Me Time

When I became a mother almost six years ago, I quickly learned that I give best and feel happiest when I have taken a little time for myself.

When I just had my first baby, that meant I would read a lot during nap time and go on runs with my daughter in the running stroller.  Since adding two more children, we are busier than ever--but, I hear it gets even busier!  (This stressed me out if I think about it for more than 10 seconds . . . )

During this phase of my mothering, here are my favorite ways to incorporate some "Me Time" so I am recharged and ready to take on the next potty accident and mop up another cup of spilled milk without crying myself:

 1) Exercise: I'm sure most people can say what a release exercise is, and I'm no different. I've always run with my kids, but this past year I learned that I prefer getting my exercise done before they get up for the day.  It was becoming more stressful to fit in my time to workout, due to all the logistics as well as the constant interruptions.  (I know people love the gym daycare, but I am too cheap and paranoid for that.)

I am not a morning person by nature.  But I have slowly trained myself to wake up between 5:20-30 AM most days, or even 6:15 when I sleep in.  I can't believe I'm saying this, but I've started to wake up right before my alarm goes off.  (Not every day, but this is still major for me!)

Now I can't run as much, so I've stepped up my strength training and my exercise classes.  I still jog 1-2 times a week outside with two of the kids in tow, but only when I've had a really late the night before.

This isn't going to become a fitness blog, but working out the literally the ONLY time I have to myself.  I love to think, listen to podcasts, watch HGTV, or even cry during a hard spin class because it's so cathartic.  Thank goodness it's dark in there!

PS: I NEVER owned actual "workout clothes," until after my last baby.  I told myself that I deserved some legitimate clothes that pushed me to get going.  It's made such a big difference in both my motivation and my confidence.  Fabletics will always have my heart. SUCH great pieces at very affordable prices. (No one is paying me to say this, I love them that much! However, that link does give me points which I always seem to forget to use . . . )

2) Listen to Podcasts/Audio Books: Even when my kids are around and I'm slaving away doing the house chores, if I can pop in my earbuds and listen to a good podcast or book, then I'm tricking myself into some "me time."  Same goes with watching shows while organizing things around my computer--which is in the corner of my kitchen!

3) Passion Projects: We all need to get out some creativity.  If you don't think you're creative, please believe me--you are!  We all have something that we can pursue that acts as an outlet too.  What's mine?  This blog and my podcast.  They require the hours of a part-time job, pay me nothing, but they give me something tangible to show for those days where all the kids did was whine, fight, and disobey.  And these passion projects are not life-or-death either, so they can also be happily ignored if everyone is having a bad day OR such a good day that blogposts and podcasts can wait.  My family's (and my own!) well-being comes ahead of these, but when I can produce things while they're sleeping or doing quiet time, then it makes a difference to my psyche and the kids get a happier mom, too.

What about you?  How do you sneak in some "me time," regardless of your family's situation?

Other moms are sharing too!  Please check them out below.  And if you'd like to participate in the next series, sign up on Madeline or Kiana's blogs.