Finding ‘me’ time as work from home mums – 11 awesome tips
Do you need help finding me time as a work-from-home mum? It’s easy to get through the day, month or year and realise you’ve barely had any time for yourself.
Finding me time is essential for self-care and preserving mental health, especially if you’re juggling work and parenting and feeling overwhelmed. Whatever works for you and can be maintained is key when finding me time to take care of yourself.
Me time might be spent with friends if that’s a way you can unwind, or it could literally be you alone in the bath or bed with a book. It may only be 5 minutes a day or longer chunks over the week or month.
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1. Wake up earlier
I know, this isn’t the preference for most of us. But it is usually the best way to carve out me time as a busy working mum.
Go to bed a little earlier, then wake a little earlier and enjoy some quiet me time before everything else starts and you can’t find a moment to yourself for the rest of the day.
2. Limit social media
Another one that isn’t as easy as it sounds, especially as you’re using an electronic device to read this now. But if you can be disciplined about social media, you can really save yourself a lot of wasted time.
You know how it is. You start looking at one thing, then another, then before you know it, you’ve lost an hour reading about something or someone you aren’t even that bothered about.
Limit your social media time and you’ll find you get loads of time back. Use an app like Freedom to block access temporarily or set a schedule to get it under control.
3. Take longer in the bathroom
For many of us parents, hiding in the bathroom is the only way to get privacy and even then it’s limited. So take a long bath or shower and tune out. Play some tunes and put a facemask on.
If you have little ones that can’t be left alone, then dad or another friend/family needs to watch them so pre-arrange your bathroom time!
It’s better if you’re alone (and everyone else is at childcare/school/work) so you won’t have to worry about someone knocking on the door as you’re blissing out.
4. Cut distractions
We’ve mentioned social media but there are other distractions you can cut so you can focus when needed. This will then free up hours for your precious me time later.
Leave your phone in another room and turn off the TV if needed. Look at what else you can cut or avoid to gain more time for yourself during the day.
5. Enjoy your lunch break
When you work from home, finding me time within your lunch break is key. Many people that work from home end up working through lunch and not giving themselves a rest from the computer.
So make sure you take your lunch break. Meet a friend or go out by yourself. Or if you’re at home, take the time to make yourself a proper meal and enjoy it without distraction.
6. Find a hobby or interest
Schedule time for a hobby or interest and you are more likely to respect the timeslot like any other commitment. Re-ignite your interest in past hobbies you’ve let slip.
If you have to be somewhere for an activity or book in an actual class, you give yourself the best chance to stick to it. Or do something with a friend so you’re more likely to stick with it.
7. Exercise
Sticking with a regular exercise routine is a brilliant way to find me time. Whether you go to a class or exercise at home, it will keep you feeling physically and mentally stronger.
It’s even better if you can head outside for your exercise and benefit from fresh air at the same time. If you want to start or re-start running, it can be a great time to be alone and find your flow.
8. Take some time off
If you are struggling to find a window of opportunity for me time, consider taking a half day off work if necessary. You could talk to your boss about more flexible employment such as working compressed hours which could allow for a Friday afternoon off every week.
Read the posts on feeling overwhelmed at work and if you’re able to take a day off work then you must read things to do on a day off alone for plenty of ideas to spoil yourself.
9. Meditate or just rest
If you’re a fan of meditation or just want to try it, then it’s an excellent way of finding me time and you don’t need long. Even five mins a day can make a difference.
Try the app Headspace, they have a free trial to see if it’s for you. They also published a book called The Headspace Guide to Meditation & Mindfulness, if you want to learn more. There are plenty of other apps and podcasts on the topic too.
If you’re not keen on meditating, just sitting quietly or listening to music, or lying down for a rest will have benefits, if you’re able to switch off and relax. Even little bursts can really help you get through the day.
10. Make TV time special
If you have a favourite show you like to watch each week, make it a special event. Once the kids are asleep, this is your time (OK, you might need to pause it if they wake up!).
Wear some comfy clothes, have your favourite beverage and snacks ready and don’t look at your phone. These days we are always multi-tasking and still scrolling on our phones while watching TV, but try to give it your full attention and soak it up.
