Hi! I’d just like to say a big thank you for the support from everyone after my post about OCD the other day. Whether it was via comments, tweets, emails, facebook, it was all appreciated very much by both my partner and I.
Now, that day, I touched on how my counsellor stressed the importance of finding ‘me time’, for the benefit of our family as a whole. I know I’m not the only one who needs this, so I felt it’d be timely to post about the importance of all of us mums getting some down time.
I’ve worked out a couple of things I enjoy doing when I need some down time, but I could really use more suggestions, and you never know, if we can get a little list going, it might help others. So, here’s what I’ve come up with so far:
1) Going for a walk. Sometimes I find this one difficult lately, as my partner can get anxious if I’m not there, but occasionally I get out there, and it’s my favourite thing to do, now I’ve found a walking route I like. Plus, since we bought a car, I’ve gotten fat! So it’s something I want to do for my health and my figure as well.
2) Reading. This is one I really struggle to find the time to do! But I love to read, so much.
3) Having a laugh. There’s so much to laugh at around here. Sometimes it’s the cat teasing the dogs, or running up the chimney. Or it’s the puppies being all cute, silly and lovable. Then, there’s the kids. Hilarious people. Not to be outdone is my fiance, who likes carry on like a silly bugger to get the whole family laughing. Failing that, there’s always funny movies or TV shows. I especially love British comedy.
4) A nice, hot bubble bath. Ok, I know it’s a really cliched, ‘mummyblogger’ thing to say, but I don’t care. I’m comfortable with being labelled that way, I’ll own it and rock it. The last place we lived at in Sydney had no bath. We lived there for five years, and the only bath I had was my water birth . Now, whilst that made the birth awesome, it couldn’t be called a relaxing bath by any stretch of the imagination. So, now we have a bathtub here, I have a hot bath everyday, and honestly, the novelty still hasn’t worn off. And it helps my muscles so much.
5) Blogging or other writing. I love to be writing something, always. Even a list will do, if that’s all I have time for. But the feeling of putting pen to paper, or hands to keyboard is essential to me. I’d be lost without that form of self expression.
6) Crafting. I love to create beautiful things. I love sewing, crochet, patchwork, embroidery, knitting, even dabbling in things I haven’t tried before. You know? This is making me realise that I haven’t made any time for this lately, and I truly miss it! So there’s something else I should do. See? Writing/blogging = therapy.
7) Spending time with friends. Be it on the phone, one-on-one or in a group, I enjoy that time talking to other adults. I don’t always have time to do it in person, but I do try to ensure I can at least do it by phone, email or facebook.
So there’s mine, but I really am open to hearing what other people do when they need some time to themselves. What are your best ‘me time’ tips?
Other reading:
10 stress relief tips for mums
Headphones and loud music. They are my saviours. Even if I’m blogging or whatever, I stick the headphones in and just block out not only the noise going on around me, but it’s good to block out the noise from your own head! xx
Tina´s last post ..This Song Gets Me Every Time
Oh Tina, you’re right! Music does it for me too. I forget to use the headphones, though.
Hear Mum Roar´s last post ..Me time – what’s yours
Reading is my perfect “me-time” activity. I love being transported to a world where I don’t have to make any decisions
Sewing is my “me” time …….. I am a fairly emotional person, but often I find it hard to communicate that. When I sew for my family (and when I cook), to me its an expression of how I feel about them. It relaxes me, to know that I am caring for them, protecting them.
Rachel, I know just what you mean, it’s the perfect escape, isn’t it?
Dani, I think that’s a beautiful way to put it:)
Hear Mum Roar´s last post ..Me time – what’s yours
Hi. Yoga. I’ve been doing it for sixteen years and through two pregnancies. It’s the only thing in life which can make me feel serene – some achievement! If you want a laugh with your kids, try my game – Sock Wars. Here’s a shameless plug for my blog – it’s on there under ‘family life’ – helpless laughter, giggles and shrieking, and that’s just the adults.
Me time can’t be underestimated. I was listening to the English writer Frank Cottrell Boyce on a BBC radio program recently, and he said he thought me time was over estimated, and that ‘doing stuff together’ as a family was me time. Obviously it hadn’t occurred to him that as a writer, he gets a lot of time at his computer, on his own, writing, getting things done, finishing a task without being interrupted by a toddler every couple of minutes. Perhaps if he had primary care of his children for half a day he might not be such a sanctimonious poopwit.
Just my opinion.
Apple, yes, I love yoga! Haven’t done it for such a long time! Sanctimonious poopwit? I like that expression! I think you’re right, too. lol
Hear Mum Roar´s last post ..Putting my foot down
I don’t do down time very well. So my down time thing is scrapbooking, I find it so relaxing (especially when I go to the shop to do it – no children) and i’m being productive at the same time.
Mandy´s last post ..I’m grateful for this little man!
I think I usually go for a jog, read a book or write my blog. I don’t get a lot of me-time but I enjoy the smidge I do get. Glad you put this list together – I bet it helps. Thanks for Rewinding x
MultipleMum´s last post ..Weekend Rewind – The List edition