Mental Health Day (Or: How a Simple Day Off Became a Full-Blown Project Marathon)

Today, I took a Mental Health Day—because, let’s be real, everyone needs one now and then. Work has been chaotic, even if it’s just me staring at a computer all day, and I was absolutely toast. Burnt-out. Done. I needed a day to not think, not stress, and just exist.

So, I spent time with my daughter, watched some TV, and—because apparently, I can’t just relax—did a lot of cleaning. The house needed it, and with the potential of a new house guest, it felt like a good time to tackle some chaos. First up? The kitchen, because it doubles as my office, and I wanted things to be a bit more... zen. Mission accomplished.

Then, we moved on to the joint living room / husband’s office / odd space.

What is the odd space, you ask?

Oh, just an area that houses:

  • The cat tower

  • Litter boxes

  • The back door

  • The sofa table

  • My husband's computer and printer

  • The washer (when it’s not hooked to the sink)

  • The front door

Basically, it’s a bizarre hybrid space that defies definition.

Meanwhile, the living room itself is more straightforward:

  • Couch

  • Orange couch (yes, it needs its own mention)

  • Stubby the chair

  • TV

  • An absurd amount of knick-knacks

Cleaning went well—dishes done, fridge wiped, cabinets and counters sparkling. (Side note: We’re currently shopping for a new dish drain because ours is gross and has been with us since we got married. It’s time.)

The Afternoon DIY Adventures Begin

After lunch and a little TV break, my daughter and I decided it was finally time to rewrap the cat tower in that sisal rope I optimistically bought before Christmas.

Step 1: Locate staple gun.

Success!

Step 2: Figure out how to put staples in said staple gun.

A little tricky, but doable.

Step 3: Realize it won’t work.

Ugh.

Step 4: Debate using the electric stapler or waiting for my husband.

Spoiler: I am not waiting.

Step 5: Turn to YouTube for guidance.

YouTube fails me because… turns out, the staple gun is jammed. Fabulous.

So, onto Project 2: putting away homeschool/education books into storage bins.

Problem #1: The first bin is too big.

Solution? Split it into two smaller bins.

Problem #2: The smaller bin still ends up too heavy because it holds 90% of bin #1.

Cue frustration.

Problem #3: This means another trip to Home Depot.

Not happening today. Future me will deal with that.

But Wait, There’s More!

Once my husband got home, we actually made progress on the cat tower! We wrapped part of it with the sisal rope, but after assessing the situation (and probably our sanity), we decided to order carpet for the other sections. Because at this point, why not? At least it’s progress.

And tomorrow (Saturday), we’re off to the Humane Society. Let’s be honest—we’re definitely coming home with a new furry family member.

So, what started as a Mental Health Day turned into a full-blown house overhaul, a DIY fail-turned-win, and the setup for an incoming pet. But hey, at least I took the day off, right? 😅

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