Due to some unexpected medical bills, the Neice household is balling on a budget. We’ve been cutting down on unnecessary expenses which includes my #1 coping mechanism, stress shopping. If get stressed out, overwhelmed and/or depressive, my go to is to spend some money. 90% of the time it is entirely unnecessary things I buy that just end up in a pile of clutter. That’s another thing we’re doing – decluttering. Slowly we have been organizing and cleaning out things in our house. If it must stay, it finds a home. So you see, I am in a difficult position here… I’ve got 2 reasons that I cannot stress shop, so I’ve had to get creative when it comes to “me time.”
One of my biggest issues with spending time to myself is this unspoken lie I’ve told myself ever since I became a mom. The lie: I have to be doing something productive or grand if I ask for my parents or the in-laws to watch the kids. If I’m going to be at home, I can keep my kids home too. This has led to getting a sitter, going out and spending a bunch of money. Of course, as a spender, that makes me happy, but I need to find something to do for self-care that doesn’t cost me $100 (at least.) So, I started brainstorming.
First thing – the kids have got-ta-go. Husbands can stay if you want but if you need a break from them too, send them on their way. Have no shame about it. Usually, friends or family members would be happy to watch your kids without any form of payment. Call one of them and schedule it. While you’re anxiously waiting for the time to drop them off, refer to the list below to decide how you’ll spend your time.
For the girl who loves her kitchen – Haven’t started your sourdough journey yet? Today is the day. Several days before your designated “me time,” create your sourdough starter. When the times comes for the kiddos to be on their way, bake your beautiful masterpiece. If sourdough doesn’t intrigue you like it does me; experiment with new recipes that YOU would like. Don’t worry about if the kids will eat it, they’re currently snacking on ice cream, popcorn and their weight in cookies.
For the girl who loves plants – it’s a fact that if you have houseplants, at least 2 of them need to be repotted. If your kids are around while you do this, guaranteed there is potting soil everywhere, they need baths, a plant gets harassed, and something broke. Take this time to repot your plant babies, clean them up, give them extra sun and soak them in the shower/tub.
For the outdoorsy girl – Head out to your favorite outdoor spot and go for a walk. If you have a dog, take it with you. You probably have some dog mom guilt about not giving it enough attention because kiddos make it difficult. Use this time to spend with your fur baby, put on some music and get after it. It’s just you, your dog and nature. Your kids can make hiking so much fun, but they slow you down and probably make you carry them 50% of the time. Plus, if they’re in diapers you have to bring those, push strollers, etc. Enjoy one of your favorite hobbies all to yourself for once.
For the girls that love to read – Grab a book you fully enjoy from your personal collection or your local library. Go to a comfortable spot and read, completely uninterrupted. You can read at a coffee shop, the library or even the comfort of your couch. Either way, wear your comfy clothes and pick a comfy spot. Soak up every word, let fiction clear your mind. There is one rule to this, no self-help books. They make you think too much about improving your life, which can lead to stress. We do not want that! This is a time for joy. I love self- help books but to really destress I need fiction to take me to another world.
For the girls who love movies – pick the inappropriate movie / tv show that you can’t watch until the kids are in bed. It can be whatever you like but something you don’t want your kids to see. Get some snacks and enjoy them all to yourself! There is nothing like a movie night with no interruptions. If raunchy/action movies aren’t your thing, of course, you can pick something you could watch while the kids are around. The joy you’ll get simply from being uninterrupted and not sharing snacks is where the self-care gold is at.
All of these things are completely possible to do with your kids around. In fact, you probably do them all the time. I’m assuming what you don’t do is enjoy these things alone. It is very easy to pass up on a sitter when you’re doing common things that you could accomplish, and maybe even enjoy doing with your kids. I promise that doing these things alone every now and then will clear your mind and keep you sane. Self-care and spending time alone are incredibly important. It does not have to be grand or expensive, you can do all of this in the comfort of your local community for dang near free.
No Sugar 
Leave a comment