Wondering About Me Time
I hear other mothers talk/blog about how important it is for us moms to have “me time”. And I’d just nod in agreement, not ever really stopping to think about what me time actually is. But lately, I’ve been wondering about the definition of me time and exactly how much me time a mom needs to have each day or week to stay sane.
So, is me time anytime you’re on your own, regardless of what you may be doing during that time? Or does it only count as me time if you’re doing something you really want to do- something fun, maybe even relaxing?
Because I know I have two chunks of time each day when I am not responsible for my children- nap time and nighttime. During nap time, I often start by cleaning up a bit around the house. Then I make myself lunch. Sometimes I’ll watch something on Hulu while I eat, but once I’m done eating Hulu goes off even if the program isn’t over. Then I spend some time preparing for my afternoon tutoring session, and if there’s time, I’ll write a blog post and/or read and comment on other blogs that I follow.
After the kids are in bed, 5 nights a week I’m off the the gym and don’t get home until about 9pm. Then I shower and get ready for bed. Sometimes I read blogs for a bit before watching a TV show on DVD with T (gotta love Netflix) and turning in for the night. Two nights a week are my nights off. But that just means that I don’t go to the gym on those nights. Those nights are filled with laundry, bill paying, and other housekeeping tasks. Not much of a night off, huh? Occasionally, I’ll make plans with a friend for one of those nights. It feels great to get out and be social, but then it seems like I’m playing catch-up the whole next week, trying to catch up on all the things I would have done if I’d been home instead. Ugh!
So, what counts as me time? TV and blogging sounds like me time, but laundry and bill paying? And what about working out at the gym? I’m not so sure. Just the other day, I finally found 5 minutes to sit down and clip my fingernails, and wondered if that was 5 minutes of me time. Was it? Perhaps I’m getting more me time than I think. What’s your definition of “me time” and how do you choose to spend it when you have it?
p.s. Don’t forget to enter my giveaway. You can’t win if you don’t play. 
Me time is more than just time without the kids — laundry doesn’t count!!!
To me, me time is doing something that you enjoy, what ever that is.
I consider “me time” time for myself doing something I really enjoy, such as having lunch with old friends, watching a chick flick after bedtime on a Friday night, or wandering the mall by myself without having to rush. Grocery shopping, assessing student work, checking work e-mail, making lesson plans, and running other errands don’t count even if I’m alone. It took a little while for my husband to understand that these to-do’s don’t count as “me time”, but with much scaffolding, he has finally had that ah-ha moment of what Mommy “me time” really means.
I consider “ME time” to be time away from the house and kids…whether it’s by myself, with hubby, or with a friend. AND it has to be something fun, enjoyable, or relaxing…(i.e. going to Kohl’s to return a shirt and getting distracted by Kids clothes on Clearance doesn’t count!). Being at home and blogging or watching TV is not “ME TIME”, because you could get up to go to the bathroom and get distracted by something out of place and start tidy-ing up. Then what happens to the “me time”? GONE. It doesn’t have to be every day or every week…..just at intervals when you “need” it or as a means to remember that you are important as an individual too. And if you think going to the gym counts..then it does (I am *Not* a gym person, so when I go…it is NOT “me time”…it is just something else I *have* to do!) GOOD LUCK!
I think “me time” would involve doing something you enjoy out of the house and without the kids. Since that doesn’t happen much for me I try and make the most out of nap time, and relax as quickly as possible after putting the kids to bed at naps and night! Hope you get some “you time” soon!