Light Weekend Reads: Mom’s me-time

Being a mom has been a full time job and least to say with its own perks and challenges. Over the years, I have realized the need to reward myselffrom time to time. The best reward is perhaps the ability to give time to something that I like to do or am passionate about. Rewarding self is also like living a little of each day on our terms and as per your liking. I have found some interesting patterns and ways to sneak out these me-moments.

Do you remember a recent instance, when you picked up something of your choice and then “Momma, Please come here!!” the alarm rang, and you had to shift attention. We hardly get much spare time through the day, but whenever we do, we need to tell ourselves, it’squite precious! By spare time, I mean any time during the day while weare free from child responsibility and when we are able to defer the household chores. This is not easy to come by, perhaps this kind of a slot needs to be created. Some of theseavailable gaps could be:

• When your child is asleep, you could take a power nap
• When your child is off to school you could findsometime to follow your interests
• When your child is enjoying the company of another family member, they get some change and so do you
• When your child is playing or watching TV, you could put that time to some me-time
• When you make your child understand that “look mummy needs to work on something so please do not disturb for some time” – It has“unavoidable me-time” written all over it J

I asked 25 moms from varied backgrounds about how do they put their free time to use. I requested them to not include sleeping as an activity and to give only one activity in which, they are interested and most passionate about. Guess what, I got 15 distinct ones andtheir responses (below) made my day:

1. Maintain a fitness regime; give time to exercising, yoga and meditation. This secretes happy hormones in the system and enables them to work better
2. Playing agame like badminton, tennis, swimming, one of the respondents said she plays bridge with friends, while another is a marathon runner
3. Some read books, magazines, daily newspapers, blogs, tabloids, anything. Reading is a stress buster, a refresher for them and infuses fresh ideas
4. Social service by helping the needy, participating in surrounding social projects like taking free workshops for children in an orphanage
5. Indoor and outdoor gardening, an interesting response from a mother who derives pleasure in seeing her plants grow
6. Writing, drawing, painting- let your creativity spur and take full form. As shared by a mom, “an important thing here is to keep all the essentials handy and properly placed or else you may end up wasting time in accumulating all those small things each time”
7. Cooking was another popular response, this mom believes in innovative cooking and plating. In her words, “Because we spend good time in kitchen, we can get really creative with the food that we make.”
8. Movies and shopping are an equally good option. Movies refresh you and shopping helps you build your wardrobe. As shared by a mom, “A mom who looks good feels good all day”.
9. “Praying and chanting hymns and shlokas gives me peaceand spending some quiet time helps you understand yourself better and makes you compassionate” shared a mom.
10. Self –pampering: massage, facial, pedicure, manicures, spa, that suit your time and budget are available. These are much needed for our tired body and our fatigued less-slept skin.
11. Learn something new, whatever you want to. It is as good as developing a hobby. Be it singing, swimming, playing a musical instrument, dancing and others. Being a student again, feels youngerand perhaps a tad less responsible.
12. Freelancing or blogging is another popular interest areas among the moms.
13. Organise the house and make yourself a sacred quiet little space to relax. For instance I am fond of Buddha and his preaching. In my room I intend to carve a Buddha corner with his frame, a wall parchment of his 10 quotes and a CD of the shlokas. My little monastery is what I shall call it.
14. “ I find developing new ideas to spend time with my children. Craft activities, yoga asanas, searching stories online and so on”said a mom. Once you are with the child these thought out activities will not only enhance their learning experience but will also make them feel special.
15. Helping another family member with their work could be great too, as it gives you a break from thinking overtly about your own challenges. As they say, ‘Charity begins at home’.

So let us all pledge to take ourme-time and to rejuvenate ourselves. Cease to be a mother alone, and start living your parallel life that is full of activities that give you a feel-good state. Use the activities above in isolation or accumulation to bring about a difference, non- routine in routine, non -monotony in monotony, balance in imbalance and pleasance in endless motherhood and household chores.

How do you seize your me-time? What do you do in your me-time? Please do share your ways too in the comments section below, as I would love to read them.