https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 23 Jun 2026 19:22:41 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-down-time-do-you-get#post-2100142 Mon, 09 Mar 2015 07:11:36 +0000 bushelandapeck 2100142@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not much....some days none at all, unless you consider the two days I work. DS naps for about 1.5hrs each day but it's rare that I can get DD to nap at the same time. At night, they are usually both asleep by 8:30pm and I go to bed by 9pm because DD is still frequently waking at night. DH will take DS (2.5) on the weekend but I still have DD since she is EBF. We try to go out for date night at least once a month though, and I definitely need it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-down-time-do-you-get#post-2100135 Mon, 09 Mar 2015 07:02:40 +0000 Anagram 2100135@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Sapphiresun: yeeeeahhhhh, if you are driving and can't read stuff, watch tv, or go places you want to go I definitely wouldn't consider that me time!</p> <p>That's crazy, haha. And I'm saying that as someone who also commutes an hour each way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-down-time-do-you-get#post-2100056 Sun, 08 Mar 2015 23:19:19 +0000 Sapphiresun 2100056@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not nearly enough...</p> <p>I work full time outside the home with an hour commute, and my husband works graveyards so there's nobody here when we're home.</p> <p>I get up at 5:30, leave the house by 7:30, and get home from work around 6 most days. I rush to make dinner, and do bedtime by 7:45, and then do chores until about 20 minutes before I go to bed. So, between the 20 minutes, and sometimes not doing errands on my lunch break, it probably works out to a half hour a day. My mom says I need to consider my commute my "me" time, and that change of perspective will help.... but I find that even more depressing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-down-time-do-you-get#post-2100055 Sun, 08 Mar 2015 23:16:38 +0000 HLK208 2100055@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>About an hour at night. At 2.5, E won't nap anymore :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-down-time-do-you-get#post-2099973 Sun, 08 Mar 2015 21:11:31 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 2099973@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: Same! It's exhausting. </p> <p>I actually worked from home on Friday and it was so nice! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-down-time-do-you-get#post-2099898 Sun, 08 Mar 2015 19:39:34 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2099898@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>From about 8pm until I go to bed around 10. </p> <p>And then naps... But those are varying in times over here! Anywhere from 30 mins a day to 2ish hours. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-down-time-do-you-get#post-2099895 Sun, 08 Mar 2015 19:31:37 +0000 regberadaisy 2099895@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>An hour or two. Her night sleep is crap and naps are rocky since taking her out of the swing. Factor in trying to get both girls to nap at the same time?!? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-down-time-do-you-get#post-2099891 Sun, 08 Mar 2015 19:27:24 +0000 Ginabean3 2099891@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd say about 3 hours a day! LO wakes up early but then takes a nice 2 hour nap in the afternoon. I usually use it to catch up on reading/TV. Then after she goes to bed I have an hour before I'm too pooped and then crash out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-down-time-do-you-get#post-2099884 Sun, 08 Mar 2015 19:16:57 +0000 ShootingStar 2099884@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>On weekdays I get 7:30-10 on the days I don't do bedtime. On the nights I do bedtime, I get some down time while DH does the bath and then I spend about 15-20 minutes on putting DS to bed and then I have 8-10 free. On the weekend DS usually naps for a couple hours each day.</p> <p>If I need additional time on the weekend, then I can tell DH. We do date nights every so often too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-down-time-do-you-get#post-2099882 Sun, 08 Mar 2015 19:12:16 +0000 JerricaBenton 2099882@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>About an hour in the morning before she gets up, an hour a day dh watches her while I go to the gym, and a few-three hours after she goes to bed. We're pretty lucky that DH's schedule is flexible so if I need to do something on my own it can be arranged. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-down-time-do-you-get#post-2099880 Sun, 08 Mar 2015 19:11:20 +0000 autumn865 2099880@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Pre DD2- I would have about 45 minutes to an hour during her nap to eat lunch and watch a show before doing chores, dinner prep etc. bedtime was 7:30 so I would have 7:30 to 10:30 to spend with DH usually showering or watching a show or two.<br /> After DD2- zero :( although now she's 6 weeks and I'm cleared for running im hoping my mom could come over a day or so or leave the LOs with DH for an hour or so to go running. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-down-time-do-you-get#post-2099877 Sun, 08 Mar 2015 19:08:09 +0000 jedeve 2099877@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@twoofeverything: I feel you on the getting burned out thing. I try to get the house back to zero every night. But trying to bust my butt during naptime leaves me exhausted. It's not often that I actually get to rest during naptime. And I feel bad when I complain to DH about not getting a break because it's not like he does in the afternoon either. But then he isn't physically chasing two kids all day either... