10 Things I Dream About Doing In My “Free” Time (Try Them! You Won’t Be Disappointed)

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I generally have an audience when I go to bathroom. Lena, my 22-month-old daughter, likes to give a play-by-play throughout the process. “Mommy pee-pee potty,” she explains. “Mommy paper,” (toilet paper) she continues. “Mommy flush…mommy all done!” Did I mention she also tries to “help mommy?” Precious.

While I love her adorable little voice and lending hand, I treasure my solo time. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it’s awesome. Oh, I should mention: It never happens on its own. I have to schedule me-time like any business meeting. Here is how I make the most of my alone time (you should try it, too!): 

Take a shower until the hot water runs out. Fogging up the bathroom mirrors like I never have before…that is a party! Following the shower, I’ll air dry while listening to Alanis Morissette at full volum

Eat a meal. Eating dinner with a toddler in tow is more about survival than enjoyment. If I’m by myself, I’ll sit down and enjoy each, little, yummy, delicious bite. Sometimes I forget how good food tastes. If I’m really getting crazy, I’ll even order food. I normally order something I wouldn’t cook. Coromandel’s Indian is on my list for the next round of takeout.

Grab a latte. The process of taking my daughter in and out of the car-seat sometimes is too much work, so I’ll just skip my treasured trip to grab a latte. If I’m solo, I don’t care how long the baristas take to make my order.

Get a mani/pedi/massage: My favorite nail salon is Posh in Southport. If you get a spa pedicure, you get a free 10-minute massage. It’s heaven.

Watch the Bachelor or Bachelorette. There’s something about trashy TV that just makes me feel good, and I won’t apologize for that. Anyone watching Kaitlyn’s season right now? Amazing. Shawn is totally going to win.

Go grocery shopping. This might not seem exciting but I feel so excited to get in and out of the grocery store in record time, sans meltdown or snack sampling from my toddler. Plus, when I go to the Super Stop & Shop, I treat myself to a Starbucks (they have one in the store!) while I shop.

Go shopping for new underwear and bras. Yes, specifically new underwear and bras. I get excited to get dressed in the morning if I have new underwear. I tend to find my faves at Target, Marshalls, or TJ Maxx. Nothing fancy but I swear it makes me feel more put together.

Talk to my sister. My baby sis lives in California, so by the time she’s ready to chat in the evening (her time), I’m asleep. Grabbing an hour convo with her on an afternoon during the weekend makes me feel so great. There’s nothing better than sisters!

Exercise. It’s amazing how a little sweat can boost my mood. I used to be a gym rat but I find I’m more likely to sneak in a work out if I do it at home. My go-to workouts are from DailyBurn. They even have some 10-minute workout options that surprisingly have me sweating by the end.

Play the guitar and sing. I used to perform in NYC during my pre-baby days. Now, my vocal performances are pretty much just for my daughter and include classics like “Wheels on the Bus” and “Itsy Bitsy Spider.” If you have a pre-baby hobby that you rarely do anymore, do yourself a favor and try and make time once a month to keep hold of it.

What’s your go-to “free” time activity? Share it in the comments below.

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Vera Sizensky
Vera is the digital director for HealthyWomen.org, a non-profit organization that Dr. Oz calls "the leading health resource for women." Before HealthyWomen, Vera spent several years editing and producing content for the popular digital editions of SHAPE and Women’s Health magazines. Nothing makes her happier than connecting with women who work hard and play hard. Vera earned a journalism degree from the University of Florida and lives with her husband Brian and daughter Lena (born 8/25/13) in Southport, CT.

3 Things About Vera
Fill in the blank: If I had 10 minutes to myself, I would: "Take a long, hot shower."
Describe your perfect day: "Exercise, beach, nap, evening on the back deck with a glass of wine and the fire pit roaring."
Favorite thing to do in your spare {ha!} time: "Discovering new places—restaurants, playgrounds, hiking trails, etc."

Twitter: @VeraSiz

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