We’re getting to Valentine’s Day, and shortly after will be Mother’s Day, and lately, it seems like to the go-to “I forgot to get you something!” gift from a lot of guys is “Here, honey… I’ll take the kids. You just enjoy some alone time and relax, okay?”

I don’t know about you, but I never know how to use that time, or how to relax. Whenever someone offers to watch Zach, I feel like there are a million things I should be doing, and when I’m not doing any of those, I tend to just worry about how he’s doing, rather than relaxing.

So, in light of the upcoming chance that you might just have some free time on your hands, here are a few ideas of how to relax:

1. Go to the bathroom. Alone. When is the next time THAT is going to happen?

2. Take a bath. Or a shower. Or whatever it is that relaxes you. I’m not a fan of baths, but a shower where I might actually get to shave my yeti-like legs? That’s something I can definitely get behind.

3. Swing on a porch swing. Well, unless you’re like me and allergic to most of what the outdoors has to offer. I have it on good authority that swinging on a porch swing is a great way to unwind. Do it while chatting with your best friend, and it’s even better.

4. Go for coffee or your favorite beverage of choice. Revel in the fact that you’re not chasing a small child around the coffeeshop while trying to read or manage conversation with a friend. Just enjoy.

5. Worry about your kid. Wait, no. Don’t. They’re in good hands, right?

6. Put together a puzzle. My mom loves to do this. There is just something calming about putting together a puzzle and getting the pieces to just fit, so pull out that thousand-piecer, and get going. Or, if you’re like me, maybe something 3 dimensional is a little more your pace… I’m a fan of the Lego Architecture sets.

7. Color. Seriously, pull out a coloring book or log into Pinterest and print some coloring pages, and just relish in time spent coloring. Put on some favorite tunes if it’s too quiet, or delight in the silence.

8. Paint your piggies, or better yet, pay someone to do it for you while you sit in a massage chair. Just enjoy. Then go and look at shoes to show off your pedicure, or lounge barefoot.

9. Wear your bathrobe. Wear it without fear that your little one will tug on the string and reveal you right next to the new window you put in and promptly forgot was there (seriously. I used to enjoy wearing robes. Now I have to actually get dressed and stuff because that happens WAY too often).

10. Take a nap. A blissful, relaxing, restful nap.

11. Resist the urge to text 15,000 times asking “Is he doing okay? Still okay? No major accidents, incidents, or loss of limb or life?”

12. Watch Mom’s Night Out. It’s hilarious. Actually, don’t, because then you WILL get the urge to do the above (but actually, no, you should watch, especially if you haven’t seen it, or at least read it).

But mostly?

13. Just breathe. It’s okay. You deserve to relax! As moms, we don’t give ourselves permission to relax and unwind enough… you deserve some time to just spend alone, breathing, relaxing, enjoying.

 

 

How do you spend time alone? Do you still remember how to relax?