Me time? Remember that thing you used to do frequently before children? Those lazy weekends in bed, shopping for hours on end and getting pampered? When you become a mum it can be extremely difficult to fit “me time” in. In fact it is wholly possible to forget that you are anything else but a mum!
I’m a “stay at home working mum“ which means I look after my two young boys fulltime and I have two jobs that I do from home. I’m a freelance social media manager and of course a blogger. This leaves VERY little time to focus on me. Life is insanely crazy. Despite this there are times where I have to stop and make some time for ME. I will often find myself getting in a fret or panicking about my to do list and this is my alarm bell that I need to step back. I don’t always find it easy to source the time or the money to pamper myself like I used to but I’ve found that these 5 things help clear my mind and make me feel more positive.
BATHTIME
And I don’t mean the kids bath time! Every night before bed I make a conscious effort to go upstairs and make myself a hot bubbly bath. Even on nights where I’m just too tired and want to go to bed I still do it. It’s the only 30 minutes that I have solely to myself each day.
VLOGS
I LOVE reading but I rarely get the time to really get into a book. My guilty pleasure is YouTube. I’m a blogger/vlogger myself so I love watching other vloggers and their day in the life videos. I usually watch these when the boys are in bed and I’m cooking our evening meal. It’s a great form of escapism and of course I’m a bit nosey too. I love to see what other mums are getting up to!
PAMPERING
Pampering is expensive. Once upon a time I used to get my hair, eyebrows and nails done monthly. Now I’m rarely able to get out of the house for an appointment. I do however try my very best to do it now and again. I might go and get my nails done or get my haircut. It makes me feel human again and allot less “mumsy” No one else would even notice that I’ve had a little pamper but it makes me feel better and that’s the important thing.
SEEING FRIENDS
Without the kids! I think it’s so important to make time to see friends without the children. Have you tried having a “catch-up” in a soft play? You spend less time talking and more time squeezing through dirty obstacle courses to find your lost child.
Once a month I walk into town with a mum friend who lives close by and we enjoy a night drinking wine and talking about life. It’s something I really look forward to each month and another thing that makes me feel like myself.
GOING FOR A DRIVE
Without listening to frozen or lion king! Ok call me crazy but I like going for a little drive after the boys are in bed. I will leave my husband at home and nip to the supermarket or the petrol station. It gives me 20 minutes to myself and I LOVE having a singsong to music that isn’t Disney.
So there they are! My 5 top tips for giving myself some ME time. I would of course love to make an effort to do allot more but we all know that’s not always possible. Being a mum is without a doubt the best job you will ever do but it’s also the hardest. Never forget yourself in the craziness of life. Happy mum = happy children and that of course is the best incentive there is right?
How do you find time for yourself?
