Take a 'Mommy Time Out' For You!

Being a mother has endless rewards, it also can be a very exhausting process from day one. The excitement of having a new baby can carry you through the first year of their lives, but once they become full fledged toddlers, you may need a nap just like they do. Taking a time out during the day for yourself is absolutely necessary as the years go by.

taking this time out may come in the form of many methods. For some, a simple twenty minute power nap may be all you need to revamp your mind and body for what the rest of teh day has to bring your way. Others that perhaps have difficulty sleeping during the day can get involved in other activities such as reading a book for a bit in a quiet area, or taking a jog around the neighborhood. You may be thinking, "I don't have time for that or I have no one to help with the baby to do those things". This is a normal reaction and all mothers sacrifice themselves for their children at some point during life. Instead of making excuses, find a way to get in your quiet time each day with your personal circumstances. If you have two hours a day when your kids are napping or watching a movie, then use that time wisely. When your spouse comes home for the day, ask that they help get this quiet time in for you and they can attend tot he kids while you take a break. It is not selfish and it can be necessary to keep the sanity alive. Most mothers would agree that when they return to their maternal duties for the rest of the day they are happy to be with their kids, and have a much more pleasant attitude for the rest of the evening.

Make a schedule of things you wish to do if you had the free time. Some moms want to take exercise classes, others want a day at the spa or to join a good book club nearby. These are all realistic desires for any mother, and those around you should be able to help you obtain those goals. Think about maybe taking a online class three days a week in something you really value, or a Saturday morning pottery class may be more of your style. Regardless of what your interests are, you deserve to take a break and caring for kids is a very challenging job. Your children will thank you for being a healthier mom and you will sleep at night better and also feel more relaxed throughout the day. Try it out for one week or even a month, and see the difference taking time for you can make!

Simple Ways To Relax And Unwind

Looking for ways to unwind from your busy life? We run around like chickens with our heads cut off (pardon the cliché) trying to get things done for everyone else in our lives, but sometimes we need to take time to calm down and do something just for ourselves. Otherwise, we risk becoming overly stressed, which can lead to both physical and mental health problems. It doesn't have to be anything major or expensive; just doing something fun and different from what we normally do can help us relax and recharge. Here are a few things that work for me; perhaps they will help you too.

• Take a short walk outside on a nice day.
• Listen to music you like. Sing your heart out, even (especially!) if you can't carry a tune.
• Talk to a friend or family member you haven't seen in a long time
• Take a long, hot bath with lots of bubbles and a good book
• Same as above, but use things like bath oils, 'fizzies' or salts
• When you're by yourself, do something silly that you usually don't do when others are watching. Sometimes when I'm home alone during the day, I like to turn on some upbeat music and dance around the house like a crazy person. Somehow dusting and sweeping the floors doesn't seem so boring anymore! If dancing isn't your thing, you could sing a song you like while you're mopping or doing other chores, or play a movie/TV show/podcast you like in the background. Of course, you don't have to do chores while playing around like this, but it's a good way to kill two birds with one stone.
• If you have pets, cuddle or play with them. No matter how upset or frustrated I am, petting my cats always seems to calm me down.
• Make yourself laugh. Do something silly, think of something someone else did or read something funny. It doesn't matter; just the action of laughing can help you relax.
• If you don't work outside the home, watch or listen to something you don't do when everyone else is around. Watch that movie, play that radio station or watch that TV show online that you love, but your husband hates. He's not there, so it's your turn to handle the remote! If the kids are in school, you don't have to worry about something you're watching not being appropriate for them. Use the opportunity to do what you want!

These are just a few of the simple things we can do to relax and recharge our minds. Think about it this way-if the stress we are under gets so much that our health suffers, we won't have the energy to do things for other people. You can't help anyone else if you're not doing well yourself. Like I said, it doesn't have to be anything major, but taking a bit of time to relax and restore our own mental health benefits both us and the ones we love. Take a break-you deserve it!