How to utilize your time when the kids are at school – Mummascribbles

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When you’re a stay at home parent, the transition between a couple of hours of nursery each day to 5 full days of school can be a tough and confusing time. With so many more hours in your day, it’s easy to slip into feeling a bit lost and lose some sense of purpose now you don’t have your little one to tidy up after. However, this is actually a great opportunity to take some much needed time for you, to do things for yourself and get a chance to breathe, whilst making sure the necessary means are in place for a stress free evening when everyone returns home. Here are a few great ideas to get you started and help you enjoy your life as an independent home maker.

Rediscover food

When you have a small child, it’s likely you will have forgotten that there is such a thing as ‘gourmet’ food. Surviving on the same diet as your little one out of ease will not keep your taste buds happy, so now is a great time to rediscover a passion for cooking and eating some amazing food. Lunch should be a time dedicated to making a storm in the kitchen with some fresh ingredients and anything that suits your own individual palette.

If a grilled cheese sandwich is what you want today, make it. It doesn’t have to be Michelin star dining, it’s just about cooking and eating what you need to satisfy your cravings. Take the opportunity whilst you have the spare time to wash the dishes afterwards and restore the kitchen to its rightful order for another (more stressful) ordeal at dinner. You can even spice up the dining experience in the evening by taking some time to prepare the ingredients to make a more exciting meal for everyone later in no time at all.

Work out!

Going to the gym is a thought that simply doesn’t cross the average parents mind. Working out with a troublesome toddler is an absolute nightmare, and most of your energy is used up chasing them around and making sure they’re ok. When they reach the age of going to school, you’re given the chance to start properly exercising again, which you should take advantage of with full force as it will provide benefits for both you and your child.

If you don’t have the means to get to a gym or sports centre, there are many activities you can do in the comfort of your own home or garden. By using your own body weight and transforming whatever objects are around you into equipment, you can get the full experience of working out without a long journey or hefty price tag.

If you’re not so experienced with exercise and training, you may be thinking “how often should I do calisthenics?”. Aim to begin practising 3 times per week to introduce yourself slowly, and as you start to feel the benefits and push your limits further, you can increase the frequency of your sessions. Regular exercise is great for your mind, body and overall health, and will give you a greater energy source to expend caring for your family to the best of your abilities.

Practice self care

Practising self care is so important for a parent, but when your little one is at home with you it’s hard to get a minute to sit down. When you finally get the opportunity to have some time on your own, you have to make the most of it and treat yourself in as many ways as you can in order to restore inner calm and value. When you spend every moment with your child, you are bound to put their wants and needs first and sometimes you forget about your own requirements completely.

The first step each day after dropping the kids off at school should be returning home to take a long, hot shower to refresh your body and mind and get you set and ready to tackle the day. Do any housework or chores first, so you can spend the rest of the day caring for yourself and doing some things for you without the hanging anxiety of washing the whites or tidying the toy room. Take a break just before they return home to soak up the quiet before it’s gone, and reflect on your achievements of the day.

Hopefully these tips can help you use your newly acquired free time to its full potential, and enjoy your days off!

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