14/06/2026
Trying to avoid losing yourself in parenthood can be an ongoing battle. Making time for the things you love whilst also being the partner, colleague & parent you want to be, takes a lot of juggling.
We didn't always get it right, we still don't. It took a good few arguments, trial and error and time before we found a balance.
1. Get a shared calendar - sounds boring but actually having a visual of what time you have, has really helped.
2. Book yourself in for a class or event which is outside of the house - by making this commitment to someone other than yourself, you will both see it as a priority.
3. Sit down and talk about what matters to you, is it exercise, is it time with friends, is it craft or theatre? You both deserve to have time to spend doing these things.
4. Can you find something you enjoy together? You wouldn't catch me doing 18 holes with him but give me a run with a coffee shop at the end & it's our perfect date.
5. Set yourself a goal or a project. Sometimes it can feel like its not worth the argument or the energy to have that time. If you know you want to finish a crochet project, aim to run a certain distance or learn the cords to a new song, it might help with consistency & your partner can see & understand.
Depending on your different circumstances, time to yourself may not be 50/50 (I.e if you're exclusively breastfeeding), however what I found really helped was knowing that the other person values your time. That childcare, cleaning & jobs didn’t automatically become someone else's job.
I'm just sharing what worked for us & hope it resonates with you.