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-down-time-do-you-get#post-2099873 Sun, 08 Mar 2015 19:02:37 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 2099873@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Probably from about 8:30-9:30/10pm, depending on how ambitious I feel (dishes, laundry, cleaning), and whether I go to bed early. I could certainly use more downtime, but there really aren't enough hours in the day!!<br /> Sunday nights are wonderful. DH is working, LO goes to bed at 7, and I have as long as I want to just hang out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-down-time-do-you-get#post-2099854 Sun, 08 Mar 2015 18:17:46 +0000 blackbird 2099854@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>An hour or so in the morning before E gets up, 30 min while I cook dinner (sometimes I go to the gym), then 730-9 before bed. I also get chunks on the weekends depending on what DH is doing. So, a fair amount? I spend a lot of it being productive for the family, though. Not just sitting on my ass eating Bon bons ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-down-time-do-you-get#post-2099849 Sun, 08 Mar 2015 18:14:45 +0000 lawbee11 2099849@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Around 2 hours/night during the week and around 4 hours/day on the weekend. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-down-time-do-you-get#post-2099845 Sun, 08 Mar 2015 18:06:51 +0000 Greentea 2099845@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't really get any. I usually have to sleep when she does because she has such low sleep needs. We don't have any help... if I needed it though DH is always willing to take her somewhere. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-down-time-do-you-get#post-2099827 Sun, 08 Mar 2015 17:31:17 +0000 Anagram 2099827@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Very little during the week--LO wakes up at 5 am-ish and she and I leave for work/daycare together at 6:40am, then she comes home with me. I guess after she goes to bed, I get about an hour, but that's when I usually eat my own dinner and clean up dinner so even less than that.</p> <p>On weekends, I wouldn't say I get a ton of true "me time", but I'm pregnant and I definitely try to take a nap on weekends. DH has LO while I nap--he doesn't ever take her anywhere, so she sometimes comes into my room and interrupts my nap, but at least I get some napping time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-down-time-do-you-get#post-2099812 Sun, 08 Mar 2015 16:38:11 +0000 looch 2099812@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>About 2 hours between 7:30 and 9:30 pm. I wish I could use that time to work out, but then I can't fall asleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-down-time-do-you-get#post-2099810 Sun, 08 Mar 2015 16:35:19 +0000 twoofeverything 2099810@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is why my I try so hard to keep my twins on the same schedule! Typically get 1.5-2 hours during the day, and I use it to rest and watch tv. Occasionally I try to clean, but that leaves me feeling totally burned out by the end of the day! Usually I get another 30 minutes with DH after dinner, and if I'm lucky, 15-20minutes in the morning before they wake up. On the weekend, DH and I take turns giving each other breaks. I feel lucky! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-down-time-do-you-get#post-2099799 Sun, 08 Mar 2015 16:21:50 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 2099799@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe 45 minutes, unless my girls nap at the same time which doesn't happen very often. (I haven't been able to get my almost 3 year old to bed until 930 lately.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-down-time-do-you-get#post-2099794 Sun, 08 Mar 2015 16:03:04 +0000 fancyfunction 2099794@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a good amount. M naps for 2 hr and while I spend some of that time working, I try to let myself relax and watch tv. She goes to bed at 7 and we're generally free the rest of the night, some nights more than others if we have work to do. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-down-time-do-you-get#post-2099789 Sun, 08 Mar 2015 15:42:01 +0000 Mamasig 2099789@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Usually zero. Unless we go on a date night which happens maybe 4 times a year or you count my commute to and from work. DS1 doesn't go to sleep until we do at 10. He naps at school and has very low sleep needs. So after eating dinner, baths, bedtime for DS2, and picking up, I may have an hour or so before bed but DS1 is awake and with me. DS2 is super clingy right now so when he is awake, he pretty much is on my hip. </p> <p>I guess you can say I'm relaxing right now sitting in the driveway while both boys nap in the car. :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-down-time-do-you-get#post-2099782 Sun, 08 Mar 2015 15:17:48 +0000 Cherrybee 2099782@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hardly any! I WOH so by the time I get LO home, fed, bathed and into bed, the house de-trashed, dinner cooked, eaten and cleaned up after, we have about an hour to relax before bed. Weekends are a flurry of chores, while trying to keep E entertained. </p> <p>I had some me time this week and again this weekend and I feel so much better for it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-down-time-do-you-get#post-2099780 Sun, 08 Mar 2015 15:15:07 +0000 SweetiePie 2099780@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have quite a bit. Sometimes I feel guilty but mostly grateful. I just don't have the mental health to be with my son all day every day with no breaks.