Ask most mums what they like to do in their spare time and most will say “what spare time?”, they may laugh or snigger or just roll their eyes – I know I have in the past when people have asked me.

You might not have a ton of ‘spare time’ but even 15 minutes a day doing something you enjoy can make a big difference.

I never feel that I have ‘spare time’ as such but I’m getting better at carving time into my day for things for me. I’ve started listening to Audible in the car when I’ve dropped the children at school, as there are tons of books I want to read but can’t find the time to read them. It’s small snippets of time but it’s a way of still doing that.

I love cooking but often feel everything is being done in a rush, so I try now to dedicate some time every week to cooking because I enjoy it, not because everyone is screaming for their dinner.

I love exercise, so I try to fit this into my day by mostly putting gym kit on in the morning and having a kettle bell in various parts of the house, sounds a little bonkers maybe but if I can fit 20 extra dead lifts in here and there then that’s got to be a good thing.

Don’t know what your ‘thing’ is? No worries, here are a few ideas:

Gardening

Many parents love to work in their garden and when you get started, you can really create something special. Gardening can not only be fun, but it can be relaxing when you are sitting there planting some seeds or mowing the lawn. Summer is the perfect time to try out gardening as you will be able to sit in the sun and enjoy it. If you are thinking about transforming your garden, then you should try out gardening.

Baking

Not every mum is skilled at baking, I’m not – but I enjoy having a go! Just try it and see what you come up with. Make sure to have a look online at baking ideas to get started, there are tons of fun and tasty things you can make.

Running

Another great hobby for mums who want to get some exercise is running. You can run in your street, to your local shops or inside a gym on a treadmill if you are a little self-conscious. Running can be a great way of getting some fresh air and clearing your head. You will get fitter over time and could even start running long distances. It’s not for everyone, but I can recommend popping some tunes on and getting out there.

Online gaming

Not for me this one but apparently it’s a ‘thing’ for lots of people. Have you ever thought about trying online gaming? NetBet online casino is just one of the sites that allows you to try out some games, win some cash and possibly even meet other mums who are trying to fill their time with something fun. These sites have chat rooms that allow players to support each other and make some ‘friends’. Also you could try playing bingo to try and earn some extra cash too, if you understand the bingo strategies this would drastically help your earnings.

Reading

Reading can be a great way of escaping into another world and there is such a huge range of books that you can choose from. All you need to do is head to Amazon. The great thing about reading is that you can do it anywhere, in the car, on the sofa or even out in the back garden when the sun comes out.

What do you do when you can carve out a few minutes to yourself?