What do you do for regular self-care/treats/me- time

[motherdemeter]

Baby is now over a year, just starting to feel like my old self again. Seem to have forgotten how to make time for myself and need ideas of fun regular things I can do to feel like I'm spending time on just 'me'. How do you treat yourself and be a bit selfish on a regular basis? Need ideas! Xxx

Was going to reply last night but couldn't remember my password...

Anyway, in answer to your question, every Sunday evening is mine. The kids know this, DP knows this and so do the cats.

I draw a long hot bath with some fancy oil or bubble bath.
I apply a face mask, get in the bath with a cuppa/alcohol/whatever and something sweet usually a small box of malteasers,
listen to a meditation app while the face mask does its thing.

Take off my face mask, apply hair mask.
Listen to app again while hair mask does its thing
Rinse hair
Have a good scrub with some body scrub and a mitt
Rinse off

Get out of the bath into a warm fluffy towel, apply talc and wear clean pajamas.
Go downstairs to join the rest of the human race in a fairly good frame of mind.

until the kids/dp/cats piss me off again

It's very important to take some time out for yourself on a regular basis. You're not a robot and need to relax. The week and weekends are usually busy so you HAVE to take that time out.

Facial! The one I get includes a back shoulder and neck massage. Love love love it! I’m going to book one now in fact!

I get dp to join in with pampering!

We put face masks on, hair oil and paint each others toes . Usually whilst watching a film.

I also like planning an early night, clean sheets, shower, cup of tea and biscuits in the nice clean bed and a good book.

I am practicing speaking to myself in a caring and loving way. I am trying to stop being mean to myself, beating myself up. I try to speak to myself how I would speak to a loved one. It's hard sometimes, after years of self deprecation and being harsh and critical of myself. But I think this is so so important for mental health.

I have a bath nearly every other day (the kids / DP use the water after so the water is being used to the max). Same as PP up-thread, Its quite a long process, and the kids / DP usually have cinema time while I do it so they are kept at bay. I take my time, listen to music or read a book. Make myself feel clean and lovely.

I try to do yoga regularly and also boxercise / gym. This has fallen to the wayside recently - this thread has reminded me and I will get back on it this evening. Feeling physically strong is amazing. Yoga helps with meditation / peace of mind, and any aches and pains (my back) are helped.

I try to have a facial every month / 6 weeks

My DP gives me a foot rub most nights...I feel taken care of and cherished

All my examples, except the first one, are kind of pointless if you aren't speaking to your inner self in a kind way. You can do all those things - bath, yoga, facial - but if you are being horrible to yourself, your mental health will suffer IMO.

Nothing. Very lucky to get 2 minutes to my self without the children. Don't get any alone time unless I stay up very very late but these are all brilliant ideas ladies. I think I may try the hair/face mask with meditation app. Can I ask where you get hair masks from?

Hair masks, you can either get these in tubs or jars on the supermarket for about £5-8 each, or I get a load of sachets on eBay for about a couple of quid cheaper.

I don't have children yet i still don't feel like i have any self tlc :-(

Just want to say that looking after your own well-being isn't selfish. 💗

Some brilliant ideas, thank you! Will definitely try the long bath idea. Never had a facial but very tempted (love my three-times-a-year haircut appointments, so would probably enjoy a similar type of thing).

Paint my nails, uninterrupted cup of tea and a magazine. Simple but blissful :)

I've recently started going for massages, which I love.

Face mask every week/couple of weeks. I like the Nip&Fab ones, but any will do!

Coffee, cake and a mooch in the bookshop, or around John Lewis (or both).

Nothing. I can't stay still long enough to carry through any me-time. If anything takes more than 3mins to do, then it's a no-go for me. I always have to be doing something to fill my time. I just couldn't wallow in the bath, go for a massage/spa day/to the hairdresser/for a facial or get my nails done, as I've tried all of them and hated every single second.

I'd much rather be doing survival for weeks on end, or working with power tools, using them to build/make something.

I craft, mainly crochet but also embroidery and sewing. I can pick it up and put it down easily, and I find it very relaxing.