<br /> I have a sitter two days a week from 9-6. So I usually do something for me (lunch with a friend, a massage, mani) and the rest of the time run errands that I can't easily do with him (groceries, doc appts, etc).<br /> LO also is a good napper so I get about 4-5 hours of naps a day that I can either veg out or do chores.<br /> He goes to bed at 7:30pm. That's when I do the final chores for the night (load dishwasher, put in a load of LO's laundry, get his bottles ready for the next day, general tidying up). And when that's all done around 9pm I watch an hour or two of TV with DH, or we just talk and surf the web.<br /> Weekend we take turns having time to ourselves and time as a family.<br /> We have a standing sitter on Saturday nights so we always do a date night or a night out with friends.<br /> I will say that one thing that I am very glad I did was start leaving DH and LO alone very early. I think 2 weeks in I would leave for short periods to get a mani or just take a walk alone. Gradually it has increased so I can spend hours away from them if I have to. I knew before he was even born that I couldn't be the only one LO depends on. I enjoy my time alone too much, which may sound selfish but it is what it is. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-down-time-do-you-get#post-2099778 Sun, 08 Mar 2015 15:11:19 +0000 winniebee 2099778@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>About 30 minutes at night before bed. Seriously. My older kid doesn't nap except a few times a week. Baby rarely naps when the older does nap. Baby wakes multiple times a night so I go to bed after cleaning up and pumping. Lucky to get in 30 mins of tv before bed. </p> <p>I do get a little more time on the days the older goes to preschool. I run errands but if the baby naps at home I might have a few hours to myself. Might is the key word. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-down-time-do-you-get#post-2099775 Sun, 08 Mar 2015 15:08:40 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2099775@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>About an hour to an hour and a half. I SAH so during her naps I usually do a quick 30 minute workout and spend the rest of the time on chores. If I'm lucky I can have like 30 minutes to just sit before she wakes up. Sometimes I only do the chores I feel like I absolutely cannot do when she's awake and save the rest for when she's up (she likes to "help"). When she goes to bed I usually have another 45 minutes of kitchen clean up to do, then DH usually goes to bed so I watch 30 minutes to an hour of TV, shower, read my bible, go to bed and start over. Naps or real rest only happen at the expense of other duties And it's not enjoyable to me if I have other things to do. Sad, but true.</p> <p>ETA: written out it doesn't sound like much but I enjoy working out so I kind of consider that down time and I'm happy with my personal balance right now! We'll see what happens when LO2 arrives! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-down-time-do-you-get#post-2099772 Sun, 08 Mar 2015 15:06:05 +0000 Mae 2099772@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Most nights LO goes down okay and sleeps fine so I get from 8:30 or so (by the time I've put her down and cleaned up) until I go to bed... which is usually around 11. So I guess like 2.5 hours with DH 4-5 nights/week and an hour of that by myself 2-3 nights/week (he gets home at 9:30 from school 2-3 nights/week). </p> <p>Then during the day I usually get like 2-3 hours on an average day by myself. I wouldn't say it is totally down time because thats often when I shower, eat, clean, do laundry/dishes/bottles, prep dinner, job hunt, etc. But probably like an hour on an average day at least I veg out and watch tv alone which is nice :) </p> <p>Also weekends if we aren't really doing anything I could always leave LO with DH for a few hours if I really wanted to go do something. I rarely do, but I have the option. </p> <p>Until recently I felt like I got almost no time (LO didn't sleep well at night, I had to hold her for all naps, and she would only eat for me so that meant I couldn't ever leave her for more than an hour... ever). But right now the stars have aligned and I feel like I really get a good amount of time "off." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-down-time-do-you-get#post-2099770 Sun, 08 Mar 2015 15:03:46 +0000 jedeve 2099770@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>About the same. We watch TV from 9-10. </p> <p>Lately I've started watching TV when the kids are napping. I used to try and clean up, but I would wake one of the kids up unloading the dishwasher or something. Their naptime overlaps so little and rarely I decided just to rest, or I am worn out by the end of the day. But even then I'm usually folding laundry. Or knitting! </p> <p>If my MIL is in town I might get a few hours sans kids. But I tend to just go grocery shopping. </p> <p>When I just had one kid, he was in daycare. We paid for it full time (only option) but I only worked three days a week. I never sent him on an off day. Looking back, I would love to have that option again!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-down-time-do-you-get#post-2099765 Sun, 08 Mar 2015 14:56:51 +0000 littlejoy 2099765@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How much time would you say you get to just relax?</p> <p>We watch TV for an hour before bed each night ... Other than that, I get about 1 afternoon a month (on a weekend) where I can just take a nap or do nothing for about 2 hours. </p> <p>What about you? What keeps you from getting time to relax? For us, I feel like we're always cleaning or working on the house.</p> <p>I'm so tired. :( </p>