Getting creative about me time

It’s no secret that moms don’t have a lot of time to themselves. I’m not complaining — I love being a mommy, love being busy, and thrive when I have too much to do. Full weekends with my family and busy days at work keep me happy, fulfilled and on my toes. BUT, it’s really nice/relaxing/important/necessary to have time to oneself occasionally to decompress and recharge. Here are some of my favorite ways to grab some me time amidst the blur of a typical whirlwind week, in no particular order:

1. 

   Even when I’m in my own world at work, my little friend keeps me company

   Make commuting fun. I’ve always enjoyed driving and listening to music in the car. Sometimes it all comes together perfectly — the perfect song, day and stretch of road. When C, and even hubby, are in the car, I have to tame my listening habits because let’s face it, C loves Yo Gabba Gabba tunes (and sometimes my picks are embarrassing or NSFW). That 15 minutes post baby drop-off, pre-work in the car has become a fun time for me to crank up the radio and listen to whatever I want, as loud as I want. There is usually singing (or rapping?) involved, and I’m glad that my family is not exposed to this traumatizing affair.

2. Take a bubble bath (candles and wine included). When C goes to bed, hubby’s and my alone-time begins. A lot of the time, we find ourselves talking about her and the funny things she did that day, and in doing so, are tempted to wake her up because we miss her (but we usually decide against this, ha). It took me awhile to realize that I can do whatever I want during this time period, and lately, I have really enjoyed using it to take a bubble bath. It’s time where I can completely relax, enjoy one of my favorite candles and a glass of wine. It’s almost like my bathroom is my own personal spa! Almost.
3. Read a book. Similarly to taking a bath, reading a book is a fun way for me to escape into my own world for a moment after C retires for the evening. These activities can even be intertwined for a me time extravaganza. Side note — if you like to read too, you should get involved with my book club! One of my favorite reads lately: Gone Girl.
4. Putter. If I feel like I need a little break when C is awake and we’re all home together, hubby is happy to hang out with C in her playroom or take her for a walk while I putter for a while. By putter, I really mean doing housework that one would typically find unpleasant — laundry, dishes, putting away of things. There may be something wrong with me, but I actually enjoy doing these things sometimes, and find that this time is a good one for me to escape with my own thoughts. Also, doing this every now again keeps my OCD tendencies from panicking over the general disarray of our house during the week.
5. Go to work. I am a working mom. I have nothing but love and respect for SAHMs –it’s literally the hardest job in the world! — but I really enjoy going to work. This is a world that is my own, exclusive of hubby and baby. It’s a place where I can set and work towards my own goals, and it’s really fulfilling for me to continue to progress in my career. It’s also the place where I most enjoy keeping my brain wet. And the best part – I get to pick up my daughter from school at the end of the day, and balance work and parenthood with one work-from-home day a week. I’m blessed to work for an employer that supports me as a working mom, and enables me to achieve at work AND be there for my family. Note: I realize that this is a far deeper and more controversial topic that I am exploring here. I’ll write another post about this one day. Maybe.
6. Use lunchtime wisely. If my workload permits during the week, I can sneak out for 30 minutes or so to run a quick errand or take care of life maintenance while C is happily hanging out at school. This, combined with the musical car ride to and from, of course, can sometimes be a lifesaver! That said, sometimes the best lunchtime activity is a quick visit to the little one for some sweet baby hugs and kisses.

How do you find pockets of me time in your busy life? I would especially like to hear the perspective of SAHMs. Give me a shout in the comments!