Recharge Your Mojo With a Me-Time Parent Retreat
Taking regular time out for yourself is essential for your sanity and for your family. Here's how to enforce some me-time among the madness
Parenting may be the greatest job in the world, but it’s also one of the hardest. It doesn’t matter how old your children are, every age comes with its own challenges and it’s us they turn to for guidance and comfort. If you’re a hard-working parent who’s feeling frazzled or run down, it’s time to stop putting yourself last and carve out some time just for you. Let’s not forget – a calm, refreshed mum or dad who’s getting enough rest and space for themselves is always a better parent. See? Everyone wins.
Breathe deeply
If your children tend to trail behind you, wanting to be with you every chance they get, consider tucking a nook into your dressing room and stealing away for five minutes after a shower. If you don’t have a dressing room, an armchair by a window in your bedroom can be just as nice. Taking deep, long breaths for five minutes can be deeply and surprisingly restorative – it calms the mind and sends a double dose of oxygen to your brain. Let the sight of your nook or armchair be the reminder you need to stop and take deep breaths, even if only for a minute or two.
If your children tend to trail behind you, wanting to be with you every chance they get, consider tucking a nook into your dressing room and stealing away for five minutes after a shower. If you don’t have a dressing room, an armchair by a window in your bedroom can be just as nice. Taking deep, long breaths for five minutes can be deeply and surprisingly restorative – it calms the mind and sends a double dose of oxygen to your brain. Let the sight of your nook or armchair be the reminder you need to stop and take deep breaths, even if only for a minute or two.
Go back to bed
No, don’t argue with me, just do it. Sleep in, have breakfast in bed, and ease your way into the day – everything else can wait. Take turns with your partner on weekends, say yes to help from family members or friends if you’re in need of some rest, or take a mental health day off from work – you deserve it.
No, don’t argue with me, just do it. Sleep in, have breakfast in bed, and ease your way into the day – everything else can wait. Take turns with your partner on weekends, say yes to help from family members or friends if you’re in need of some rest, or take a mental health day off from work – you deserve it.
Bring out your inner child
Close your eyes, swing your legs back and forth, and relish the freedom of hanging in a chair in the air. You might just have to set a rule the minute you bring it home that this chair is an adults-only zone.
Pod chair: Zara
Close your eyes, swing your legs back and forth, and relish the freedom of hanging in a chair in the air. You might just have to set a rule the minute you bring it home that this chair is an adults-only zone.
Pod chair: Zara
Now really bring out your inner child
We tell our children to dream big, so we should too! A tree house like this could be a parent’s retreat with a difference – use it for solitude, creative work and conversations you don’t want the kids to overhear. The kids don’t have to miss out either – just make it clear that it’s invitation only.
We tell our children to dream big, so we should too! A tree house like this could be a parent’s retreat with a difference – use it for solitude, creative work and conversations you don’t want the kids to overhear. The kids don’t have to miss out either – just make it clear that it’s invitation only.
Take it to another level
If you have the option, create a parent retreat on a separate level from the children’s bedrooms and the kitchen and main living area. Imagine the bliss of escaping upstairs to a master suite, complete with luxurious bathtub, lounge room with TV (and why not a fireplace, if we’re dreaming big), and home office. Could you build up at your house, or is it an impossible dream?
If you have the option, create a parent retreat on a separate level from the children’s bedrooms and the kitchen and main living area. Imagine the bliss of escaping upstairs to a master suite, complete with luxurious bathtub, lounge room with TV (and why not a fireplace, if we’re dreaming big), and home office. Could you build up at your house, or is it an impossible dream?
Cosy up in a cocoon and read
Turn off your screen, open up a freshly bought or borrowed novel and escape into the world of literature. If you can do so in as fabulous a hanging sanctuary as this one, relaxation is sure to come easy.
Hanging cocoon: Nestrest
Turn off your screen, open up a freshly bought or borrowed novel and escape into the world of literature. If you can do so in as fabulous a hanging sanctuary as this one, relaxation is sure to come easy.
Hanging cocoon: Nestrest
Learn to meditate
A room of one’s own that’s free of distractions is the ideal, but any comfortable chair somewhere quiet will do. Start with 10 minutes a day and slowly build up to 30 minutes plus. If you think you don’t have time, consider this – the Dalai Lama meditates for one hour every morning. If he has a very busy day ahead, he will meditate for two.
