When was the last time you took a day (or even part of a day) just for you? If you’re a mum, this is a vital part of maintaining your sanity. No matter what you choose to do, ‘me time’ should satisfy three requirements. First, you should choose the activity. Secondly, you should choose whether you want to invite others along. And lastly, it should be totally fun and entertaining. Here are my favourite things to do just for me.
Take a spa day. I know a lot of mums who would feel guilty for dropping so much cash on an hours-long spa session…but I’m not one of them! To get away from the madness of having kids to look after (as well as MadDad), going to the spa is the perfect occasional treat. After all, as mums we are always waiting on someone; it’s nice to get waited on ourselves sometimes. My spa days usually involve a massage, a facial and lots of tea.
Go shopping. This activity serves as both functional and relaxing. Because I love ‘retail therapy’ so much, there’s no better way for me to spend a free afternoon than heading to my favourite stores. As a rule of thumb, I usually try to stay away from big malls, however, since they can be just as chaotic as my own house. There are several department stores that I like to frequent, however, whether I am just looking for scented candles (to help create a calming aura at home) or buying a black coat.
Stretch your mind and your body. Going to the gym may not sound like the best way to relax, but you may be surprised at how calm you feel after a workout. I like to do yoga classes every now and then because they help me feel more centered and relaxed. Yoga is also good for releasing tension and stress, which are two problems you may be carrying around without even noticing.
Enjoy a good meal–especially one that you didn’t have to cook. About once a month, I like to dine out with a few girlfriends so that we can catch up on what’s going on in everyone’s life. It’s my chance to vent about everything that frustrates me, and maybe even indulge in some gossip as juicy as our entrees. These evenings are always totally relaxed, so no one feels the pressure to get dolled up. It’s just quality time with friends, which is why I love it so much.
Treat yourself to a movie. There are a lot of advantages to going to the movies by yourself. You don’t have to grapple over which film to see (no more animated kids movies, please), and you don’t have to share your popcorn. This is exactly my idea of fun and entertaining ‘me’ time.
