6 Ways to Find Time for Yourself This Summer

After the long, hectic, and very scheduled months of the school year, many of us simply can’t wait until the warm, balmy months of summer arrive. During this time, most of us get (or so we hope) some respite from our work commitments and activities, but with the kids home for summer, busy parents don’t necessarily get to take time off from the daily grind of raising a family. 

Sherrie Bourg Carter Psy.D. explains that taking time for yourself gives your brain a chance to reboot, improves concentration, increases productivity, helps you discover (or rediscover) your own voice, gives you a chance to think deeply, and helps you problem solve more effectively. “It also gives you a better sense of balance and self-awareness, which can lead to a better understanding of yourself – what drives you, what inspires you, what excites you,” she explains. “This, in turn, can have a positive effect not only on the quality of your relationship with yourself, but also on the quality of your relationships with others.”

Summer should evoke a more carefree and relaxed time for the entire family, including mom and dad, so here are Mighty Mommy’s 6 Ways to find a little “me time” each day, even when the kids are home on vacation.

Tip #1: Commit to 15-20 Minutes of “Me” Time Daily

It took me several years and about 4 kids to realize that I deserved to have some time to myself every day.  I had great intentions each morning of sneaking off for a quick, quiet read when the kids were napping, or unwinding in a hot bubble bath after my husband got home from work. But, usually, I ended up convincing myself that I needed to do one more load of laundry or tidy up the kid’s toy room instead. 

One day, I finally made a pact with myself that I was going to take a 20-minute break each day. And if I didn’t, I made every effort to go to bed 15 minutes earlier than I usually did, just so I could clear my mind and be completely alone with my own thoughts.

Tip #2: Create a Daily Ritual

Because I have 8 kids, I’m exceptionally routine-based in my day-to-day life. And it’s constantly a work in progress. It’s important to recognize that as my kids gets get older and the seasons change, our routines need to be modified. So flexibility is key.

My routines are really what preserves my sanity (well, most of it!), and one of the things I do that is absolutely critical is my daily ritual of waking up nearly an hour before the rest of my family. Most mornings I get right out into my neighborhood and take a brisk powerwalk. Those walks are for me, and me alone; I usually don’t even walk with a friend or neighbor, because I treasure that time to either listen to my iPod (which is loaded with my favorite QDT podcasts, of course), or walk and just chill out with my own thoughts. 

If you can get into the daily habit of creating even one small ritual – such as doing a few yoga stretches, or starting your day alone with your favorite cup of hot tea –  you will soon find that this is time you will treasure. Protect it at all costs.

Tip 3: Ditch Your Time Wasters

Evaluate the things that are wasting your time each day. Do you play a little bit too much on Facebook or Instagram? How many times a day do you grab your smartphone and check your e-mail messages? Do you have the necessary ingredients on hand each night to make dinner, or are you constantly running to the store on the way home from work so you can cobble a meal together? 

Once you identify how and where you are piddling away your time, you will have a better grasp of one or two areas that you can organize so that you will not only feel less harried and more productive, you’ll also free up chunks of time that you could be spending on yourself. 

See Also: 5 Tips to Make Family Meal Planning Easier

Tip #4: Hit the Road

If you’re really struggling to find true “alone” time without your kids, pets, or even your partner, you can do what I used to do years ago when I had 4 kids under the age of 3 — gas up the car and hit the road.

I’ll never forget that summer that I had a newborn, a one-year old, a two-year old, and a three-year old. (I’m shaking just putting this memory down into words!)  It truly was the most trying time I ever experienced as a mother, but, thankfully, my babies loved to nap in the car. So nearly every day after lunch, I loaded them up in the minivan and would take a 30-minute drive.

They fell asleep almost instantly, so I would either drive thru and get an iced tea and just enjoy the peace and quiet, or I would listen to audio books. I came home refreshed and ready to take on the rest of the day – and, as an added bonus, had a summer filled with great books.  

Tip #5: Early Arrival

Another way you can sneak 15 or so extra minutes into your day is by arriving 15-30 minutes early to any appointment you might have.

Then use this time for you – reading magazines, journaling, enjoying an adult coloring book, brainstorming new recipes you’d like to try, or day dreaming about a home decorating makeover. And if your appointment wants to take you ahead of schedule, that’s great, too – you’ll gain that same time on the back end, and you’ll be free sooner.

Tip #6: Master the Power Nap

One of my favorite tips from our pediatrician was her suggestion to take power naps. In case you aren’t familiar with the term, “a power nap is defined as a short nap during the day of about 20-30 minutes duration,” says Dr. William Deardorff, Medical Advisor for Spine-health.com. “This results in a winding down of activity in the brain’s prefrontal cortex. The short duration of a power nap prevents your brain from entering slow-wave (deeper) sleep.”

“Power naps have recently been studied more extensively by researchers and found to yield many benefits, such as a boost in productivity at work, lower stress, improved ability to concentrate, and enhanced mood,” continues Dr. Deardorff. “Researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies found that with a nap, brain activity stays high throughout the day; but without a nap, brain activity declines over the course of a day.”

So if you can find 20 minutes in your busy afternoon to indulge in a power nap, you’ll not only be getting some quality time to yourself, but you will also be doing something very healthy for your body. Not to mention it’s a great tool to teach your kids!  See Also:  5 Ways to Help Your Family Sleep Better

What are your secrets for finding time for yourself? Share your thoughts in the Comments section at quickanddirtytips.com/mighty-mommy, post your ideas on the Mighty Mommy Facebook page, or email me at mommy@quickanddirtytips.com. Also visit my family-friendly boards at Pinterest.com/MightyMommyQDT.

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