Parents Shared How They Make Time For Themselves, and Routine Is the Name of the Game

Once you have a gaggle of kids running around, the days seem to fly by at the speed of freakin' light, making it difficult to squeeze in even just a few moments of me time. Recently, a California-based parenting group, Main Street Mamas, asked their members how they manage to incorporate a little self-care into their day-to-day lives, and sometimes it's easier said than done. Whether you meet with your friends once a week for dinner or take something off your to-do list on certain days, here's how parents are making me time happen.

"My husband works until 8 p.m. every night and commutes very far, so for his sanity and for our family welfare he works from home one day a week," said one mom. "That's the evening I take off around 4:30 p.m. and go to therapy and then out alone or with friends. I do this every week, it's very important." Sometimes a form of self-care is simply not doing tasks you find unenjoyable, as this mom explains. "Also, we have made it a rule not to do laundry on weekdays only Friday nights and over the weekend."

Occasionally outsourcing childcare or housework when possible also gives parents a much-needed break. And as difficult as it might seem, there's something to be said for waking up early to focus on you. "We are so lucky to have a grandparent who helps and a nanny who's willing to be flexible and work some evening hours," said one mom who also uses the early morning hours to sneak in exercise. "I prioritize working out, my early morning spin class saves my sanity," she said. "To get my husband to start working out I convinced him to do a workout class with me on Sunday mornings. It's fun and we get some time to grab coffee together after. We also try to do date nights once a month, but I'm still working on making sure this becomes part our our routine!"