Free time as a mummy.

It’s a weird feeling when we finally get some, isn’t it?

It’s like we’ve got some kinda peaceful but fragile date with ourselves.

There’s zero idea how long it’ll last, mind you, but we know we’ve gotta make the most of it while we’ve got it!

From personal experience, free time happens once in a blue moon.

Pretty much never.

But tonight, writing this, is my very blue moon.

Both babies in bed by 8pm, and still sleeping! It’s now 8.23pm.

The thing is, when we do get alone time, we’ll spend as much time trying to figure out what to do with that time that in the end, we’re on the sofa scrolling. 

I’ve got bookshelves filled with books, online training to do, friends to contact, movies to watch, poems to write… the list is endless, it really is.

What Do You Do With Your Free Time

Now I vehemently believe that any free time we get as mothers shouldn’t be spent working, or doing something productive all the time.

Yet equally, we don’t want to waste precious time scrolling on Instagram or Facebook numbing our boredom, so what’s the answer?

How can we solve the “I’ve got free time but don’t know what to do with it” dilemma?

What’s worked for me is keeping a handy list of the things I’d LOVE to do with my free time.

It’s a list I made years ago, and keep adding to it because I’m still me, just with kids.

So everything I liked before babies is exactly what I like now…

Make A List

Now some of my list contains things I can’t really do while I’ve got kids, such as volunteering for a year in a school in Africa for example. That’s for another decade now. 

But many of the things on my list I can do while the kids are asleep. Things such as gardening, allotment, reading, writing, baking, and phoning a friend. 

So if you’d like to start making the most of your alone time, I recommend making a list of anything and everything you’d love to be doing, money aside, kids aside.

Anything goes. 

Writing this list will give you a little boost and get you into positive action mode.

I use a Trello board for documenting this but by all means use paper and pen, or a Google doc.

What I do is whenever I have alone time, I do a little jump for joy and check my Trello board, just to get my head in the game.

I scan my list and see what takes my fancy.

And then before my mind can stop me, I go and do just that. 

5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and GO!

I use the 5,4,3,2,1 technique (credit to Mel Robbins) if ever I start to procrastinate or scroll, or if I do something stupid like unloading the dishwasher.

I force myself not to do those things and instead do what I want to do.

And that’s it!

I know, I know, on paper it looks simple, the practicalities can be very different. But I like to keep things mega simple.

I also know you’re not a robot, so really, on the days where you just need to flake (because let’s face it, kiddies are exhausting) then go and flake. 

Free time as a mum is rare, I know, but equally, it’s best to take those alone moments when you can, and do something enjoyable for yourself.

Fill your cup, so to speak. 

And make sure you fill it with healthy and life enhancing things.

You’ll feel like yourself again, it’s magic, plus your kids will thank you because you’ll be a shit hot mum the next day. Yay!

Hope this helps you. I’d love to see some of your Trello boards if you do this!

If relaxation is something you’re in desperate need of (you’re a modern mum) take a peek at this Wellbeing Workbook.