I love spending quiet evenings at home. There’s nothing like getting cozy and soaking in some much needed “you” time. It’s honestly what I yearn for every weekend. It’s a chance to slow down, recharge, and simply be.

Recently, I spent a month in Portland staying with one of my closest friends. During our time together, we went out often, saw other friends, and were constantly on the go. Luckily, she’s a homebody like me, and one weekend we both decided we needed a break from the busyness.

Instead, we spent the weekend lounging on the couch, watching movies, taking baths, and doing face masks—the full relaxing routine. It was exactly what we needed.

We had been going out so much with friends—to bars, restaurants, and get-togethers—that my energy was completely drained. So was hers. It felt so nice to simply spend quiet time together, doing what we do best: resting.

There were a lot of quiet moments like that throughout the trip. But toward the end, we had pushed ourselves a little too hard and both started feeling under the weather.

One Sunday we were driving back from a weekend trip to Bend and had planned to meet friends at a popular pancake spot. After hours in the car, though, we were exhausted. We had already passed the restaurant while dropping off a friend, so we decided not to circle back.

Instead, we chose somewhere simple. My friend suggested ramen. We both needed something warm, soothing, and comforting for our tired bodies.

It turned out to be exactly what we needed to get through the rest of the day. The lunch itself was simple, but it felt like a balm for my tired mind and body.

Moments like that remind me why quiet weekends are so important. Whether at home or traveling, I cherish time to slow down and immerse myself in the small comforts of life.

Simple Ways to Enjoy a Quiet Weekend:

• Make yourself a warm meal or a cozy bowl of ramen.
• Watch a comforting movie or start a new show.
• Read a few chapters of a book you’ve been meaning to finish.
• Take a long bath or do a simple skincare routine.
• Put on music and allow yourself to do nothing for a while.
• Write in a journal or spend a little time reflecting.
• Wrap up in a blanket and enjoy a quiet afternoon nap.
• Take a slow walk outside.

It’s not about avoiding the world or skipping out on experiences. It’s about giving my mind space to breathe—letting go of constant stimulation and finding peace in the little things: warm meals, good stories, familiar movies, and time with people who make you feel seen and cared for.

So, relax this weekend. Enjoy a warm bowl of ramen, get cozy under a blanket, watch a movie, and allow yourself to do a little bit of nothing.

In my opinion, that’s exactly how a weekend—especially a Sunday—should be spent.

Cozy Ramen Bowl

The soup is usually topped with ingredients like soft-boiled eggs, sliced pork or chicken, green onions, mushrooms, and vegetables. Rich, flavorful, and deeply satisfying.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

2 packs ramen noodles discard seasoning packets if desired
3 cups chicken
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 clove garlic minced
1 teaspoon grated ginger optional
1 soft-boiled egg
½ cup sliced mushrooms
½ cup spinach or bok choy
2 green onions sliced
Chili flakes or sriracha optional

Instructions

In a pot, heat the broth over medium heat.
Add soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. Let it simmer for 3–4 minutes so the flavors blend.
Add the mushrooms and cook for another 2 minutes.
Cook the ramen noodles according to package directions.
Stir in the spinach until just wilted.
Pour the ramen into bowls and top with the soft-boiled egg and green onions. Add any additional toppings you like.

Keyword comfort food, ramen, soup

Insightful post: https://medium.com/publishous/in-praise-of-quiet-weekends-the-subtle-joy-of-doing-nothing-7e1d3e2c75b6

Do you enjoy quiet weekends? What are some of your favorite things to do?

“In an age of constant movement, nothing is more urgent than sitting still.” — Pico Iyer

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