Chair: La Chaise
A room of one’s own that’s free of distractions is the ideal, but any comfortable chair somewhere quiet will do. Start with 10 minutes a day and slowly build up to 30 minutes plus. If you think you don’t have time, consider this – the Dalai Lama meditates for one hour every morning. If he has a very busy day ahead, he will meditate for two.
Chair: La Chaise
Go all out
This is some parent’s retreat. It’s completely devoid of toys and children’s artwork, clothes, shoes and all the associated clutter that tends to build up around the house. And an upstairs zone for yoga, reading, and any other activities that make you feel good.
This is some parent’s retreat. It’s completely devoid of toys and children’s artwork, clothes, shoes and all the associated clutter that tends to build up around the house. And an upstairs zone for yoga, reading, and any other activities that make you feel good.
Find a quiet spot
If your kids are school aged, and you have time on your own at home without them, don’t fill it with busyness before you’ve scheduled in some quiet time to sit, relax, and ponder upon all the great things in your life. Pauses for thought often put petty problems into perspective, and remind you of what’s really important in life.
If your kids are school aged, and you have time on your own at home without them, don’t fill it with busyness before you’ve scheduled in some quiet time to sit, relax, and ponder upon all the great things in your life. Pauses for thought often put petty problems into perspective, and remind you of what’s really important in life.
Talk to the animals
Few things are more therapeutic than spending time with our pets – whether it’s having a chat to your horse, taking your dog for a walk, or cuddling up with your cat – so be sure to include them in your me-time when you can.
Few things are more therapeutic than spending time with our pets – whether it’s having a chat to your horse, taking your dog for a walk, or cuddling up with your cat – so be sure to include them in your me-time when you can.
Chill out at all costs
Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow? If you’re feeling overwhelmed with work and family demands, do yourself a favour and drop everything every once in a while. Put the ironing aside, fast-track the washing up and bundle the kids into bed early – give yourself permission to snuggle up on the couch with a pooch and watch that movie you’ve been wanting to see for so long. Chocolate? Essential.
Chair: Acapulco
Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow? If you’re feeling overwhelmed with work and family demands, do yourself a favour and drop everything every once in a while. Put the ironing aside, fast-track the washing up and bundle the kids into bed early – give yourself permission to snuggle up on the couch with a pooch and watch that movie you’ve been wanting to see for so long. Chocolate? Essential.
Chair: Acapulco
Turn your bathroom into a retreat
Your bathroom may not be as grand as this one, but any bathroom can be given a retreat feel with some luxurious products, soft lighting or candles, soft towels and fresh flowers. Take a soak in some Epsom salts for the ultimate in relaxation.
More: Bathroom Inspiration: 20 Utterly Relaxing Spa-Style Sanctuaries
Your bathroom may not be as grand as this one, but any bathroom can be given a retreat feel with some luxurious products, soft lighting or candles, soft towels and fresh flowers. Take a soak in some Epsom salts for the ultimate in relaxation.
More: Bathroom Inspiration: 20 Utterly Relaxing Spa-Style Sanctuaries
Lose yourself in your work
A study nook that’s part of the action allows you to stay physically present, while disappearing on a cerebral level. It’s a different story if your kids need your attention but when they’re otherwise occupied in their own activities, grabbing a little focused me-time on the computer is perfectly acceptable – especially if you love your job and it brings you a sense of satisfaction.
YOUR SAY
How do you take time out from the children? Share your ideas in the comments section.
MORE
10 Steps to Building a Rejuvenating Retreat at Home
Staycation Style: Resort-Style Backyard Retreats
Serenity in the City: 10 Ways to Create a Peaceful Urban Oasis
Steam Showers: The Perfect Antidote to a Busy Life
A study nook that’s part of the action allows you to stay physically present, while disappearing on a cerebral level. It’s a different story if your kids need your attention but when they’re otherwise occupied in their own activities, grabbing a little focused me-time on the computer is perfectly acceptable – especially if you love your job and it brings you a sense of satisfaction.
YOUR SAY
How do you take time out from the children? Share your ideas in the comments section.
MORE
10 Steps to Building a Rejuvenating Retreat at Home
Staycation Style: Resort-Style Backyard Retreats
Serenity in the City: 10 Ways to Create a Peaceful Urban Oasis
Steam Showers: The Perfect Antidote to a Busy Life
Whether it’s browsing gorgeous photos to plan your dream house, finding your next holiday destination, or watching a movie from the comfort of your own laptop, make it a priority to curl up somewhere comfy and indulge in some serious frivolity whenever you can.