Trying to forget the guilt and find time for me

If you’re a mom, then I do not need to tell you how busy your life is. As the saying goes, “the days are long, but the years are short.”

I’ve recently returned back to work (only part-time) and I’m finding myself more exhausted than before. I’m nursing several times a night, going to work for 6 a.m., then spend the day with all three kids from 10:30 a.m. on, so it’s definitely jam-packed. I’m also going to bed later than usual too, so it’s really testing my stamina.

The easiest part of powering through the day is seeing how happy my kids are. They all enjoy being home and playing with each other, so I’m thankful we are able to spend the time together and make memories. But, through all of it, I’m still trying to find five or 10 minutes for me.

When I’m alone with my thoughts I start thinking of what I’d do with those extra minutes for myself. And then of course I feel guilty. I shouldn’t though, because I am 100% devoted to my munchkins while they are awake. The least I can do is carve out time when they’re in bed. As much as I want to hit the pillow the second my oldest falls asleep, I should use that time to restore myself.

Ways I could devote time (5-10 minutes) to myself:

Enjoy a cup of tea while my two littlest are napping– There’s a time of day when my oldest is in preschool and the boys are asleep. Instead of cleaning I should just sit quietly and enjoy my tea. There’s something about tea that is calming. Making it, steeping it and sipping it. It’s a process and it always relaxes me. I should put the dang phone down too and just be alone with my thoughts.

Call a friend– These days everyone texts. But, I’m still a person who loves to chat on the phone. I’m known in my inner circle to still leave long voice mails. I just like the talking so much better. So, why not use the free time to check in with another adult?

Hang out with my fur baby– My dog Riley was my first baby, if you will. He is my best friend and follows me everywhere. Our time together is limited now because I’m giving all my attention to the kids. But, if I just sat with him on the couch for a few minutes, it will relax me and make his day.

Read- When I had no children or even just one child I read every day. I could finish a book in three days. I would just carry it around with me and read it whenever I had a second. These days I’m reading to my kids or reading “What to Expect the First Year.” A far cry from 50 Shades of Grey if you ask me!

Listen to music- I can’t tell you the last time I updated my music library, but using these extra minutes would be a good time for me to find new music that makes me feel good or just transports me to another place.

To be honest, I’m not sure how doable any of this is every day with three kids under four years old. But, it’s a start.

As moms, we cannot forget about us. We are our children’s world, and a lot of us are wives too. So, I’m going to try to find time to do anything that will make me feel restored, because to be the best mom,I need to be the best me.

How do you spend time to yourself? And how much of it do you get a day?