For her, private time involves simply closing her bedroom door for a second.
It doesnt have to be an hour or two.
It can be 5 minutes to recharge your battery.
Ewelina/Adobe Stock
Still, the question remains: How do people with childrenreallyfind alone time?
So take any tips that work for you and discard any that dont fit the bill.
This is a judgment-free zone.
We hope these creative ideas inspire some of your own.
Literally sit in the car with noise-canceling headphones and an audiobook.
Or sometimes, I usenoise-canceling headphones, and thats been a game-changer.
I cant hear anything.
I have three boys, ages 7, 10, and 15, and Ive loosened screen time expectations.
Ive also stopped beating myself up about that during this weird time.
If you have young kids, introduce them to rock painting.
Im a single mother to a two-year-old and a four-year-old, and Ive set them up with rock painting.
This started when I couldnt get canvases during the quarantine.
Instead of paint, they use water because their rocks still change color.
And, because theyre using water, I dont care how messy it gets.
They paint rocksfor hours!
These moments feel like vacations.Maril V., 31
3.
Throw on childrens audiobooks during playtime.
Both my husband and I work a 9 to 5, and I run an eco-friendly stationery brand.
We take turns watching the children, and weve started to gamify learning.
This gives us the time-out we need, and the kids love spending time with each of us alone.
For instance, I might ask them to practice their handwriting while I read a book.
Even if it’s 10 minutes of quiet time, it helps.
Weve also resorted to childrens books onAudible.
The twins listen to them and play while I read a magazine.
Schedule some playtime for the morning so that things are calmer in the afternoon.
Otherwise, she ends up nagging me and making the morning both unpleasant and unproductive.
This isnt a surefire win, but we have some good days.
Those moments are still barely alone.
It keeps us all saner.Christine K., 35
5.
My husband and I asked for help.
My husband works full-time, and I own a business.
Schedule your self-care moments ahead of time.
Weve had no additional childcare due to thepandemic.
Ive had to consciously prioritizeand even schedulemy self-care.
It leaves me feeling refreshed and able to parent again at 100 percent.
Think of your alone time in sprints.
These moments give me time to think and destress.
Even a five-minute escape in the bathroom can bring a sense of renewal.
Prayer,meditation, and deep-cleaning sprees help me as well.Melissa B., 45
8.
If you’ve got the option to, run a two-screen movie night in two different rooms.
I live in a single-family home with my husband and kids.
We do not have grandparents or even family nearby.
They all live out of state.
No one comes in or out.
Ive found a few tricks, though.
First, Ive taken up gardening and involved the kids.
This gives me time to sit down andeat my breakfast.
I run a two-screen movie night in two different rooms.
It’s a solution that is win-win, both for the parents and for kids.
I think it’s hard to force our schedule on them without a positive reason that they can understand.
At the end of the day, after the kids are in bed, spend a few minutes journaling.
We’ve also really embraced the idea that this, too, shall pass.
Wake up before the rest of the house and get out of the house.
I wake up before my husband and three-year-old, and I work out or take a walk.
Im amorning personanyway, but these days theres never any quiet.
Sometimes my brain is screaming, or my husband is on a call.
Or Im on a call, and the dog is barking.
The quiet helps me collect my thoughts.
I also go out and grab a coffee every morning.
Those five minutes are everything.
They prepare me to take on the day ahead.
I know its tough, but carving that time out before taking on the day really helps.
Even if it’s just to sit outside for a few minutes.
Im co-parenting and working from home with my partner.
The few moments before my partner and daughter wake up are basically my moments of sanity.
I sit down on the step withcoffeeand think about the day ahead.
I often do a little fantasy writing during that time, which also helps me feel refreshed.
Thats been so wonderful.
They wouldnapor read in their beds.
As they got older, they could build Legos or play quietly in their rooms.
When it’s built into the day, they don’t question it.
Now I’ve got teens who have been home due to school closing (and summer vacation).
They know when I’m Mom, when I’m working, and when I’m available to teach.
I need structure, or I don’t get my work done.
My kids need the same, and because we collaborate, it works.
It’s luxurious to build alone time into my day.Lisa H., 51
13.
Take up gardening (or some other activity that your kids wont ask to join).
We have a 17-year-old, a 12-year old, and a 3-year-old.
That said, my garden is kid-free!
I can generally find at least 30 minutes in the morning to enjoy some peace and quiet.
Occasionally, one of the kids will want to join me, but generally, they dont.
Lets face itwe see a lot of each other, so space is necessary for all of us.
I dont necessarily feel totally recharged, but it helps me to be at peace with the given situation.
I figure well have great stories to tell our future grandkids.Sydney M., 43
14.
Stay up a little later if you might.
I stay up too late after my five-year-old has gone to bed.
Ive also taken a solo drive on a few occasions, since I live with my husband and sister.
Thats pretty much the only thing I can manage with a full-time work schedule.
After running an errand, sit in your car for a few extra minutes.
If my husband is home, I will take an extra 10 guilt-free minutes to sit on my own.
it’s possible for you to sit in the same room but separate areas to breathe and do nothing.
Stop the cleaning and moving, literally sit and attempt to push away all worries.
We are three people and we have different rooms, so weve designated alone playtime in separate areas.
It gives each of us physical and mental space from one another.
Even five minutes is worth it.Breathing techniqueshelp during that time too.Jackie J., 44
17.
Take the long way home after running an errand.
I treat myself to a morning drive to our localcoffeeshop alone.
Some days I go directly there and back to start working.
My husband and three kids have caught on.
When Im gone for an extra 15 minutes, theyll say, ‘Mom needed some alone time.’
No mom or caregiver should feel guilty about needing space to breathe.Terra B., 43
18.
Repurpose a small space as your quiet time corner.
I live with my husband and our two kids.
To get some alone time, I reorganized my small walk-in closet and made a quiet time corner.
My corner has a lounging chair and a repurposed nightstand (where I keep mybooks).
Its quiet, and I use my dresser to create a barrier between my clothes and my corner.
Dont feel bad about resorting to the iPad.
I dont feel bad about resorting to the iPad.
When youve heard ‘Mom, I need…’ 60 times by 9 a.m., it wears on you.
Try not to think abouthouseworkor what you should be doing.
Just take a stab at silence your brain for a little while.
It goes a long, long way.Maril V., 31
20.
Wake up in the middle of the night (on purpose).
My husband and I both work from home.
My in-laws, who live in L.A., are living with us to help.
While my husband bathes the kids after dinner, I use that time to get things done.
I’ve also woken up in the middle of the night to get some time alone.
During that time, I can be productive without constant interruption.Mary Grace G., 36
21.
Remember that work is not a substitute for alone time.
My partner and I live together with our two-year-old daughter.
I work from home as a womens empowerment coach.
Until recently, I was always with my daughter or working.
Lately, Ive started scheduling time to chill the f#ck out.
Once a week, when that notification pops up on my calendar, Im reminded to stop.
No chores and no work.
I just chill by the pool, read, orgo for a nice walk.
It works because its set up in a way that is non-negotiable.
If I wait and see, Ill always either be with my daughter or work.
Scheduling solo time has been a miracle.
Those moments feel like heaven.