Forty eight minutes. That’s how long the average parent gets to themselves each day according to a new study by recipe delivery service HelloFresh.
Apparently the average parent doesn’t sit down until 8.53pm in the evening and one in 10 say it’s after 10pm before they actually start to relax.
Forty eight minutes?!! I don’t know about you but 48 minutes of me time a day sounds like a lot to me – I’m lucky if I get 10!
The thing is it is really important to have me time, as I discovered when we went on holiday without the kids, and having a spot of me time definitely makes me a better mum.
So what can you do to maximise me time, even if you do only get 10 minutes of it?
10 things to do with 10 minutes me time
1. Absolutely nothing! “I just sit and do nothing. Doing absolutely nothing happens so rarely that it’s nice,” says Rachel at Coffee, Cake, Kids
2. Savour a cup of a coffee. “Read a magazine and drink a hot coffee rather than a lukewarm one!” says Laura at Woman in Progress (you could treat yourself to a coffee subscription like Coffeegram so you’re always prepared).
3. Curl up on the sofa with chocolate or cake. “I usually can’t do this on the sofa as my toddler would demand some too – I’m usually hidden behind a cupboard door in the kitchen,” says Lynne at New Mummy Blog
4. Have a nap. “A super-short, 10-minute power nap isn’t a replacement for a good night’s sleep, but most experts agree that even a short burst of shut-eye will help you feel more alert and less stressed,” says Elizabeth at The Homemakers Journal
5. Go online shopping. “It’s not like I ever get to do the real thing anymore and I can do some serious damage to the credit card in 10 minutes!” says Emma at The Money Whisperer
6. Yoga. “It’s incredibly good to ease the mind and relax the body. I had postnatal depression, so doing something like that really helped me,” says Ross at Isablog
7. Read. “I get out my book and read – bliss!” says Angela at The Life of Spicers
8. Do a facemask. “I do my nails whilst it sets,” says Emma at Emma Reed
9. Get some fresh air. “Go for a walk and listen to a podcast,” says Leandra at LarabeeUK
10. Pluck your eyebrows. “It’s very obvious that I haven’t had 10 minutes peace for quite some time!” says Becky at Mommy and Rory
Do you get 48 minutes of me time a day, or is it more like 10 minutes a day like me? How do you spend your me time? I’d love to know what you get up to!
This is a collaborative post.
I love doing nothing. Just sitting and watching crap TV I hardly ever do it but if I get the chance it is my happy place! And yeah 48 minutes?! that would be nice. Thanks for joining us at #familyfunlinky
Definitely more like 10 minutes a day here! I love to paint my nails, if I can be really quick about it and I don’t have any chores to do later that might chip them. Sometimes just sitting is all I need! Great ideas here x #familyfunlinky
I think 48 minutes sounds about right – that’s about as much time as I have after my daughter goes to bed and before I’m too tired to do anything! Crap TV and scrolling through social media tends to be how I fill it. #familyfunlinky
I like to pump up the music and have a good sing #familyfun
This is cute! I’m one to read, draw a bath, or just sit outside in the sun for a few minutes. Also a nice walk around the neighbourhood can do wonders for me!
~Jess
#FamilyFunLinky
48 minutes… where are they? I am still searching for them for past 15 years!!
Jokes apart, even when the children grow up, finding me time is difficult to come by. And that me time is so essential to recharge myself.
I liked the very first idea of doing nothing in my me time. Doing nothing is a luxury, though for 10 mins!
Loved the post dearly!
– Anagha From Team MocktailMommies
Have you read my latest post Wardrobe Makeover
Hi, its great sometimes to do nothing, but fresh air, a cup of tea and cake are top of the list for me #twinklytuesday
This is great! Self-care is so important. I like to stay up a bit later to have a bit of ‘me-time’ and use it to catch up on some tv viewing! #TheListLinky
Sitting in front of the TV with a hot cup of tea (or glass of wine, or tub of ice cream) is my idea of heaven right now
#FamilyFunLinky
For me it’s all about sitting down and doing nothing for 10 minutes (or lying down if I feel really knackered). A great list of ideas here #TheListLinky
Lots of great ideas. Some days I don’t think I get 48 minutes! #thelistlinky
Tea and cake is high up on the me time list here! Great post! Thanks for linking up with #TwinklyTuesday
I would to be able to get 10 minutes to myself, haha but when you put your mind to it, you can cram in lots! #KCACOLS
I meditate, practise my breathing exercises. Calms me down and centres me.
#kcacols
Wine, wine, wine, every time and my blog. I sat down at 9:24 this evening. Cygnet wouldn’t go to sleep – aaaahhhh. Pen x #KCACOLS
Im currently off work at the moment (see blog post) so I get three days where the hubby is at work and our son is in childcare. Honestly, it’s lovely to be able to potter about, go shopping in peace and just sit on the sofa and watch crap TV. At nearly 29weeks pregnant with our second child, the rest is good for me and baby and I’m making the most of it because I know it won’t last! #KCACOLS
I’m lucky and I def get more than 48 mins me time in a day. the boy sleeps pretty well and I typically start my eve blogging at 7 until 8/9ish when I chill and watch something with the hubby. #KCACOLS
I think I’ve forgotten how to relax! All my child-free time is spent blogging, learning about blogging and generally being a blogging bore at the moment. If I DO happen to get time, I’ll read, watch some TV or do my nails! #TheListLinky
Well this is a tricky one because a few times a week I do gym classes with a lot of other people so technically I’m not alone and when my two both go to bed Its usually film time with my partner! #KCACOLS
I think I’m more like 10 minutes like you! It’s always a bru for me x
Thanks for joining #kcacols
reading is a good answer. It takes me so long to finish a book now I barely remember what it going on when I sit down #KCACOLS
To drink the entire cup of coffee without the need for a re-heat, heaven. Breathing. Going to the loo without little people entering the room. Reading. I want my 10 minutes! #KCACOLS xoxo
Thank you for including my quote! I love all these ideas… And like you just wish I actually got 48 minutes, that would be an awesome surreal day! Xx
#thelistlinky
Some great ideas here. I have started painting my nails once a week, it is something for me and it gives me a nice little confidence boost too.
#KCACOLS
Books, naps, tea. These are all good things. #kcacols
I often take longer to pee than I need to just to get that extra ten minutes catching up on social media lol.
Don’t worry I don’t touch my phone after the germy bit has happened
#KCACOLS
I love doing nothing and just sit down haha! But online shopping I’m lethal at! #KCACOLS
Nothing has to be my favourite!!! #kcacols
[…] Next came a chair, which we picked up on eBay for £39.99. With a white plastic seat it won’t fade in the sunlight (one of the perils of living by the sea!) and with arms it’s what I call a thinking chair – you can sit back in it and have a good think too! […]