Lori Lori is a work-at-home mom of three living in Noblesville, Indiana.

Ask any mom what she likes to do in her “spare” time and you will probably hear some laughter, as most moms don’t have many free moments to do things that they love. It has taken a while for me to accept that it’s okay – not the least bit selfish – to carve out some time for myself. Make some time to do things you enjoy that promote relaxation. It’s important!  Even if it’s just 20 minutes a day, enjoy some time running or do your nails. Relax and unwind to help yourself stay healthy, feel happy, and be a better mom and wife. Lean into those mom indulgences you love so much.

So what do I like to do for myself? Here are five mom indulgences I do during my “me” time:

My Mom Indulgences

Take a warm bath.

I have enjoyed taking baths for the last few years. I don’t do anything extravagant (no candles or anything), but I really just enjoy sitting down with a hot bath, my favorite Bath and Body Works bath gel (Pink Chiffon!) and some peace and quiet after a long day on my feet.

Initiate some adult conversation.

Moms need friends, too! I try to always have a girls’ night out written on the calendar. It’s not always easy to work around everyone’s schedules, but every month or two, I go grab dinner and enjoy some time with some of my girl friends. Evenings out with adults provide a great change of pace. I try to encourage my husband to do this, too. We recognize the importance of keeping up with friendships, and although small children make it a bit of a challenge sometimes, we need our friends as much as ever!

Listen to music.

Often if we are getting carryout for dinner, I’ll offer to go pick it up and let my husband stay with our children. I enjoy cruising in the car (especially when it’s warm and I can have the windows down), cranking up the music and singing along. I have Pandora on my phone, too, so I listen to music on it whenever the opportunity arises.

Read a great book.

I love a good book!

My evenings after the kids are in bed usually consist of cleaning up the house, working, taking a bath, and spending some time on the couch.  I really like to read a good book – even though sometimes it takes me two months to finish one. I feel like it keeps my brain working. I have always enjoyed reading and have bins and bins of books. Plus, I often frequent the library or trade books with my sister and my friends.

Watch a TV series with my husband.

My husband and I are in the midst of the TV series Breaking Bad. We managed to miss all of the spoilers while it was on the air, and a few weeks ago we started from season one. The show gives us both something to look forward to in the evenings! While I don’t want it to end, we are already trying to narrow down which series we’ll start once we finish.

“Mom indulgences” are good for us all! While I don’t have any major indulgences on my list like spa visits or weekend getaways (yet!), I do find that the little indulgences make me happy and a better mom and wife.

What do you do to recharge?  Do you have any mom indulgences?
Category: Moms

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