Here are a few of my favorite things to do when I have some time to myself:
1. Take a long bath
Fortunately, on weekends I can ask my mom or the hubby to watch Dean for an hour or two while I draw a bath. I like to splurge every now and then on nice bath salts or bath bombs from LUSH and have a nice DIY aromatherapy spa in my own bathroom. During that time I take a few minutes to clear my head and take in every second of quiet time. I sometimes buy face masks or random treatments to pamper myself too (hey, I do a lot of work!) On the rare occasion that I have extra money to spend on going to a real spa, I opt for a massage.
2. Read
When the baby is napping or has already gone to bed for the evening I like to spend some time reading or catching up with magazines. I enjoy the quiet time and actually makes me feel like I have accomplished a little more that day.
3. Rediscovering an old hobby
Before having a baby, I spent most of my free time creating stuff and doing arts and crafts. Nowadays, whenever Dean is spending time with his grandparents or aunts I sometimes enjoy putting photo albums together, making quick accessories or deconstructing clothing. I feel like it's important to keep doing things that I love- there is no reason not to.
4. Manicures
I tend to mostly do this at home now but with pinterest and all these other ideas and tutorials available online it is actually fun trying out new colors or designs I can recreate myself. It's fun to be able to change a manicure as often as I want.
5. Enjoying a nice cup of coffee
I'm not talking about just preparing something in the coffee pot- I'm talking about actually heating up milk and using whip cream and fun garnishes or sprinkles to make a gourmet cup of joe at home. Sometimes I pair it with banana + nutella toast or a yummy pastry. I try not to overindulge but every now and then it's nice to be able to relax and really enjoy a good cup of coffee on a Saturday morning.
6. Setting up fresh flowers around the house
I'm a strong believer in making your surroundings aesthetically pleasing. Just like a pile of clutter can make me stress out every time I look at it, pretty things make me happy and relaxed. And fresh flowers are a plus because they release oxygen and help liven the place up. I also like to have nice candles or picture frames and set up vignettes around my home.
7. Blogging or reading gossip sites
Okay, so this is more of a guilty pleasure. I know it's important to spend time away from technology since I work in front of a computer a lot on some days but I can't help it. At times when I'm home I love reading fashion blogs, going on Pinterest and checking out what my favorite online shops have in stock. I usually reserve for when Dean is sleeping or spending time playing with daddy.
8. Movie Night
The husband and I enjoy our date nights and more often than not end up going to the theatre to watch movies but when there is a film he hasn't been that interested in watching with me I take the time to watch it by all myself. Fun- at least for me.
9. Spending time with Friends
Okay, so this one isn't strictly alone time. But it sure is one of my favorite ways to unwind. Talking about stuff, laughing and just being around friends always makes me feel better.
So there you have it, a few of the things I enjoy during my new spare time. Although I know it's hard for some parents to find time to indulge in some alone time, just remember- it will benefit your sanity. "Me time" can mean anything like taking a class, getting your hair done, going out for lunch or dinner with a friend.. setting aside some time to do something for yourself. Your family will thank you for it.
Remember:
