Summer is here and it may feel even more hectic now that everyone is home. One of the biggest barriers to self-care may be the perception that there isn’t enough time to actually practice it. In this post we’re talking tips to carve time for yourself.
Parents are responsible for completing multiple tasks during the day to maintain a fully functioning family. According to Changing Rhythms of American Family Life by Melissa A Milkie, parents are spending more time than ever with their children.
A typical day for me includes getting my son prepared for school, running errands, preparing meals for the week, preparing for cases I need to manage at work, going over homework, taking him to an afterschool activity and making dinner. It’s exhausting.
I found myself stuck in an endless cycle where I kept putting myself last in line for care. My own “to do list” was not a priority. This was not sustainable and I noticed I was getting more irritable. Something needed to change.
If you also struggle to find time for yourself in the midst of mothering, here are some tips that helped me re-evaluate how I spent my time and what I could do instead.
How to Keep Track of Time
This may sound counter productive, but you may want to spend some time actually figuring out how you use your time.
- Are you spending time procrastinating?
- Do you struggle with your morning routine?
- How much time are you spending to make dinner?
- Are you spending your free time scrolling on your phone?
According to research from RescueTime, the average American spends 3 hours and 15 minutes on their phone daily. That’s almost 24 hours a week. That’s a lot of time that could be used elsewhere.
Once you identify where you are spending your time, you may be able to identify some areas where you can change your habits. You may also be able to find time that is unaccounted for. For example, you may find that your mornings are freer than your evenings.
Tips to Get Organized
Organize clothing, toy bins, electronics, and snacks in a way that makes it easy to access which will save you time. Pixie, a tech company creating tracking solutions for lost items, found that the average American spends 2.5 days annually looking for lost items. They also found that U.S. households spend $2.7 billion dollars per year to replace things they’ve lost.
It may take some getting used to, but the whole family can get involved in the organization process. According to the CDC, children as young as two are able to follow simple commands. This means your toddlers can help put their clothes and toys in identifiable areas. Children who participate in chores have been shown to be more responsible, better able to tolerate delayed gratification, and have higher self-esteem.
Tips to Set Boundaries
It can be challenging to feel like you are creating barriers between yourself and family. However, boundaries are healthy limits set to maintain your mental and emotional health. Boundaries are also important for children. They help children feel more secure and self-aware. They also encourage children to think about the needs of others and how to cope when their needs are not immediately met.
Consider including alone time as part of your routine and treat it as sacred time. You may find that you start a deeper conversation about what everyone needs to feel healthy. Part of your needs include time to do things you love alone and this is okay.
Most of us struggle when we are learning new habits. Partner with a buddy to keep you accountable.
Let us know in the comments how these tips are working for you!
