I’m not suggesting alcohol is the way… no, wait, that is a lie. A big fat lie. Booze, all the way.
It can be SO hard to relax as a mama can’t it? I mean literally when do you get to stop, put your feet up and chill? Especially if you work from home, the chances are you will be working at night, and even if you don’t when are you going to slot in that housework, even if you do it as a team (which is NOT the case in our house, like a lot of mamas I do 90% of the household work) it still has to be done at some point.
So, chilling out. Yeah. When? How?
Well, I’ve been thinking about it and I think these things are pretty achievable for most mamas… Here are my tips for relaxing when you just don’t have time:
1.) Take a bath.
Put aside whatever work you have to do, put down your phone. Pick up your book or stream an episode of your favourite TV series and just chill. Buy a bath pillow or roll up a towel. DO NOT allow the kids in. If you can’t do it while the kids are up then do it when they sleep. Just do it!!
2.) Go to bed 30 minutes early and read a book.
Another one where you have to banish the phone or electronic device – unless it’s a kindle you read with like me *rolls eyes at tech-dependant self*. Normal bedtime is 11pm? Go to bed at 10.30… That is taking 30mins away from whatever you would normally be doing (for me it’s writing this blog post) which is nothing. It could mean the difference between you feeling like you haven’t loved yourself enough this week though.
3.) Book a “me morning”
Sorry, don’t buy it when people tell me this isn’t achievable!! It is!! For anyone!! Everyone has someone who could watch the kids, or do it when they are with the childminder/nursery/school. Go home, go out, lie down, go for a run… Whatever just do it alone and for yourself.
4.) Go for coffee at a friend’s house or out.
Can you believe how much of a difference going for a quick drink can make to your emotional state? A bloody huge one. I’m not suggesting you do it often, but do do it. It can be during a lunch break, when the kids are out or even late in the evening. Just get that downtime!
5.) Go to the cinema… Alone
Yep, alone. All by mysellffffff… Anyway, moving swiftly on, going to the cinema guarantees you aren’t going to be disturbed at all, you can watch a movie totally undisturbed. UNDISTURBED PEOPLE. Yea, you can go with a friend or partner if you get chance, but don’t fret if not. Go alone and leave the kids at home!
So there you have it, 5 ways to relax when you most likely don’t have time to. It’s easy if you plan ahead, and I defy anyone to tell me they couldn’t manage at least one of these things!
H x
I love reading before bed, it totally relaxes me and I have a great nights sleep and feel ready for the day when I wake up
Me too!!
great tips! I love having some adult company but i sometimes always think about the amount of things i still need to do once they go! I love a long shower
Mmmm long showers are THE BEST!
These are such great tips1 I’ve actually been to the cinema by myself a long time ago and found it really relaxing.
Its nice isn’t it?!
I’ve only been to the cinema once on my own and I actually really enjoyed it xxx
Yes! You think you’ll feel like sound kind of sad, lonely cat lady but it’s great!
I love that picture! Bath times and reading times are brilliant ways to relax – Haven’t had a bath for yonks!
Haha thanks Helen!
These are great ideas. Funnily enough hubby went to the cinema by himself the other night. I need to get back to reading more as I used to love it. Think I’ll have to switch my phone off though to do that x
I know that is the problem isn’t – being phoneless this last few days is has really helped!
That thirty minutes before bedtime is a great idea and if you manage to implement it consistently then you end up getting a lot of ‘me’ time and a lot of reading done! Great tips 🙂
Thanks Laura!
Such a helpful post! I try and read before bed. It always relaxes me x
Yes me too x
I love having a bath and reading a book – been trying to do that once a week! x
Me too Hannah!
I love going to bed early with a good book – but usually the time gets away from me and I look at the time and realise it’s nearly midnight haha.
Me too! And then I’m up at 5am… the horror!
I think something as simple as just going for a walk can make such a huge difference.
Yes, walking is another one! And a reason I wanted to get the pooch 🙂
I love these hints – even better though,,,combine them!!
Bath, Book, Wine, Candles, What more could a girl ask for? Well…Chocolate and probably Gerard Butler to top up my wine!! 🙂
Hellooooo! Your suggestion is AWESOME.
ME! I definitely need some time out to relax yet I really don’t feel like I have the time lately. Have to say – I LOVE the cinema, but I haven’t gone by myself in a year. Definitely something to try and make time for x
Yes try to!
Some great advice there, i love baths as of way of relaxing and just taking some time for myself xx
Me too 🙂
I’m liking these ideas! I think I may have to start taking some time to read before bed. I have a couple of books I need to get to.
Give it a go Liz x
Oh I am so in neec of this right now, anything to relax me. Great tips, I can’t remember the last time I had a bath without a toddler throwing things in for me x
Thanks Jenni – ha yes, many a time ha I wondered why I’m bathing with a killer whale, 2 ducks and a drum stick…
Fantastic tips and very very useful. I used to sneak and sit in the toilet sometimes just to get away for 10 mins when when kids were little.
Haha ohh yes, the old toilet and hide routine 😉
Fab tips! I have to say any kind of reverse lie in is worth its weight in gold. That and a combo of a bath if at all possible!
Ohhhh yes, nothing better than an early night in a hotel for me, bath then bed for a read at like 7pm. I just don’t get to do it so often!
These are great tips! I love the one go to bed early and read a book 🙂
Me too 🙂
I have no kids but going to the cinema alone is amazing especially if it is just 2 or 3 of you in at anyone time, less chance of me losing my bits over rattling bags of sweets too x
HA! Love it Rach x
Great suggestions I need to try and relax I feel like I am under a lot of pressure at the moment keeping on top of everything. As parents we all need to try and have a bit of me time.
Me too – it’s easy to forget yourself in the mix isn’t it?
I love having a bath as it is my time to relax. I have a magazine, or music and just relax x
Oohh lovely!
I have been trying to go to bed earlier to read a few times a week, I find it makes such a difference. Plus I get to read more than 2 sentences!!! X
It really does help!
😀 Love these great ideas for relaxing! I haven’t been to a movie alone in so long. I think I will try that this week! Thank you! xoxo
Thanks Candice, hope you get to go!
OK I definitely need to try some of these – I never seem to get that much time to relax always something more important to do. x
Tell me about it Sarah!
Fantastic tips! How busy one could be, there will be a way to relax. Taking a book before sleeping and having a coffe with your friends are all simple yet relaxing stuff! 🙂
Thanks Jess 🙂
never thought about going to the cinema by myself to relax. but yes to the bath!
Give it a go Nicol, it works!
Lovely tips. I needed to read this as I am struggling to slot in some me time.
Try to make sure you do! H x
Such a lovely post and wonderful tips. If i’m short on time and need to relax, I always have a quick bath. It’s amazing how quickly a good bath can de-stress you. x
Great idea Jessica – it’s so true that such a simple thing helps!
Great ideas! I am terrible, I put my boys to bed and then sit and do blog stuff until gone midnight most nights! I really should find the time to enjoy some of your ideas above x
I know! I do the same, then burn out and get over stressed! H x
I can only have a quiet bath when T is in school. I love having a coffee in friend’s house, mostly though, we always end up in mine, which is also nice 🙂
It’s so hard isn’t it!?
Great advice! Whenever I go to the cinema though, I always fall asleep it’s just too relaxing! Going to bed early is such a great tip, it’s the only way I get a chance to read a book.
Me too – I can’t read downstairs as someone, even the bloody dog, will want something! H x