Once you have put the kids to bed, you are probably ready to have some time for yourself. When you can’t get a babysitter, you may find yourself spending more time at home. You may find that you’re spending this time with a glass of Pinot in your hand and waking up in the morning not feeling fab. The Lancet Medical Journal has reported that there are no health benefits to having a regular drink and, while having a glass or two after a long day can feel like the best treat, you might be better off finding other ways to relax and fill your time at home.
Bake Some Treats (For Yourself!)
After the kids are asleep you can finally get down to some proper baking and this time you will manage to get through a whole carrot cake undisturbed. If you have young kids, fairy cakes or muffins are probably the extent of your baking, but once you’re alone, you can bake anything you want. Bake your favourite, most indulgent sweet treat, then hide it (high up) in the pantry so it’s completely out of reach of little fingers.
Play Some Games
Having time to yourself is one of those luxuries only afforded to childless people and grandparents. Nowadays, most people spend a lot of their free time staring at your phone. You haven’t quite worked out the appeal because you never get a chance to do it yourself, but now is that chance. If you can look past all the kids’ games on your phone, there are lots of different games for you to play. Your neighbour has been gloating for ages how Oddschecker showed her how to bag free no-deposit bets and there’s no reason you can’t do the same. Slot games are a great way to unwind and also chat to new people online. With a range of fun games to play, many sites offer free spins to new players like you.
Read a book
You’ve probably been reading a bedtime story every night since your child was born, but I bet you can’t remember the last time you picked up a novel to read for yourself. Pick up your favourite crime thriller and remember what it feels like to be engrossed in the world of a novel for a few hours. If your children see you reading, you will set a good example and they will be more likely to pick a book for themselves. If you would like to know what it feels like to have someone read to you, many novels are available as audiobooks and are often read by distinguished actors.
Watch a box set
Remember the days before you had children when you would sit down once a week to watch your favourite show? Those days might feel as though they are long gone, but you could catch up on your favourite shows in a few good binging sessions. You have probably compiled a long list of TV shows that you need to watch and luckily for you, streaming services make it much easier to catch up. So spend some time working through your favourite programs. You could even invite some friends over and make an evening of it – perhaps tucking into some of those homebaked goods.
SLEEP!
Even though you have probably missed baking and watching your favourite shows, you may find that as soon as you sit on the sofa, you are sound asleep. There’s nothing wrong with taking the time to catch up on a few zzz’s and tucking yourself into bed early. Your body will appreciate it and you’ll feel more focused in the morning. Most of us don’t get enough sleep and having children can take its toll. Take a long bath to relax before you get into bed and enjoy the extra hours before the kids are up again at 6am.
It can be so easy to forget yourself when your life revolves around the offspring, but you should relish the little pockets of time you can snatch for yourself. Remember to hire a babysitter every now and again so that you can have some time out and away, but when you’re at home, take some time for a little self-indulgence!
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