What do you do with your free time?

Skip to the best stuff first:

• Spare time as a mom is infrequent in this modern, technology-filled era – largely because we are distracted. 
• Creating a written to-do list for your free time can help you gather your thoughts logically and strategically.
• Spending quality time doing something YOU love (not what you think you “should” be doing) is a great way to improve your mental and overall health. 

What do you do with your free time?

OK, so the question actually is, what could we be doing with our free time as moms?

(I don’t want to use the word “should” here – as there’s no need to!)

It’s a great question (and by the way, the irritating, hustle culture “productive activities” shouldn’t be the answer!)

What’s worked for me is keeping a handy list of the things I’d LOVE to do if I ever get some minutes or hours of free time. 

Leisure Time and A New Skill? Yes Please…

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

Everything I liked before babies is exactly what I like now… here’s a snippet of my list for your interest:

• Any creative activities such as knitting or painting
• Crossword puzzles
• Card games or board games
• Physical exercise
• Learning a new language
• A phone call with someone I love
• Reading a good book
• Take a wonderful deep breath (or few!) and meditating
• Learning a foreign language
• Trying a new hobby
• Gardening
• Writing poems
• Baking a new recipe 
• Coffee with friends
• Walks in the countryside with the dog
• Veg patch tending
• Finish a course I started ages ago

Now, I vehemently believe that any free time we get as mothers shouldn’t be spent working or doing something productive all the time. We moms have enough on our plates!

Yet equally, we mustn’t waste time scrolling on social media to numb 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?

Make Your List Today!

I encourage you to make your list ASAP.

You can do it on paper, in a spreadsheet, Trello, or a simple Google Doc. Keep it somewhere handy so you know where to find it as soon as you have a “What should I do with myself right now?” moment.  

The great thing about a list of action steps is you can do most of them while your beautiful children are asleep: gardening, writing, reading, baking, and phoning a friend are some ideas.  

Whenever I have time to myself, I immediately check my Trello board to get my head in the mood to do something for me. 

I scan my list and see what catches my interest. And then, before my brain, tiredness, or excuses can stop me, I go and do just that. 

Great Things Come From Taking Time Out

I cannot emphasize the importance of taking time for yourself when family duties allow. Even a half hour here and there makes all the difference in how you feel. After all, parenthood is all-consuming.

Spending valuable time on yourself certainly reaps the rewards in mood, energy levels, and behavior toward others. 

​Me being me, I would encourage you further to set ‘you time’ into your daily routine, even if it’s only 5 minutes before your head hits the pillow at nighttime!

There are so many creative ways to do what you love, and having kids is certainly not an obstacle!

If anything, allowing yourself downtime is exactly what your kids need—because they need a solid, happier, healthier YOU!

What are your thoughts on this, I wonder? Do you have anything you’d add to the list? If so, share it in the comment section below!

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If you’re in desperate need of relaxation, take a peek at this Wellbeing Workbook.