Make the Most of ‘Me Time’

Motherhood is one of the most beautiful and rewarding experiences, but it’s also a challenge. Like Oprah, herself said: ‘Motherhood is the toughest job in the world’, but it can be even harder when you must deal with the pressures of working in a full or part-time job on top of trying to raise your family. That’s why it’s crucial to prioritise self-care, making time for yourself and the things that nourish you creatively, spiritually and physically will only help your family in the long run.

Everybody needs that special and regular bit of ‘me time’, so don’t feel selfish about making the decision to prioritise your well-being. It’s not always easy to carve out the time and space that you need to give back to yourself, but don’t be afraid of talking to your partner to see if they can take over caregiving duties for a little while. You may even need to hire a babysitter or ask a friend or family member to help. But remember that no parent is perfect, and there’s nothing wrong with saying you need some time for yourself.

There is all manner of interesting, engaging and plain old pampering things that you can do with the time as well, even if you aren’t able to physically leave the house.

Things to do Online

Okay, you probably already spend quite a bit of time online or on your smartphone using social media, etc., but during your me time, you can use the internet as a productive tool to try out a new hobby or even get another educational qualification.

Playing casino games online has become a popular pastime with adults across the world, especially for those who don't feel comfortable stepping foot in a brick-and-mortar casino. One of the great things about playing games like poker or jackpot slots online is their accessibility and flexibility. Plus, when you factor in things like the free spins bonuses that most top casino platforms offer, you can even play them at no cost.

If you’d rather do something a bit more substantial with your time, enrol in an online academy and get qualified in a subject or profession that interests you. Predating the digital age by some years, the Open University is one of the oldest and most trusted providers of distance learning education, offering courses from diplomas to post-graduate level in plenty of different subjects. If studying for a master’s degree online sounds like a bit more than you can handle right now, you can still boost your personal and professional development with a shorter course from a free provider such as HubSpot Academy (academy.hubspot.com), Massachusetts Institute of Technology OpenCourseWare (ocw.mit.edu) or Coursera (coursera.org).

Find a New Hobby

Creative activities and hobbies are one of the most worthwhile ways that you can spend your precious me time. And according to the experts, there is all manner of reasons why it’s critical to regularly participate in hobbies, from relieving stress to boosting your brain power.

As a mum, it’s crucial that your body is strong, healthy and able to keep up with all the demands of motherhood. Physical exercise is one of the simplest hobbies that anyone can start, and you don’t even need to sign up for a gym membership either since walking in the park for 30 minutes at a time is an excellent heart-strengthening exercise. If you’d rather move in a more mindful way, yoga and Pilates are powerful modalities, and you can practice them in the comfort of your home thanks to streaming websites like PilatesAnytime (pilatesanytime.com) and Yoga International (yogainternational.com).

If you’re more of a creative type or already get plenty of exercise running around after your family, activities like scrapbooking, crocheting and knitting, painting or photography could be more up your street. You could even start a blog or online journal, sharing your experiences of life, motherhood and everything in between.

Give Yourself Some TLC

Sometimes, however, the best way that you can spend your me time is to indulge in some much-needed pampering and tender loving (self) care. Going on a day trip to a spa is the ultimate luxury, but if your resources don’t stretch to that, then you can still give yourself the five-star treatment at home. Turn your bathroom into a chilled oasis with candlelight, a luxurious bath bomb or bath salts, relaxing music, face masks, body scrubs and a glass or two of bubbly. But like in an exclusive lady’s day spa, your private bit of paradise is strictly a no-children zone! Agree with your partner, babysitter or friend or family member beforehand how long you intend to spend pampering yourself and stick to it. It’s time for and with yourself that is thoroughly well-deserved!