The Pretty Blerd Guardian!

Good evening, everyone!

Today I’d like to introduce one of my weekly blog topics: Self Care Sunday! A day that once inspired fear but now one of my most favorite days of the week but I understand that isn’t the case for everyone, especially for those who still have to physically go to work and suffer the anxiety that comes with it. We don’t really consider today Sunday so much as “the day before Monday” and that’s when most of us go back into the fray to experience another long week of work.

I used to absolutely dread Sundays because I felt like my weekend ended before it really began, secretly begging that Indiana’s crazy weather would grant me some mysterious snowday so I can just sleep in one more day so that I didn’t have to dedicate my Sundays to doing chores and preparing my lunches for the week.

It’s true that my job now isn’t as stressful but there’s still a part of me that suffers from anxiety because I end up worrying about the things I haven’t accomplished. Sometimes it’d get so bad that my hair would fall out from stress or have no motivation to do anything but lay in bed and cry. I wasn’t taking care of myself and realized after having a pep talk with my best friend that enough was enough. It wasn’t fair to beat myself up and not take care of myself. I deserved better and wanted to take the day back for my own. Sunday is Sunday, not Monday! There’s still a whole day left to enjoy the weekend.

If anyone else out there feels the same, my heart is with you and I hope that we can find a few new ways to make your Sundays a bit more enjoyable. You work hard every week and you deserve to have a day just for yourself. That’s why I want to provide a few steps that have helped me and also provide a few pictures of hobbies in hopes that’ll give you some new ideas!

CHORES

First things first, chores! If you’ve already accomplished them before Sunday, congrats! You can skip this paragraph if you’d like. Otherwise, I’d ask that everyone get up at a pretty reasonable hour in the morning to start. Unless there’s an absolute preference I’d recommend that starting your day before 11am is best because waking up in the afternoon tends to make the body feel groggy and Sunday is already half over.

Make a complete list of what you NEED to accomplish and what you’d WANT to get done – separating these will make your tasks less daunting and also able to prioritize which are more important. Even if you don’t get everything done, try not to let that weigh you down because you can confidently say that you tried your very best. Sometimes it’s best to leave things for another day if you’re lacking the spoons (energy) because overexertion can and will happen. If the ‘need’ list is long then remember to schedule breaks for yourself!

MUSIC

The moment I’m awake and moving around, I use my phone or computer to play some YouTube playlists that I have saved. Sometimes all it takes to turn my day around is to fill an empty room with music and it helps me stay focused yet not completely bored as I’m doing things like cleaning the kitchen nor doing laundry. Personally I’d recommend something cheerful or relaxing, like this video I chose to jam with while folding clothes:

YAY, YOU’RE DONE! NOW WHAT?

Treat yourself to something! Maybe buy something on your Amazon wishlist (if funds permit), take a nice walk or fix yourself a nice beverage. Whatever you decide, just make sure that you’re properly congratulating yourself for getting everything done!

For me, I treat myself to a nice cup of Alistair tea from Adagio and decide to play a game. As much as I love my otome, this is a day where I relax and avoid continuing or starting a major title because more often than not, my silly self will stay up way too late and emotionally drained. So instead I’ll be featuring a game that I consider cozy enough to peacefully enjoy your Sunday!

COZY GAME OF THE DAY: LEMON CAKE

This game was developed and published by Éloïse Laroche, who understands exactly what we all love in a simulation game: cute and cozy! You can find more info about her on Twitter @EloiseGameDev and Steam!

STORYLINE: After creating your character, you’re already in a slightly dirty, closed bakery and realize that it’s haunted by a precious chef decorated ghost named Miss BonBon! She laments how long this shop has been empty and recruits you to help bake, clean and tend to the shop. That’s about it for now but I enjoy how sweet and simple it is. Psssst, rumor has it though there’s more tidbits of story about Miss BonBon that came with the new update today…

GAMEPLAY: You’ll be responsible for cleaning up your bakery, serving the guests that come in, cooking and preparing the menu for the day too. Unlike some games that are time sensitive – you aren’t punished for not getting everything done and I appreciate that, there’s no stress. You can also take a break from the regular bustle by growing vegetables and tending to your cute animals that you get in your greenhouse!

MUSIC: I enjoy it and it matches the theme of this game, simple but sweet. It reminds me of a sleepy little village or town where everyone knows each other well, which makes it feel like everyone that’s visiting the bakery is local but that might just be the little roleplayer in me creating headcanons.

GRAPHICS: In a good way, this reminds me of all the shows I used to watch as a child. Everything looks so bright and soft! There’s a certain warmth that makes everything feel so welcoming. Can I also gush about the character customization here too because I LOVE the fact that there’s multiple skin color selections, and as a black girl who shares a deep love for bright, pastel colors – I love that I can choose all kinds of hair colors that compliments my character’s skin tone.

With the updates that come often and it going on sale for 11.99 for the entire week, I say this is money well spent! You can pick it up and put it down anytime you’d like in between other games without having to stress with upkeep.

Have a great Sunday, everyone! Let’s kick butt tomorrow.

“Doing your best is more important than being the best.” – Zig Ziglar