While I strongly believe that mommy time is a privilege, as a SAHM (or am I a WAHM now?), I know how precious a moment of “mom time” can be. Especially if it’s been awhile since the last time you’ve had some time to yourself.
Sometimes there are circumstances that make it difficult to leave the house. Maybe your baby has a high need personality or is going through a clingy stage or you hate driving in bad weather. Whatever the reason, we are all stuck at home at times. However, there is no reason why you can’t still have some much needed mommy time!
Mommy Time Without Leaving The House
The following list will give you some ideas of things you can do in an hour or less to recharge your batteries, so to speak. Let your husband watch the kids for a few minutes or take advantage of nap time and treat yourself to some down time.
1. Pretend your bathroom is a spa. Light a candle, turn some music on and take a shower. Even better, soak in the tub. Paint your nails, tweeze your eyebrows and put a little make up on. You will come out feeling like a million bucks!
2. Watch a movie. Whether you hole yourself up in your bedroom with the lap top or claim the living room as you own, enjoy a new release or an old favorite without interruption.
3. Exercise. This may not seem like a relaxing thing to do, but working out can help release a lot of stress. And it’s good for you. Enough said.
4. Sit outside and enjoy the weather. Relax on the front porch with a tall glass of lemonade or ice tea. Stretch out in the sunshine and soak up some vitamin D. Or if it’s cold, pour yourself a cup of your favorite hot beverage and sit by the window as you day dream.
5. Curl up with a good book or magazine. If you are an avid reader, you probably have a long list (or tall stack!) of books you want to read. Settle yourself in a comfy chair and read to your heart’s content.
6. Whip up something delicious to eat. The kitchen can be a great place to unwind for those that like to cook or bake. Try a new recipe or make a family favorite.
7. Pull out that project you never get around to. Whether it’s sewing, scrapbooks or some other crafty endeavor, work on a little at a time when you have the chance and you will soon have it finished.
8. Organize something. Clearing clutter is another good way to relieve stress, if you’re into that sort of thing. It it seems like work to you, don’t do it! 
9. Take a nap. Sometimes we just need little more sleep. Don’t feel like you are wasting time when you are sleep deprived and want to catch a few extra Zs.
10. Wake up early for morning devotions. This may seem counter-productive at first, but it really is essential, in my opinion. I have found that spending time in God’s Word is more refreshing than anything else on this list. Dedicating myself and my plans every morning makes my entire day (not to mention my attitude!) much better. In order to make sure I receive a sufficient amount of sleep, I try to go to bed fairly early most nights.
In the end, whether we get “mommy time” or not, we should always remember to cherish the moments we have with our children because these times will be gone before we know it.
How do you enjoy time alone in your home?
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Great ideas! For most of them, I have to wait until the Littles are napping. Then, the Bigs are pretty good about playing or reading quietly and letting me read or write or sew, especially because they realize that Mommy is a better mommy if she has a few moments to think two thoughts together!
So glad you are able to enjoy some time to think in order to be a better mama!
These are all great ideas. I thought I was the only one who could relieve stress by organizing or cleaning up something. Nice to know I’m not alone : )
Gail (BibleLoveNotes.com)
Gail recently posted..Flat Earth
I have to be in the right mood for it, but getting rid of clutter is a huge stress reliever for me! Thanks for your comment, Gail.
Love linking up to you
And love your fresh SAHM mommy ideas!
Nikki @ Christian Mommy Blogger recently posted..Tips to Keep Your Writing Fresh – Part Two
Thanks for linking up, Nikki. Always enjoy reading your posts!
Good advice. And I so get making the bathroom a spa. Grab those few moments while you can, eh?
Lori Ramsey recently posted..Holiday Survival Guide – Let’s Talk Food
I linked up to a blog party today and ended up right beside yours and I thought…yikes! Here is my post about my time is not my own, right beside one about me time…glad to see your “privelege” post, which is pretty much my thoughts on the subject as well.
Great ideas for at home mommy time
Crystal @ Serving Joyfully recently posted..An Exciting Announcement
Ha! What a coincidence, Crystal. Glad to hear we have similar thoughts on this issue. Thank you for your comment!
I thought I was the only one who liked to organize/declutter as my alone time!
So thrilled to see it on your very thorough list 
You’re so good at lists…
Nikki recently posted..The Fluidity of Wisdom {Five Minutes for Faith}
I love lists! Sometimes I think I write too many list posts, but they seem to be popular with readers… And they’re so much fun! lol
Stopping by from Intentional.me.
love your list. I find getting to that One project that has been just hanging there – never completed – is so empowering and energizing. I guess I thrive on a sense of accomplishment and getting things done. Of course mothering isn’t one of them. LOL
Jean Wise recently posted..Moving from Past Tense to Present Tense
Ah yes, that feeling of accomplishment is nice, isn’t it?
It has been a while since I had littles around, but I remember the days very well (and yes, it is true, you DO miss them when those times are gone, just not right away!). One thing that rally helped me with 4 children 7 and under was quiet time. Even when the kids out grew their nap times, they still had a quiet time right after lunch. It was 60-90 minutes of staying in the crib or on their bed with one or two toys, a stack of books, and a cassette or CD playing. It took time to get the routine going but once we did it was a God send! I would set the timer and usually it coincided with how long the tape/cd played. the BEST resource is the library! SOOOO many awesome audio books! At 20, 18, 15, 14 if you ask them what are their favorite childhood memories, this one makes the top 5 consistently :0).
GREAT ideas you have listed here. I was often partial to reading, organizing, and a nap :0),
Donna recently posted..Oh the Craftyness of Me
Donna, I definitely hope to have a quiet time routine for quite awhile. Thank for you for sharing your ideas. I will definitely keep them in mind. Love that you used the library so much. We try to visit every week if possible.
