My me time is hard to come by, especially as a mom. I understood personal space as a single person, and it was a challenge once Ethan and I got married, but it was never something I needed until becoming a mom. Finding that time to be alone and focus/work on myself is not something I like to admit is required. I love being able to give my full attention to my girls and my husband, but I know that if I want to be the best Mom and Wife I can be, I need to establish ‘Me Time’ to accomplish that goal.
What do I do to find “Me” time Each Day?
This is where The Power Hour comes in. Yes, it’s truly a power hour, because the word power itself means “the ability to do something or act in a particular way, especially as a faculty or quality.” I take this phrase literally as I can get so much done in the hour that I get to have alone during the day. This time is when both my girls are taking a nap. Their nap times align perfectly, at least for baby U’s second nap, and E’s only nap of the day.
Usually, I get the time to work on homework. I check that the toys are all put away at least until nap time is over because, let’s be honest, the toys are never really put back where they should go anyway, and that’s just fine! I clean up the kitchen, put away the dishes, and refill the washing machine if needed. Then, I move on to the Mount Everest piles of laundry that always seem to appear, even when I already did it yesterday.
After the laundry is folded, put away, and hung up, I get the chance to find things I want to do, some of which are part of my daily habits, while others are merely hobbies, and random things I enjoy doing. These things include writing more blogs, reading a good book, or listening to one, baking a yummy treat, taking a nap, watching a sappy movie, repotting my house plants, or coloring in a coloring book. I find so many other things entertaining to utilize The Power Hour.
Do I only get One Hour to Work on what I want in life?
There are other times in the day when I find the time to be alone as well, sometimes it’s alone physically, while other times it’s alone in my thoughts or activity. E will be playing with baby U on the floor, and I’ll take that opportunity to play the piano, do those household chores that didn’t previously get done, or I’ll lovingly watch my children play together. Having ‘Me Time’ doesn’t always have to mean that you are alone in all aspects to do something you want to do. You can still do things you want to do while being with your kids and/or your significant other. Getting married or having children does not suddenly deter you from doing what you love or keep you from going on adventures. Involve them, or schedule time to do those things.
Do Kids Get in the Way of My Power Hour?
There are many people out there who believe that having children keeps you from having fun and keeps you from enjoying your life. I think that’s a bunch of garbage. Children are a light and joy to have in life, they bring so much fun and excitement to the world. Our girls are our everything. Without them, our lives probably wouldn’t be as entertaining, we wouldn’t laugh as much as we do, and we wouldn’t be able to physically see the beauty of watching them grow up.
No matter what obstacle life throws at us, being able to do it with our children has made us more patient, more understanding, and more optimistic about the outcomes. Children love to participate and love to learn from their parents/guardians. They are the most observant little beings to ever exist. Including them in our daily activities and even in The Power Hour can often be incredibly rewarding to you and them.
Where do you See Yourself in 5 years? How can having “Me” Time help?
Some parents get to utilize their Power Hour or ‘Me Time’ once the kid(s) are down for bed, while others have it before they wake up. Whenever you get that spare time to yourself, try to use that time to tune in to your life. What do you wish to accomplish? What are your goals? Do you have dreams you want to achieve before or by a certain date? Where do you see yourself and your family within the next 5-10 years?
Take the time to write those answers down, work on something you’ve been wanting to work on, finish that book that’s been collecting dust on your bedside table, have a snack, take a nap, whatever it may be. That time is for you to enjoy, for you to take advantage of, and for you to maintain your sanity of being an individual. The Power Hour is how I take care of myself and my needs. I do the things I don’t do while my girls are up. I don’t want to be focused on a screen while they are awake, so I’ll take my ‘Me Time’ to do it.
What Things Can I Be Doing With One Hour a Day?
Here is a more detailed list of things you could do during The Power Hour/ ‘Me Time’ to fully utilize that time effectively:
- Deep Clean the Kitchen: Wash the dishes, clean the kitchen sink, sweep the kitchen floor, mop, wipe down the countertops, clean inside your microwave and oven, clean out your fridge, let your faucet soak in vinegar, clean out the toaster, clean the air fryer, descale your kettle/Keurig, etc.
- House Tidy: Vacuum the floors (unless it will wake your babies), pick up toys, mop the bathrooms, kitchens, walkways, and hallways, take out the trash in all the rooms, wash the windows, wipe down door handles and light switches, light a candle, spray fabreeze, etc.
- Wash It All: Wash your bedding, your couch cushions (if you can), wash the rug(s), the blankets, the pillows, everyone’s clothes, and towels.
- Make and Bake: Bake a yummy treat, or some delicious bread, try out that DIY recipe you saw on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest. Make a freezer meal so you don’t have to worry about it later. Make or bake something for someone else, It’s fun to serve others and surprise them with goodies that are bound to put a smile on their face!
- Explore your Hobbies: Try something new, revisit old hobbies (so long as they aren’t dangerous), work on improving a current hobby. These could include making a craft, singing, playing the piano, putting together a puzzle, reading/listening to a book, painting a picture, sewing something, building Legos, playing a game of some kind, gardening, yoga, etc.
- Self Care: Take a shower, take a bath, maybe even use a bath bomb, or make it steamy. Do a face mask, paint your nails, do your hair, take a nap, journal, sunbathe, meditate, or study topics that interest you, such as church, school, hobbies, or the news.
- Significant Other Time: Create intimate moments, watch a movie/TV show together, plan a date night, talk about your future together, or do any of the above bullet points together.
“Sometimes you have to break from the grind, clear your mind, and enjoy some ‘ME’ time.”
McKenna Sanders
The Mom, Wife, Dream Life Blog
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