How much time do you get for yourself?

[Writergirl]

...and what do you do with it?

Just a quick informal poll!

I'm feeling a bit bluesy and my doc suggested it is partly because I don't get much time for myself.

I run a business with my DP and have three young kids, but try and fit in the occasional, but very rushed 'me time' appointment, such as a manicure :-)

I don't have regular 'me time' slots or have time for regular exercise, but wondering if anyone else really does????

Just want to compare what other busy mums have and do!

Yours very interestedly,

we used to have 2 gym sessions a week each but it put too much pressure on as a family. The DC are old enough for us now to go out for a couple of good walks a week, and so that is what we do for 'me' time. They are 3 & 7 and will go on their scooter and bike and allow us time to walk and chat for about an hour

I go to a choir once a week. I always think of singing as like having a good shout. Always feel brilliant after.

Work on my business when I get time to myself! Or surf the web a bit obviously :-)

My tweenager is cramping MY style. Every evening I get to sit on the sofa with my partner with our tweenager in the middle! He is a good kid, but the lack of one to one time with my man is making me resentful. How can I get him out of the living room without crushing him utterly, so sensitive, or loosing our fun times? He has plenty of other things he could be doing but, he just wants to hang with us and play on his Iphone. It restricts our conversation,TV veiwing and chances to have a snog.

This time of year is rife with people feeling a bit down.I have three boys and only last night felt rather overwhelmed, bit of a cry etc. Me time is important but often a bit of a luxury. I find that a quick bit of Wii Sport can give a mood boost as can St Johns Wort, only take it in the morning though as you may not sleep. I also have a light box which can be used for 5 or 6 mins early in the day and that has a good effect. I like to get the boys and have a hug a thon. They are competitive so a who can cuddle Mum the longest event can be a winner. We also have a PJ Day during half terms, as well as movie afternoon, all chances to sit down and have a cuddle, or in the movie fall asleep. It sometimes feels like there is just too much to cope with and that very little progress is being made, but I think that abiding really is central and that being martyred is not a long term strategy. When we Mum others we also need to MUM ourselves. Be kind to yourself, listen to yourself, nourish yourself and put yourself to bed early sometimes, especially if you start to show off and generally loose it.

None right now! Breakfast time is my free time, as ds (4) knows to let me eat and have my coffee in peace, while I read a book or browse the web, and dd (4 months) is usually napping at that time. That's a bit lame for 'me' time! Prior to my pregnancy with dd I was managing better, as dh and I would each have a 'night off' and I could go to the gym or something by myself. When dd gets a little bigger and I can manage that we'll be doing that again.

I have a violin lesson once a week (1.5 hours me time). Then when DS is in bed (after 8-8.30pm) I will just spend some time on my own some days, and spend time with DH other days.

I'm expecting the after bedtime 'me time' to disappear once DS2 is born though. During DS1's first year I hardly had any me time either.

At the moment I get Monday's and Thursday's between am and pm school runs to myself. I go to the gym, do a bit of housework and some paperwork for my business. It depends on dh's workload as to how much stuff I have to do at home. But, last week I took myself off to a coffee shop with my book and had an hour with a coffee and a danish just reading, by myself. It was blissful. Somehow being out of home made it more special, so I'll be doing that a lot more from now on. I felt re-charged. :)

:o issimma I'm the same when I get to go to the supermarket alone! :)

I have three DCs under the age of 6 and the littlest has just started nursery two mornings a week, so I now get 3 hours on those days which should seem like an eternity, but I spend one of the days doing housework and the other catching up on household chores (like sorting bills, doing food shops etc) and I try now to sit down and read a book or watch crap telly for half an hour.

Other than that, I take my eldest DD to rainbows and it's not worth my while going home and then back out again, so I get 45 mins in a café to myself so I take a book and have that.

Both of these things just started this year though, so before 2013 my answer would have been nothing. I think it's very normal not to have any real 'me' time with young children.

My baby is nearly 2 weeks old (my first) and I can't imagine ever having time to myself ever again. It's been a total shock to the system, didn't realise how demanding little people were.

20 mins drive to work every day. Maybe half an hour an evening after house stuff and working.

Thanks for all your replies, and to gonoright for the sound words - I might check out St John's Wort.

I also just feel as though I'm constantly running around, although I do have bouts of watching a bit of TV of OH is working late, as long as I have the kids on a military bedtime routine!

I also think I should get off screens - Pinterest, surfing etc, as time gets sucked up, whereas if you do an hour or so crafting for example a) its more rewarding and b) there's something to show for it!

Hmm my DCs are just two and 9 months, and I guess I get a reasonable amount of 'me' time although would always like more! Both kids are in bed about 7, so evenings are my/our own from then which is good. Used to belong to the gym but recently cancelled membership as I am too knackered to go right now! When they're older and a bit less demanding I'll rejoin. I get free time every Saturday morning and often go to a coffee shop and read my book/newspapers/write my blog- DP plays sport on Saturday afternoon to we both get a balance. Sunday is family time unless there's something one of us really wants to do. I might go for a run on a Sunday morning but that's it. We usually have a date night together once every other week and usually both go out with friends each one evening a week. I'm off this Friday for a long weekend abroad with friends until Sunday and DP is holding the fort. He is doing the same later on this year and going on a stag do.

Looking at this I actually do alright I think so should never moan! I am a SAHM though so really do need a break from my demanding little cherubs more frequently than if I was working I reckon. At the moment working would be welcome 'me time' sometimes!

Having time to yourself is so important and I would certainly feel quite down and claustrophobic without it. Like someone said above, you need it to recharge.

2hours once a week term time for a maths class (sahm just wanting to keep on top of quals as I won't have a CPD record when I return to work). Nothing else. If I want a bath by myself dd plays upstairs where I can see her and ds comes into the bathroom to demand the three little pigs story. By the time the story is over so is my bath.

NONE

Twenty minutes in the bath each Sunday morning. Then 4 year old DS gets in with me, bringing all his bath toys with him.

I get a couple of hours alone with the baby most weekday mornings while DS is at preschool. I spend most of that time doing chores but sometimes it is lovely to curl up with a book while breastfeeding.

The thing me and DH both really miss from pre-children is the Gym - we tried but it just seemed to eat up too much time and required too much organisation. Hopefully it will be possible again when the DC are older!

Half an hour on week nights between DSs' bed times and DH getting home. 2-3hrs most Sunday mornings while I ride (not that sort of ride).

2 DSs aged 2.11 and 11 weeks. On ML.

Loads! Ds is asleep between 7 and 8 usually so I can have a bath and read or watch tv on my iPad. After a bath I might watch something with dh in bed or chat or surf. I do a course one night a week too. Today I had the whole day to myself as its half term but ds went to nursery. I caught up on my sleep and tried (and failed) to shake off my cold that I've had for a fortnight.

I'd really like to start exercising more too in the evenings but now I have time since ds sleeps ok now, I just keep getting ill so haven't been well enough to set up a routine. hopefully once I shake off this cold I will have the energy to do something more productive with my me time :)

Love gonoright's answer :) I very rarely get me-time out of the house as i childmind full time and when our mindees go home I have to settle our five bundles of mischief before washing up and tidying the house for the parents the next day. I zip through the childminding paperwork then finish an illustration commission or two. I rarely chill before 11pm so me and hubs usually stay up until at least 1am to get some time to ourselves. He works from home do we either chat or flump in a chair and do very little. I agree with gonoright about the time of year though. I bought my husband a lumie light to beat the winter blues last year and he's far better for it.

Only when my LO sleeps unfortunately, after 21:00pm, as she sleeps in the pushchair for the day nap.