Hello Reader,

A little experiment in self-care and partnership.

Recently, my partner and I tried something new — and it’s made a big difference.
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I love our family weekends: trips to the zoo, swimming with the kids, grabbing ice cream together.
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But there are also those weekends where the energy is a little low, and we both feel it — the need for a little time to ourselves.
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So, over the past two weekends, we each gave the other a gift: 𝟮 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 “𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲.” No negotiations. No guilt. Just space to recharge.
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I just wandered around the city centre alone for the first time in what felt like 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳. I even used a gift voucher I had forgotten about (and maybe bought more than planned… but oh well 😉).
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More than the shopping, it was the wandering, the thinking, the 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 that did me good.
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And then — back home to happy kids, swapping roles so my partner could have his turn. We both came back more present, more patient, and just… better.
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It doesn’t take much. Just a little time. A little intention.
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What other things do you do, that help you recharge?

You can do it! 🙋‍♀️💪

Mareike

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