I am a bona fide pro at not making time for self-care. Its importance consistently looms over me, but I can find just about any excuse NOT to make the time for it. “I have to get this post done”, “the house needs to be straightened up”, “My Pinterest bank is running low, I need to schedule out more”, “my closet needs to be purged”, “I have to work out” (which could technically be a form of self-care), “If I don’t apply for this blog campaign then somebody else will”. The list is endless.

When Innisbrook Resort invited me out for a spa day at their Salamander Spa, I experienced an array of emotions. The idea of a spa day sounded magical, but did I have the time? That my friends is the exact problem. The universe (or in this case the Innisbrook Resort) was handing me an opportunity to slow down, to take some time for myself, and I was already thinking of every reason not to do it.

Against any hesitant thought that I had, I typed out my acceptance of the invite, hit send, and told myself I deserved a day of some TLC fo’ me. Spoiler alert: it was exactly the kind of day that I didn’t know I needed.

First up on my itinerary at the Salamander Spa was yoga followed by breakfast smoothies.

I’m no yogi, but wow it was so nice to take some time to focus on stretching and breathing. I felt completely immersed in the moment – a rare occurrence for this 100mph brain of mine. At the very end of the yoga session, our group laid on our mats stretching to one side and the other. It was unusually calming (and challenging) to just stare up at the ceiling while thinking about nothing but my breathing. Our instructor (Jenn Witaconis – she was AMAZING) walked around and spritzed the air above us with essential oils. For the first time in a long time, I felt a sense of peace.

Yoga was followed by breakfast smoothies. Y’all know I love my blended fruits and liquids, so I was a happy gal. We had the option to mix different smoothie flavors. Initially I opted for strawberry, but overheard someone order a strawberry and blueberry smoothie hybrid. Recognizing that as a great idea, I did the same.

One of the activities planned for me during my afternoon at the Salamander Spa was a massage.

With some time to kill before my massage, I ventured into the spa’s pool room. Unfortunately, I totally forgot to bring a bathing suit (what is this, amateur hour?) so I lounged pool side with my feet in the water and a drink in hand. It was so nice to hang out and not feel rushed. I spent some time catching up with Lauren from Outdoorsy Diva. We hadn’t seen each other since speaking together on a blogger panel earlier this year.

When it was time for my massage, I slipped into a comfy white robe and walked with my masseuse towards the massage corridor. Upon entering the dimly lit room, I was able to choose a scented oil to enjoy during my session. I confidently opted for lavender, climbed onto the massage table, placed my head in the headrest, and shut my eyes.

For the next 50 minutes, I was in pure bliss. No distractions, no phones, no thoughts about to-dos (ok maybe a few, but c’mon remember my brain runs at 100mph). I intentionally tried to focus on just relaxing and enjoying the Salamander Spa Signature Ritual Massage. It even included an exfoliating foot scrub and heated towel treatment at the end that left my feet feeling super soft and refreshed.

When all of the massages appointments were done, it was time for lunch at the spa.

There was a ful spread of food to choose from. While I wanted to try the paninis, I decided against it because of my teeth situation. Instead, I enjoyed the asian noodles with tofu and the chilled vegetable gazpacho.

I think self-care looks a little different for everyone. My visit to Innisbrook Resort’s Salamander Spa showed me that taking a day for some me time was exactly the form of self-care that this creative brain of mine needed. I indulged in yoga, a massage, and relaxation while throwing most of my to do list to the wind. All too often self-care can fall to the wayside. The irony is that sometimes it’s exactly what you need to pick yourself back up again to tackle the goals and to dos ahead.

Thank you so much to the Innisbrook Resort for hosting me at the Salamander Spa! All thoughts and opinions shared here are my own.