Even when I finally sit down at the end of the day, my mind is whirring. There is no one there to offload to or reassure me late in the evening when my overthinking habit begins.
The mental, often invisible and unappreciated, workload of being the one who must remember and manage everything can be overwhelming at times.
So, when I was invited to stay at the Norton Park Hotel and Spa near Winchester, I obviously welcomed the opportunity to spend the weekend relaxing. The question was, with time away and in a setting conducive to relaxation, could I fully switch off?
Norton Park Hotel and Spa (Image: Emily Roberts)
I invited a friend and fellow mum, who recently celebrated a big birthday – she brought the champagne and facemasks, and I picked her up from the station to drive just 20 minutes down the A30.
We decided to make the most of our stay by arriving early to use the spa facilities before checking into our room.
The hotel was larger than I expected and set in beautiful countryside, next to a manor house.
We left our suitcases at reception and headed straight to the pool and spa.
Norton Park Hotel (Image: Norton Park Hotel)
We popped our robes and towels on a chair by the poolside and immersed ourselves in the cool water for a brisk swim while catching up.
Three hours passed in a flash as we alternated between the pool, steam room, sauna, hot beds and finally the relaxation room, where, to my astonishment, I fell asleep for at least 10 minutes – something that is unheard of in the middle of the day!
I think the combination of using my muscles to swim, followed by lying in a room glowing with warm light on a cosy blanket spread across a comfortable lounger, was the exact formula I needed to drift off. If only I could replicate that back home!
We headed to our room to enjoy a glass of champagne while getting ready for dinner.
The hotel has several dining areas, including Scene Restaurant, where we were headed. There was a happy buzz of people chatting when we arrived.
Norton Park Hotel (Image: Norton Park Hotel)
We shared two starters of grilled goat’s cheese with giant couscous salad and salt and pepper squid, which were both delicious.
My main course of baked salmon with crushed herb peas, hasselback potato and chive hollandaise was a real treat.
I enjoyed a sweet end to the meal with a lemon meringue pie, accompanied by a generous dollop of vibrantly red, refreshing raspberry sorbet.
Norton Park Hotel and Spa (Image: Emily Roberts)
The menu has a decent variety of choices to suit most tastes and is reasonably priced with starters costing around £10-£12, main courses £18-£25 and desserts £7-£12.
Afterwards, we headed to our room for the night. I never sleep well somewhere new and was anticipating an unrestful night.
With both of us being mums and used to early mornings, we didn’t bother setting an alarm, expecting to wake naturally early and perhaps enjoy breakfast and a swim before our treatments at 10am.
We were both, therefore, surprised that we not only slept well but had a shockingly late lie-in until 8.45am.
It was then a slight rush to get ready for breakfast before our treatment. Heading to the pool was definitely out of the question. However, we both agreed that sleep was obviously what we needed.
Breakfast was a buffet with a great selection, including fruit, yoghurt, cereals and pastries, along with hot options of eggs, bacon, sausages, hash browns, toast, beans, mushrooms and tomatoes. Tea and coffee were self-served using machines.
Norton Park Hotel (Image: Norton Park Hotel)
Afterwards, we headed to the spa for a massage. The 25-minute-deep tissue tension-ease massage costing £65 felt like it was over in a flash, but as the knots and tension were gradually eased from my shoulders and back, I felt relaxed and stress-free.
We headed to the relaxation room for a herbal tea and a lie-down, before venturing outside to explore the grounds.
There is a lake next to the 16th-century manor house – available for exclusive use. It looked like the perfect venue for a family celebration or wedding.
Following prolonged rain, the grassy area around the lake was boggy, so we were unable to reach the water, but we admired the view and some pretty snowdrops which lined a woodland walk.
Norton Park Hotel and Spa (Image: Emily Roberts)
The hotel is surrounded by 54 acres of parkland, making it a great base for those who enjoy the outdoors and want to explore the surrounding countryside.
As I drove my friend back to the station, it felt like the weekend had gone too quickly, but the benefits of rest, relaxation, and good company had prepared me for the busy week ahead.
Afterwards, I had time to reflect. Since becoming a single mum, I’ve realised that life rarely follows the path you envisaged, and that’s okay. It’s taught me to embrace the opportunities, make the most of what I have, and celebrate the positives, of which there are many.
While forced time away from my son isn’t something I would have chosen, it does mean I can spend my child-free weekends doing things I love, spa weekends included! It also means I truly appreciate the time I do have with him and don’t ever take it for granted.
As for switching off? I vowed to take some of the elements of the spa back home with me to help unwind, reminding myself that taking time out for ourselves really is vital.
