*this is a helpful collaborative post *
Here are Five Ways To Escape From Your Everyday Life that can help you take some time out from your family and get some much-deserved time to yourself without feeling bad about it…No matter how much you love your life, there will always be a tiny part of you that just wants to take a break every once in a while. Family life is a lot of fun but it’s also hectic, exhausting, and busy – but even knowing that, we sometimes feel guilty about wanting to get some me-time.
Take A Class
First of all, it’s time to think of something you always wished that you’d learned to do – now is the time to indulge those wishes. Whether it’s piano classes, French conversation lessons, or a course in patisserie that will help you learn to make the perfect croquembouche, learning something and developing a new skill is the perfect way to get some you-time without feeling too guilty. It’s important to do your best to keep your mind open to new things and to keep curious about the world around you – curiosity and intellectual vigour are important qualities to pass on to your kids.
Image from Pixaby
Get Fit
What’s not to love about getting fit? Feeling physically good is a great reason to take a little time out for yourself. Whether you want to attend yoga classes, go to your local gym for some circuit training, or take long hikes with your pet dog across your nearest beauty spot, getting fit is a great way to demonstrate a healthy lifestyle to your family, and to feel great in the process.
Get Reading
There’s nothing better than curling up and losing yourself in a good book to make you forget the trials and tribulations of your everyday life. Whether you’re reading Pride and Prejudice for the eighth time or tackling a brand new crime thriller, reading helps you become a more empathetic person who understands the way that other people think. If you’re not sure what to go for, you could try something new – here’s a list of 10 books about magical realism that you could check out. If you’re not a big fan of fantasy, magical realism is a great place to start as the author will rewrite the world that you recognise from your everyday life in a new and interesting way.
Image from Pixaby
See Your Friends
Having your own social life outside your family is important to your mental health and also to showing your kids the importance of friendship. No man is an island – and no family is an island, either. It’s important to maintain your friendships, so make sure that you meet up with your friends for coffee, you go to concerts with them, you go shopping, you do anything you enjoy. Take care of your friendships, treat them well, and one day when you need your friends they’ll be there for you.
Pamper Yourself
Finally, remember that you shouldn’t feel guilty about treating yourself every now and then. Getting your hair cut or having a massage for a sore back isn’t the end of the world – in fact, it’s a great way to return home feeling happy and invigorated.
Image from Pixaby
I wish I could do more of these things – especially reading more; I feel as though my brain has fallen off a cliff sometimes. It was quite hard when we moved to another city while our eldest was still only 18mo – a lot of pushing the buggy around to stave off feeling lonely. But by the time our youngest arrived, we’d a few friends and it was a huge difference. The pampering might have to wait a while though… 🙂