This blog is for the doers. Especially hard-working mothers balancing family, careers, and everything in between—women like me, who need actionable tips to prioritize their wellbeing without sacrificing their goals.
And believe me, I’m obsessed with action.
Let me tell you a story…
I met my husband, Paul, while studying at MIT in New York City. We were at a party, and Paul mentioned he’d never been skiing but wanted to try. I didn’t wait. Two mornings later—8 a.m. sharp—I was at his door with a van, a few friends, snacks for the road, and ski lessons booked at Belleayre Mountain two and a half hours away.
Paul later told me he thought I was either insane or madly in love with him. (Maybe both were true!) But that’s how I am. I can’t stand it when someone wants to do something but doesn’t take action.
A Home Spa Makes Wellness Practical
Twelve months ago, when I began my journey to recover from burnout and get off medication, I wasn’t going to let my therapist’s advice go to waste. I created my own “home spa”—a place of calm, restoration and ritual. I even put a sign on the door that read Mili’s Spa.
It wasn’t easy at first. My kids knocked. My husband couldn’t find the “twiddly pasta”. I broke the rules again and again. But one day, at 6:15 p.m.—in the middle of my spa time—I found myself frazzled and on the verge of tears again. That’s when I made firm boundaries I haven’t broken since.
Here are my 3 tips to keep your home spa stress-free:
1. Set a Timeframe and Stick to It
My spa time is 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. every weekday, no exceptions unless there’s a health emergency, a family emergency or guests over. I lock the door. I’ve explained to my family—who’ve tried every trick to break in—that this time is my time.
The truth is that rest won’t just “happen.” You have to schedule it like you schedule work meetings or school pickups.
2. No Phones Allowed
I used to be glued to my phone. Weekdays, weekends, holidays—I was always “on.” Once, I downloaded a screen time app called Opal and saw my daily average was 5 hours. It sickened me. Now, my phone stays far away during my spa time. No notifications, no emails, no endless scrolling. Just calm.
The result? 30 minutes feels like a reset button for my brain.
3. Tidy the Space Before You Start
I fell in love with this quote from Marie Kondo:
“When surrounded by clutter, our brains are so busy registering all the things around us that we can’t focus on what we should be doing in the moment.”
Clutter makes us distracted, anxious and overwhelmed. So, before 6 p.m., I spend some time tidying my space. I follow the KonMari Method to tidying up. Marie’s method starts is about tidying up by category, not location.
You go through the category of items like this:
- Clothes
- Books
- Papers
- Komono (miscellaneous items)
- sentimental things.
You can tidy up any way you want…but I’m a sucker for practical approaches to things and I personally like feeling like there is an order to tidying up. It helps me enjoy it more and finish quicker.
The result? A space that feels calm, intentional, and uplifting—perfect for a home spa.
The Bottom Line
Your home spa doesn’t have to be fancy, but it should be sacred.
Set boundaries, put the phone away and tidy your space. You deserve this time to reset and recharge—because as I’m learning, you can’t perform at your best unless you rest.