Lately, I’ve noticed that I don’t get a lot of “Me Time.” Between being a mother, blogger, business owner and keeper of the home, it’s the end of the day before I realize I didn’t get a lot of time for myself.
Between forgetting to brush my teeth and/or my hair, eating dinner and/or taking a shower, I can sometimes feel overwhelmed and disheartened.
I love the instructions that flight attendants give before taking off: If the cabin pressure drops along with the oxygen masks, make sure you put your mask on first before your child (if you have a child on board). This ensures that you are there to take care of the child, and don’t pass out while trying to place the mask on the child.
This reminds me that I need to take care of myself so that I am up to par in seeing to the every day needs of my children. So here’s a few ways for Moms and Dads to get some “Me Time on the Cheap”:
- Have your spouse or even a grandparent take the kids for the afternoon, and soak in a bubble bath while listening to relaxing music. Light a few candles, too if you like.
- Find a good book and go sit in the park to read.
- Indulge in a foot and/or back massage from a family member or friend (send them to this post if they need encouragement to do so).
- Go out for ice cream (it tends to be free a lot, right?).
- Visit a national park with or without family, but make sure you have someone there with you to help watch the kids.
- Indulge in a movie after the kids go to bed (the dishes can wait, so just go relax!).
- Sit outside after dusk and just enjoy the sounds around you. Do some deep breathing for relaxation.
- Get up early, grab a cup of Joe, and enjoy the sunrise before the rest of the family wakes.
- And sometimes, you just need to get a way. Have a vacation all your own. Arrange for someone you trust to watch the kids and just get away. There are many deals out there to save on mini-vacations, and I’ll be talking about those in the weeks to come.
What are some of your tips for having “Me Time” on the Cheap?
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I am excited to hear about ways to save on mini-vacations!
My “me time” is at night when everyone else is in bed. I am a night owl so I love to stay up after the kids and my hubby have gone to bed, I can read, watch a movie, or play around on the internet without being asked a million questions or get someone a drink or cook or fold laundry. Having a day out with my girls is nice too!
Most communities have free concerts during the summer months. Get someone to watch the kids and go enjoy a concert..
What is me time???? The only time I have to myself is after everyone is in bed asleep and I still have to have the tv turned down so it don’t wake anyone speaker off on the puter once again don’t want to wake anyone… Gosh even a bath is not me time i get visitors popping in wanting to join me ( the kids)…. LOL And yes I did have the door locked…. I think the only time I have to myself is doing the grocery shopping and that is no fun with all the other kids running around like crazy…. the only me time I had was when I was in the hospital for a heart attack… wouldn’t want the heart attack again, but the time to myself part i loved……..
Not cheap, always, but sometimes…
Once in a while, when I need a super duper break away from the kids and house, my husband sends me out to the thrift store. It’s one of those places you really don’t want to take your kids to anyways (at least mine. Who think the shopping cart is their personal teether, and must put hands on things and into their mouths), and I can completely focus on the shopping (have to make sure there are no stains, rips, missing snaps…). And finding good deals really boosts my spirits!
It may not sound like a lot- but my backyard is a little retreat for me. I love to spend time in the garden and recently my hubby built me a bench with a flower trellis in the corner of the yard. I go out there to read and soak up the sunshine. Even if the kids are out there playing with me- it is just relaxing to be outside in the quiet
My husband travels A LOT for work (some months it’s every week)! Of course, all of his time away does have some advantages. I miss him all week so when he gets home we’re like newlyweds and make time together even if it’s only and hour or two alone. He also lets my girlfriends and I have two weekends a year (spring and fall) when we use his hotel points to get a couple of joining rooms at the Hilton where we can relax without the kids and our husbands and do whatever we want (which usually involves eating out and not cooking, scrapping and swimming – oh and cocktails). The rooms are free and we bring lunch/snack/drink stuff for the weekend so we don’t spend a lot. We have a blast; we gab; we relax and have fun and rejuvenate ourselves before heading back to reality.
Well “me time” for me is usually at the end of a long day. That’s what I get for juggling a day job (freelance) and then managing my sites. Many times I fall asleep from being exhausted all day.