Whether you’re a career-focused 20-something single, a stay-at-home mum or a teen in high school, absolutely everybody needs some down time to themselves! With deadlines, family obligations, school work and everything in between it can be incredibly hard to make time for yourself. Even when you do get a few moments to yourself, it can be hard to think of what to do to wind down and relax. Here are a few ideas on how you can spend your specially carved out ‘me’ time!
Spend Time On Your Health & Wellbeing
It’s a great idea to spend your relaxation time investing in yourself. Whether this means meal prepping, exercising or meditating, activities that contribute positively to your health and wellbeing are definitely worth your while!
Aurore Blake shares what she does when she has time to herself:
“I usually go to the gym everyday after work. It can be quite exhausting so I try to prepare my food as much as I can during weekends to avoid long hours of cooking. When I come back I turn on my scent diffuser with a calming and relaxing scent such as sandalwood or bergamot and I read for 30-40 mins. This really relaxes me and I can then eat and prepare myself for bed time.”
A combination of activities that are great for your physical health, such as attending the gym and paying attention to your diet, as well as quieting your mind and reading, is the perfect way to feel renewed after your relaxation time. Check out Aurore’s website, Scent Australia, and find her on Instagram as well!
Use Your Time To Switch Off From Work
So many of us take our work into our personal lives, and sometimes you just need to completely let go and ease your mind. Lady Vee from BeWitchFul Confidence shares how she does just that:
“As I’m self-employed working from home - I’ve had to develop techniques that help me switch off and stop working as relaxation is vital to be productive. My “me” time can be anywhere from 15 minutes to a full day so I have a diverse range of activities:
Sit out in the sun in my backyard with my dog and cat to be present and breathe (it’s like meditation without meditation)
Going to the local off leash dog beach with my dog, with a friend or by myself.
Watching my favourite tv shows
Watching a movie
Dancing (no particular form or type - more about movement of my body and just being in my body)
Enjoying a bath
Having a nap (sleep is undervalued and due to being a woman, having a nap can be vital to my productivity especially around the time when my menstruation cycle is ending and re-starts)
Walking my dog
Hanging out with a friend (just “being” with them not necessarily doing anything specifically)”
So there you have it - a great range of activities, regardless of whether you have a whole day off or just half an hour. Check out Vanessa on Facebook and Twitter.
Indulge In Some Online Shopping
Shopping is just so much fun, and an awesome way to unwind! This is especially true when you take out the stress of having to get in your car, drive somewhere and then walk around in possibly less-than-comfortable shoes! That’s why shopping online is just so great - go technology! If you have some free time on your hands and don’t feel like resting or being completely chilled out, you can even be a twinge productive and get your grocery shopping for the week done online - both fun to do and one thing ticked off your list. Nowadays, you can pretty much find anything you need from online stores and retailers. Browse discount baby equipment online and then switch over and buy your week’s groceries the next minute - convenience at it’s best!
Have Some Time To Yourself, Away From The Kids
As parents, it can be extremely difficult to get any ‘me’ time, as one child or the other always wants your attention for some reason! It’s important, however, to find those moments to yourself, to relax or work towards your own personal or career goals. One thing you could do is set up a climbing frame for your little ones, or find some other highly amusing piece of play equipment to pull their focus for 30 minutes or so.
Mica, a personal style blogger at Away From The Blue, shares what she does in her free time:
“I’m blessed to be a mum of two boys under 3. It means my days are usually jam packed with taking care of two very energetic toddlers. As I’m always on the go, I like to use the little me-time I get to do something productive just for me, so I don’t feel I wasted time in front of the TV. I do still occasionally manage to watch a show on netflix a couple of times a month though!
My me-time happens when the boys are asleep, and that’s when I’ll jump on the computer and either write a blog post, read some of my favourite blogs or catch up on social media. Completing a task like catching up on blogs or finishing and scheduling a blog post gives me a little boost as I’ve managed to take time for my hobby while being productive. My sons are my whole world, but it’s nice to have a little escape into fashion and frivolity to recharge before it’s back to playing with cars, trains or blocks!”
Find Mica on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to fore more of her insights!
Fellow mum Diana Tencic agrees that sometimes you just need to get a little time to yourself in order to be the best mum you can be:
“I love nothing more than booking a hotel in the city and having a sleepover. I run a bath and enjoy a meal at a local restaurant, simple, but happy mum equals happy home!”
Check out Diana’s website, Body Be Well, and find her on Instagram as well!
Between running to playdates, school meetings, and for some mums, their jobs or other activities they engage in - sometimes all you need is to have a little lounge around during your time off. Sarah Rogers understands this and explains the role of her brand, Said She:
“As a mum it’s so hard to find time to relax and unwind, let alone book a babysitter and dress up to go out! Life with kids is so hectic, my favourite way to relax is to book a day off to stay at home. We stay in pyjamas all day, just pottering around the house and garden, reading books, and spending quality time together. No deadlines, no rushing, no drama.
Said She is a luxury loungewear brand designed for just this purpose: lounging around and looking good at the same time! They’re a little bit fancy, so if someone pops in for a cuppa there’s no need to panic, you’re dressed to impress. Available in sizes 16-28, our range includes singlets with built-in bra, 100% premium cotton pants, and 100% premium cotton button-up tops.”
Check out Sarah’s brand and find it on Facebook and Instagram as well!
With all these great ideas for spending your time off, it’s important to remember to actually take some! Be inspired by our awesome contributors and make sure you’re getting some time to yourself so you feel relaxed, rested and rejuvenated.
