What do you do to get 'you' time?

[weeblueberry]

So my partner has been off sick for the last month and driving me absolutely nuts being in the house all day. He's lovely and helpful but it's made me realise that I definitely need alone time or else I'll go utterly batshit insane.

In an ideal world I would like to pick a couple of hours a week and just sit in the library and enjoy some silence but I know that unless I have something 'structured' I just won't do it because things will come up, priorities will change and I will feel guilty taking me time without a commitment if you know what I mean? Like if I were doing a class or something I could say 'sorry can't stay even though the child is throwing food all over the place I have to be at X for 7pm!!'. If it's something without any sort of structure I just won't go/will always be late.

I know people will suggest the gym but we can't really afford a gym membership for me at the moment I'm afraid. So I'm keen to hear what you guys all do to get a little silence in your week?

I go swimming at the local pool or go out for a walk at my speed. I love walking by myself and no having to stop every 2 minutes to "look" at things!!I don't feel guilty as my DH goes to the gym on a Sunday morning.

I go swimming once or twice per week and try and get a dog walk on my own. It sounds like yoga might be a good option for you? Might relieve some stress and give you some peacefulness.

Lock myself in the bathroom & stare at the wall.

Or get my nails painted, hair highlighted, lash extensions etc. Something I honestly could not give a shiny shit about at the moment but gets me away from tantrumming toddler.

I go to a knitting group that meets at a local pub. I get to knit and drink wine

I go running or cycling.

Not exactly silent, but adult at least:
Book group?
Singing group (try your local church for starters)?
An exercise class where you pay by the term might be manageable - yoga would be peaceful.

Madratlady how much unravelling do you have to do by the end of the evening? Or maybe you're better at it than me.

Choir once a week
Yoga once a week
Book Club once a month
Walking every day (incl weekends)

Get my nails done, do the tesco shop (how glamorous!!), meet another friend for coffee and a chat, but they all have babies too so it's getting harder. For birthday presents ask for hairdresser or spa vouchers as that then pampers you and buys you time away!! :-)

Meet up with a friend. Go to a board gaming group. Go to a knitting/crochet group. Although all these things involve other people, so that wouldn't really work if you needed alone time. In the evenings I usually work on my art (painting, art journaling) in the spare room, so that's my alone time. Do you have a spare room where you could just do something for yourself?

I go to the cinema by myself during the day when its quiet. This has been my favourite thing to do when I get time to myself since having children 7 years ago. I live in south london and there are a couple of Picture House cinemas not too far away which are really comfy and let you take wine/coffee in. Some people think I'm really sad going to the cinema by myself but I love it and don't see the point of going with another person as you don't talk to them while you're watching a film anyway!

Thank you all. I should say I'm working in the afternoon so this would all be evening stuff which sort of puts the walking/ running out a bit?

I did consider going into another room and reading, gaming etc but it just feels antisocial. plus the bugger comes in and asks if I want cups of tea etc

I'm on maternity leave, and I go to work for a bit of a break. I feel tragic now. I will start running again when I'm back at work full time - I can run home from work, which is a lot nicer than the commute at rush hour. I still feel a bit tragic.

I get two hours on a Saturday morning. Which I sleep through

Well technically I do get 2 hours on a Saturday morning too but it gets used to clean the house or else we'd live in a total pigsty...

Are you rural or urban? I walk / run in the dark and carry a torch for the bits without street lights.

Alone time?? What on earth is that?! The most I get is a bath about once a month when dh isn't working late and dd is in bed. That bath is sheer bliss though, light off, candles, bubbles the works. I put my head under the water and it's so peaceful and quiet.

Op I completely understand about your 'time off' being used for cleaning. The only time dh looks after dd is time I have to get things done. Not fair.

famzilla, you took the words right out of my mouth! I do the same thing: lock myself in the bathroom and commence some unnecessary beauty regime! Oh motherhood eh?!

Interestingly I was reading this to DP last night and he freely admitted that he appreciates the extended time he spends in the loo because it's quiet and he gets time to himself...

I would go to watch a film

baths and staying up later than DH just so I can be alone and quiet. Also DH hates anything remotely DIY related so if I have lots of bits and pieces to get like picture hooks or new curtains or something I can take myself off alone for a bit. Our DCs are 4 and 2 and we are just now starting to think about reintroducing some regular activities or classes each week but its hard as we both work FT and don't get home with the kids til 6.30 so by the time they are down and we have had dinner, going out is unlikely to happen and Sat morning is kids swimming /gym etc.

I do zumba at the community centre it's only £3.50 a class gyms charge much more than independent teachers. I also go to weight watchers and stay for the meeting even though she just talks crap trying to sell us things just because it gets me out for an hour.

How old are your children and what time to they go to bed? Mine go to bed at 7 and 8, so once they are in bed we have about two hours to ourselves to read or whatever. I will generally have a bath.

Sometimes I go out on a Saturday afternoon to get some shopping and then potter round the shops.

I get a nice coffee some mornings as a treat on the way into work.

If I can I arrange external meetings at 9.30 so I can go for a coffee first.

DD is ten months and goes down at 7pm. We have every evening together and it's absolutely lovely to have adult time but it's more 'quiet' (maybe even silent, alone) time I'm after.

I'm quite tempted to occasionally pop to the cinema in the evening. It would give us both time to ourselves on the odd occasion.