When my children were in their early years, finding a moment for myself felt nearly impossible. The idea of using the bathroom without an audience was a distant fantasy, and a couple of hours to myself in the house seemed like a dream out of reach.
Over time, however, I’ve found myself enjoying more solitary moments. And by “alone time,” I don’t mean that frantic hour spent shopping at the local grocery store when everyone else is asleep or the time I spend in my clinic trying to finish paperwork. I’m talking about genuine, peaceful solitude—at home, with no kids, no partner, and no work obligations.
Initially, this experience felt alien. I would wander aimlessly through the house, confused, with the tune of “This is not my beautiful life…” echoing in my mind. But as my children have grown, I’ve honed the skill of enjoying my own company. It’s a luxury, yes, but one that I’ve earned.
Whether you’re just embarking on your journey of alone time or need a little refresher, here’s a step-by-step guide to enjoying an hour of solitude at home:
- Step inside your home without kids or a partner in tow.
- Pause and question that odd sound you hear.
- Recognize it’s the sound of silence enveloping you.
- Decide you dislike the silence and blast the music. Really blast it.
- Sing passionately along for about half a minute before realizing your throat is sore and your head is beginning to ache.
- Acknowledge that you can’t handle loud music like you used to.
- Switch off the music and collapse onto the couch.
- Reach for the remote control.
- Discover that the remote isn’t where it should be.
- Search under the couch cushions, in drawers, and even in the refrigerator, all while muttering about your kids losing it.
- Finally find the remote next to the television.
- Plop back down and turn on the TV.
- Let out a sigh of relief.
- Start flipping channels until you realize you need to use the restroom (even though you just went a short while ago).
- Let out a frustrated breath as you push yourself off the couch.
- Glance at the clock and estimate how much time you have left before the chaos resumes.
- Rush through your bathroom break—with the door wide open—and then return to the couch.
- Flip through channels mindlessly until you settle on some reruns of an old favorite show.
- Doze off while the characters go through their high school dramas.
- Wake suddenly, panicking about “wasting time,” and contemplate doing something “productive.”
- Weigh your options: clean the pantry, organize the closet, or vacuum the car.
- Decide that you won’t finish any of those tasks before the kids return, so it’s not worth starting.
- Grab your phone instead.
- Scroll through social media, liking cute photos while rolling your eyes at overly polished status updates.
- Send a text to your best friend to gossip about the unrealistic posts online.
- Consider calling your mother.
- Opt instead for a long, relaxing shower.
- Enjoy the warm water until it runs cold.
- Stay in for an extra couple of minutes, even when the water is lukewarm, just because you can.
- Realize you only have five minutes left before the kids will be back.
- Throw on some comfortable yoga pants and a somewhat clean shirt.
- Race around the house, hiding any signs of your me-time, including an empty coffee mug and candy wrappers.
- Reflect on why alone time seems to fly by faster than time spent with children.
- Remember a moment from before kids and feel a pang of nostalgia for those noisy, chaotic, yet joyful times.
- Open the door with a smile, ready to embrace your children with open arms.
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In summary, taking an hour for yourself can feel strange at first, yet it can also be a rejuvenating experience. Make the most of that time, and remember that it’s okay to enjoy your solitude!