5 tips on How to be yourself again

Having children is the most exciting, daunting, all-consuming thing many of us will ever do; it’s also the most exhausting!

So it’s no wonder some of us find ourselves getting a bit lost somewhere between the delivery room and the university years.

Here are 5 ways to remember how to be yourself again:

1.    Have date nights: book a babysitter, get the kids to bed early, and spend some time being a couple. You’ll probably find yourselves talking about the children, but at least you’ll be able to finish a sentence without someone yelling ‘Mummy’!

2.    Play your favourite music: few things can bring back memories more effectively than music. Dig out your old favourite CDs and play them in the car or while you tidy the house. You’ll be surprised how energizing it is to sing along to those songs that remind you of good times from your younger days.

3.    Wake up your wardrobe: as a busy mum, I often find that after getting everyone else dressed in the morning, I’m lucky if I have the time and energy to find anything for myself that is clean and matches, let alone anything that’s vaguely creative.

But this summer I’m on a mission to inject some fun back into my wardrobe. It doesn’t have to be difficult; most of us have a few ‘statement pieces’ still in the back of our own wardrobes, but if not, local charity shops or even Primark usually have their own hidden treasures that can put a spring in our step every time we wear them.

4.    Go to a festival: if you’re that way inclined, or book tickets to a show, museum or art gallery. You can even find child-friendly events so you can take the whole family with you and broaden their horizons while you indulge in something you love.

5.    Take a day off: don’t feel guilty about asking Dad to take the children to the park while you have some time to yourself. Instead of using all your child-free time to catch up on work or the weekly shop, take a day to treat yourself to lunch with a friend, shopping for yourself or just a day at the beach. A few hours to yourself can work wonders in reminding you that your old self is still there underneath the parent you’ve become.