing out of black cars. My check-in process included an overview of the Equinox class schedule and a complimentary swim cap should I choose to use the pool. I signed up for heated yoga, dance and barre for that day plus yoga, running and barre the next day. I journaled in the luscious gym lobby before heated yoga. After stretching my limbs in class, I took a sauna and a steam. I checked into my huge room, well equipped with a yoga mat, foam roller, robe, and coffeemaker. What more could I need? 

I read a little bit of my book, Lessons in Chemistry, which ended up being my favorite book of the year, before heading down to dance class and barre class. With one more potential class on the horizon, I decided to call it a fitness day and head to the Electric Lemon for dinner. This hotel restaurant had a great bar, delicious vegetable dishes, and a rainbow in the background that made everyone’s head turn. The night ended with a date with my robe, lounging on my bed, passing out by 9PM. 

My alarm went off at 6AM to make it to the early barre class, which I followed with Precision Run, an Equinox classic. I wrapped up my fitness morning with yoga and a Juice Press Blue Magic smoothie, which I drank in my room, finishing my book and looking out on the Hudson. I soaked up every minute of my alone time until noon checkout. 

Twenty-four hours at a luxury hotel, exercising my heart out, writing, reading and eating healthy foods was a fantastic way to spend a day. I feel so lucky to have the time and money to treat myself to some quality alone time to unplug from the world and be present with myself. Even when I am traveling with friends, I make time for solo walks, early morning journaling, or late night reading.

The most important person to you should be you. Be as good to yourself as you can be.