Five ways for mums to get more ME time
1. Book a day off from the kids
If you are a stay-at-home mum and spend a lot of time with your kids, it’s not unnatural to want a break every now and then. Tell your partner and kids that in two weeks time you are having a Saturday off. Then spend the day doing whatever makes you happy. It might be getting the train to a town near by and wondering around on your own, visiting a Spa with a friend or simply sitting in the park with a good book. Whatever it is, make sure that you don’t have any responsibilities. You’ll be totally amazed at how much pleasure there is in making a train journey on your own without having to look after the kids, lug a buggy around or play I-spy for three hours.
2. Start running
The great thing about going for a jog is that you are completely on your own. You have no-one to think about except yourself. As well as having ME time, you’ll also be getting fitter and fitter. Always start slowly and increase the distance you run when you feel ready. If you can rope another mummy friend to jog with you; even better. Start by running for ten minutes, then walking for two. Always run at a comfortable pace and drink plenty of water. Avoid eating for an hour before you run to stop yourself experiencing a stitch. Once you’ve run for ten minutes a couple of times a week, increase this to 15, then 20 and so on. Before you know it you’ll feel fitter and will hopefully have lost weight but you’ll also be doing something that makes you feel great.
3. Have a bath once a week
(But carry on showering as normal!) Once a week, when the children are asleep, instead of doing the washing, sewing school labels on, or making food, go upstairs, fill the bath and relax. If you want to take a book or magazine in with you then do so as long as it’s relaxing and doesn’t feel like homework!
4. Demand novel or magazine reading time
Whether it’s the latest Jilly Cooper novel and Hello! magazine, or Emily Bronte and the broadsheets, you need time to sit and read. That doesn’t mean having a two-year-old demanding your attention while you try to finish your chapter, it means being away from the kids and reading whatever you fancy. If you are coordinated, you could always read in the bath but don’t sell yourself short when it comes to ME time. If you can squeeze a luxurious bath and time to devour a magazine into your hectic week – do! And if when you do fall into bed after a long day and find you cannot sleep, pick up your novel – a sure fire way to feel sleepy.
5. Seeing your friends (but leaving the kids behind)
Seeing your friends when you have the kids with you means you’ll never finish your sentence and spend your whole time looking over your chums’ shoulders to see which part of their house your kids are trashing. Planning girls’ nights out sans kids is probably a rarity but is one of the best ways to feel good about yourself and have a guaranteed belly laugh. Gossip, drink wine, even talk about the kids, but relish your time off from playdates, rice cakes and negotiating your way through tantrums.
Last Modified:
Mothercare
ELC