11. Finding me time with kids around
If you have a baby, you won’t have much opportunity for me time, but you can still find pockets here and there. Make the most of their nap time or when they’re entertained in their bouncer or playpen.
Within a year or two, you will be able to steal longer moments when they’re more engaged in toys, TV and siblings/friends. Even if it’s just a few minutes to watch a bit of TV or put your feet up with a cuppa, while they are next to you having fun.
If you need to find me time with your kids around, be creative and encourage them to play independently and find things that entertain for ages. My daughter randomly loves threading activities with buttons and of course, sticker books.
Finding me time – final thoughts
Ask for help from friends or family, if you need some me time and are trying to manage it all on your own. Even little spells of me time will keep you going and help with overwhelm.
If you have childcare but work during that time, you can still make the most of your lunch hour or find a few minutes after drop-off or before pick-up. Once the playdates start as they get older, you can find more me time.
Finding me time is crucial but don’t feel that it needs to be hours every week or month if that’s simply unrealistic. Even a few minutes a day or an hour a week will give you a chance to recharge. Read on for a full list of self-care ideas you can fit into 30 minutes or less!
Prioritising me time as part of your wind down routine before bed is a good way to fit it in & is the perfect time to chill out.
How do you find me time? What’s your favourite thing to do when you can? Maybe doing absolutely nothing is your favourite way to spend me time!
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25 Comments
tianna
so many great tips thank you for this post
Daphne
I love every recommendation you gave and do most of them! Time to recharge, simply enjoy life and get healthy is so important to me as I age. Thanks for the article!
Whitney Stewart
Self care or finding some ‘me’ time pretty much go hand in hand. So I’m very much supportive of all of these ideas. Because a mother of all people deserves some quality time to themselves; even if it’s only for a very limited time. Thanks do much for sharing!
Adriane
Great tips! It is so hard to find time to maintain my sanity. 🙂
Debbie
Fabulous suggestions for finding time for yourself! I especially like the idea of re-igniting past hobbies that were once interesting. Great tips!
thecuriousdig
It’s nice to re-explore those activities and hobbies we used to love. Thanks for commenting.
Thrift Plan Enjoy
These are such great tips. I plan on waking up early tomorrow. I took time for lunch today & a little TV time & I also lock the bathroom door now when I have a bath. My designated self care time with hubby watching the little one!
Needed to read this post today – thank you.
thecuriousdig
So glad to hear this. Thanks for the lovely comments.
Shelley Hanson
Sound advice! It is so important to have me time. I agree with everything you said. I think many people working from home feel like these things are luxuries and not necessities. And I also love the point about taking more time in the bathroom 🤗
thecuriousdig
Thanks for reading and commenting!
Stay Fit And Calm
Very well said..
Lauren Brock
This is a great post. I am sharing this with a few lovely mamas who need to read this!
thecuriousdig
Thank you!
Jenny Marston (Jenny in Neverland)
I’m not a work from home Mum but I probably will be at some point as I do work from home and these are all great tips. I find the bathroom a wonderful place for relaxing!
thecuriousdig
So glad to hear the tips are useful. Thanks for commenting.
Lou
All of these! ha ha ha …. the lunch break thing is super important to me… otherwise my day is sut one HUGE long marathon!
thecuriousdig
A marathon is a good way of describing a day with no breaks!
Amanda
These are great ideas. I don’t have kids yet, but I appreciate the advice I can use in the future.
Jenn
LOL! I second the suggestion about taking longer in the bathroom – sometimes it really is the only time alone you can get!
thecuriousdig
The bathroom becomes a sacred place after kids…
Kassidy | Plies and Books
These ideas are great! I love the one about putting your phone down after the kids go to bed. It’s very easy to get stuck in social media scrolling when your brain phone is near.
Emily
Thanks for the tips. If only waking up earlier worked….my baby has a sixth sense and wakes up as soon as I do even though he is in a different room. Haha
thecuriousdig
Ah yes I still have this sometimes but it’s getting better, so occasionally I get a little window by myself.
Samuel Toil
I’m not a mom but as a full-time freelance writer working from home, I find them quite useful. I will surely incorporate them in my routine!
thecuriousdig
I’m glad to hear these are transferable. Thanks for commenting!