Thanks so much for the linky today. I stumbled upon it from Your Green Resource linky party and was so happy to have found your blog. Can’t wait to read through your archives. Have a cheery day, Jenni.
Jelli recently posted..Quick Purges, How to Clean Out Clutter in 5 Minutes
So glad to have you here and hope to be a blessing to you! Thank you for you kind comment.
Those are some great ideas! Thank you for sharing! And thanks for hosting, I linked up!
Mary recently posted..Camping with toddlers in the rain…. YIKES!
So glad you enjoyed this post, Mary. Thanks for linking up!
Great tips! I just pinned it!
Lisa recently posted..Letting Go of Negativity
Thanks so much, Lisa!
Love this post. Tweeting it. Thanks for linking up!
Theresa recently posted..Thankful Thursday
Thank you, Theresa!
It is hard for me to get out of the house for mommy time, so these suggestions are great for me:) Thanks, Jenni!
Mandy recently posted..Week 2: Heart Notes
So glad this was a blessing to you, Mandy. Hope you are able to enjoy a little mommy time soon!
Love this list!
Anne @ Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy recently posted..Bean Brownies and Apples {Food Waste Friday 9/6}
With 5 children in my home, and 3 of them preschoolers, Mommy Time is something I am usually in desperate need of AND usually find extremely hard to come by. It’s a good reminder that I can find ways to be refreshed without having to hire a babysitter.
Cara @ WhimsySmitten recently posted..Heartbreak, High School Style
Getting out is nice, but having mommy time at home is so much easier! Hope you are able to enjoy a time of renewal in the near future, Cara.
My morning runs & walks are definitely my mommy time. I never wear an iPod; I just head out the door with my iPhone to map my run and listen to the sounds of nature. I have a lot of fun seeing the wildlife in our neighborhood.
Barb @ A Life in Balance recently posted..#fitness friday: saving money on kids’ sports
That sounds very relaxing, Barb! I used to to that often before marriage and motherhood. Maybe I will be able to take it up again one day. I still have a goal of completing a 5K some day.
These are all great ideas! I let my girls watch 1 or 2 shows on TV (30-40 minutes) while I check my email and read a couple blogs. I get some quiet and they get a little bit of entertainment.
Bonnie Way recently posted..Book Review: The Whirling Girl by Barbara Lambert
I think all moms need to find a good massage therapist. Okay, I’m biased because I’m soon-to-be a SAHM *and* a massage therapist. (Previously I taught massage therapy, but I’ve not renewed my contract as I’m expecting. Meaning on some flexible weekends I can take a couple of clients to earn some extra income for our family, at my husband’s request.) Anyway, I LOVE cashola, don’t get me wrong. But I loooooooooove trading with other mommies for their mommy time. Meaning, canned jams/preserves, homemade bread, greeting cards, garden veggies, whatever. I love trading for simple, quiet chair massage (or sometimes longer massages at my office depending on what’s for trade).
But this isn’t just for massage. Also for people you know who might do hair, nails, craft, bake, or do some type of skill that you can’t do… that pampers you in some way!
I have a friend who makes her own scrumptious ice cream and I trade her for neck and hand massages. Best. Pampering. Trade. Ever! (If you’re into gourmet ice cream anyway.) Just one more thought, since many SAHMs came out of another career or still work PT or FT while raising their family.
Carrie B recently posted..Raspberry Vanilla Protein Smoothie: Smoothie of the Week
Ooh, a massage sounds wonderful. Wish you lived close, I would totally give you some business or find something to trade you for one! Thanks for sharing your idea.
This is me today; the family is away to an airshow, I’ve just finished a frozen pizza on my own, still in my pjs and working on blogs and prepping for the coming season in the camera club.
I also find cleaning when stressed helps to clear my head, I thought it just might be me!
i appreciated this post so much. and i love this meme. thank you for linking up with ip, and for taking the time to help women take care of themselves. i think i’ll go take a nap now.
bless you. e.
imperfect prose recently posted..on why i don’t mind if my children play with guns
So glad this blessed you, Emily. Hope you enjoyed your nap!
Hello – hopping over from Nan’s link (Mom’s the Word).
I have been known (secretly) to sneak a cup of coffee and a Snickers candy bar in my closet.
Hope recently posted..The Chaos Before the Calm
Ha! Awesome… Thanks for sharing, Hope. I may have to steal your idea one of these days!
Fantastic list! Thanks for sharing. Popping over from Top Ten Tuesdays.
~ Stephanie
Stephanie (@CornAndCotton) recently posted..10 Reasons NOT to Share Your Family History with Kids
These are all such great ideas!! I am bookmarking this post! I need to remember to make some time for myself every now and then
So glad this was an encouragement to you, Emily!
Great ideas! When the kids were little I loved reading a book while taking a bath. Hubby would keep them busy so I could steal some time (and hopefully not drop my book in the water, lol!).
My kids are older but I am a full-time caretaker for my elderly mother, and so I still cherish my alone time. Last weekend my hubby and boys went on a men’s retreat and I stayed home with my mom. I had fun organizing and cleaning, lol!
momstheword recently posted..Making Your Home Sing Monday: Tearing My House Apart
I once had a roommate that read in the bath. I can’t stand getting all wrinkled, so it isn’t relaxing to me, but I know many women enjoy it. I’m glad it worked for you! Thanks for sharing the idea.
Wonderful list of ideas. I love them all – especially the last one! Thank you for linking up at Mommy Teaches Friday Blog Hop!
Rosilind recently posted..Discovering True Identity
Great ideas! Thanks for linking up with WIP!
Mary Beth recently posted..t{squared} How Can I Know God?