How do you find time for yourself while raising a family?

Answer 1

You have to schedule it and don't cancel on yourself. I have a scheduled time each week just for me, and I have scheduled time each night for an hour or more if I can get it just for me to read, do sudoku, watch a program, take a bath or just turn off the lights and go to be early or just sleep for a few hours.

If you do not make time for you, you will be no good to your family. It took me years and a couple of serious health problems to realize this. To love yourself is healthy.

Answer 2

Trying to find time for yourself is hard. Depending on the age of children on what to suggest. If your kids are within in the needing a sitter then once a month suggest the kids spend a day with an aunt, uncle, grandparent or hire a sitter. If you are just need a lil relaxing time each day, try putting the child down for a nap, or sending them to bed half an hour earlier. Try talking to your husband about giving you a lil bit of a break and taking the kids for an hour.

You could announce storytime each day where the kids read for a certain about of time which gives you a lil time. Or rent a movie and have them sit down and watch the movie giving you a lil bit of a break. However, without knowing the exact ages these suggestions may not be adequate.

Answer 3

YOU MAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF!!! I learned the hard way with my first marriage that it's really easy to lose yourself as a woman when you have a family. Be sure to take at least one night a month, or even a week, to yourself. I love to shoot pool so I joined a pool league before my husband now and I got together. When I had our son in 2000 I quit the team. I tried to go out at least once a month or so with my girlfriends. As soon as my daughter reached 13, my husband and I both joined a team. After about a year, he grew too tired to do it on Wednesday nights, so he quit our team. I did not though. I'll tell you, it's really GREAT to get out of the house just one night a week and just be an adult. Sure I'm a mom and a wife and a career woman, but I'm also an adult. There's no written rule that says just because you're a mom and you have a family that your life is just to be work and home. You have to be yourself too!

Answer 4

Ten minutes at a time! If I notice that the kids are all occupied or busy with something, I take a few minutes and sit down to read a little of my book or give my face a wash and moisturize or file my nails. When my son is napping during the day, I stop the world and take a bath and relax for fifteen or twenty minutes. As soon as everyone is settled in bed, it immediately becomes 'me time' and I will scrapbook or watch a movie no matter how bad the house looks or how many dishes are in the sink. If I am not happy and balanced then I don't do as well in my parenting and being the glue for the family. You have to make time for you because your hubby and kids sure won't!!

Answer 5

Children commonly need a lot of sleep (they're growing anyways) so their bodies naturally need more time to sleep during the days. Adults on the other hand have very little growing left to do and therefore don't require as much sleep as children.

Therefore, parents can find easy self-time when their children are in bed. Activities they can do include watching a favorite TV show, doing a personal hobby or even just surfing the web as we're all obviously doing right now!

If parents take a little while to themselves every once in a while it's said that their chances of suffering a stroke or heart attack (both commonly stress-related) could be cut to a fraction! So personal time off from raising a family could eventually be a life saver for a lot of people. Maybe that hour of TV for themselves is actually saving their lives instead of making them fatter as the common stereotype goes. So when children are in bed it's a great idea to just relax and not worry about them, just yourself for those moments that you can.

Answer 6

I have a husband and 3 kids, I can understand getting time to yourself. I put my kids to bed at 7:30, I'm in Nebraska. I read them a book and usually by the time 8 rolls around is when they are truly ready for bed. This took a few times before the kids got the hint. From 8pm to 9pm is my time to do any chores that need to be done. It's amazing what you can do in an hour especially with a spouse to help you. After 9 I head to my room and depending on how tired I am I will either watch TV, read a book, or just sleep. After 9 it's my time. If during the day I really need to get away, I make an excuse to go to the grocery store I "forget" to take my cell phone and spend as long as I want there.

When my spouse travels and I really want time to myself, I call over a babysitter and just go out and do whatever I want.

Answer 7

You dont find time for yourself, you create it. This is of course more difficult the younger the children are but believe me you have to do it. This may take some assistance from husband, family, friends or babysitters but it has to be done.
If your husband is home and you want some time to yourself, tell him that a certain time of the day is yours and he will be responsible for the kids. Take a nice long hot bath (install lock or you will never be alone) candles, a good book and whatever else you need goes with you. If you want time together with your hubby create a night out, which requires a baby sitter. If you really need time together, weekend getaways for this purpose. That is why you have calenders. Write it down and make it so.

Answer 8

You just need to find that special something that you really enjoy doing, and do it. For me, it is going to do some shopping for odds and ends (can be at a place like target and not expensive). and getting my nails done. Just MAKE the time. Even if you have to take the kids with you. Atleast you are doing it. Also, if you have a lunch break at work or school, use that time to do something you like doing like read a book or go for a walk. Also, remember, that now that you have a family, maybe the things you do for yourself will be different than when you were single and with no children. Accept that and you probably wont feel like you do not have time for yourself.

Answer 9

Any way you can. Take a nice bath when they are asleep, light a candle or two and pour yourself a glass of wine, or a cup of tea. Hire a baby sitter, or get a relative to help you out for an hour or a few. If you have a friend with children, trade a day off now and then, I'm sure she (or he) would like a break too. If you are married, tell your spouse you need a 1/2 day to your self. where there is a will there is a way. You need to be able to recharge your batteries every now and then, in order to be the best parent you can. Don't feel guilty either, you need to take care of your self in order to take care of others.

Answer 10

Most of my time is spent with my family because I know they all grow up and leave at some point in our lives. Every moment is precious, no matter whether its a good day or a bad day. Ask this question about twenty years from now and you'll see what I mean. I raised three boys on my own for about nine years and worked two jobs. I couldn't wait until the weekends when we could all be together. Now they are all grown up and I have lots of time for myself. I really miss the time that I spent with them growing up and I'd give anything to have it back.

Answer 11

I decide what can be let go so I can have some time alone! I try not to sweat the small stuff, I realize that after work, dinner, homework, talking, planning the next day, tucking in and turning on the dishwasher, that if I don't dust, fold that load of laundry or sort my socks the world will not end. I can go online, pick up a book or just go to bed early.
Is it ideal, no. Dating would be nice, but I don't think the small amount of free time I have would be fair for a possible partner.
I do the best with what I have.