https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 01 Jul 2026 05:08:13 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-have-time-for-your-own-hobbies#post-2026456 Thu, 15 Jan 2015 20:11:55 +0000 anonysquire 2026456@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When she's asleep and the weekends. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-have-time-for-your-own-hobbies#post-2026438 Thu, 15 Jan 2015 19:59:14 +0000 Bao 2026438@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I do things I want to do (reading/tv shows/games) when my kids are napping/resting or in bed for the night. I try and involve them in chores during the day so that at night I have more free time. Probably selfish but momma needs me time too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-have-time-for-your-own-hobbies#post-2026435 Thu, 15 Jan 2015 19:56:17 +0000 Andrea 2026435@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I guess my only hobby at home is reading. I do that while the kids are engaged in playing if all my chores are done! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-have-time-for-your-own-hobbies#post-2026196 Thu, 15 Jan 2015 17:52:18 +0000 artsyfartsy 2026196@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinpye: Same here. I miss painting and just being creative in general, but I know I'll have more time in the future to do it again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-have-time-for-your-own-hobbies#post-2026192 Thu, 15 Jan 2015 17:49:04 +0000 erinpye 2026192@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Pretty much when the kids are asleep. Since I'm so tired lately, I just sleep instead. It's hard because I feel bored and want to learn something new/ create, but I try to remember this is a season in life, and there will be time again to do those things. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-have-time-for-your-own-hobbies#post-2026155 Thu, 15 Jan 2015 17:32:20 +0000 artsyfartsy 2026155@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My hobbies right now are watching TV. Haha. It sounds lame but it's nice to pick a new show and watch it on Netflix in quiet. I do my "hobby" after bedtime and sometimes during nap time </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-have-time-for-your-own-hobbies#post-2026103 Thu, 15 Jan 2015 17:02:22 +0000 Tanjowen 2026103@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I stuck with the hobby that was scheduled and out of the house, because if I get any downtime at home, my butt is planted firmly on the couch. I play violin with a local orchestra and practice is one night per week. DH handles bedtime that night. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-have-time-for-your-own-hobbies#post-2026050 Thu, 15 Jan 2015 16:33:22 +0000 rachiecakes 2026050@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: BSC! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-have-time-for-your-own-hobbies#post-2026027 Thu, 15 Jan 2015 16:24:41 +0000 pinkcupcake 2026027@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sarac: thanks for all your suggestions. I definitely try to be as efficient as possible when it comes to bill paying, cleaning, online shopping etc. Cleaning takes up a huge chunk of my time, but it's because we have a large home and it takes time to keep the hardwood floors clean (sweep or vacuum, plus steam vac), tidy up the bathrooms, etc. My husband definitely pulls his weight (and more), but he has an extremely demanding job and his schedule makes it so that he's out of the house from 6AM - 7PM each day. I guess what makes it extra hard is that I'm such a clean freak - it's important to me that my home is tidy and that includes things like making sure all the appliances are shining and the baseboards are clean :) I think it's mostly that I just need to let some things *go* so I can fill that time w/something else. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-have-time-for-your-own-hobbies#post-2026015 Thu, 15 Jan 2015 16:20:00 +0000 pinkcupcake 2026015@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Everyone, thank you for your input! I'm so glad to know I'm not the only one struggling with this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-have-time-for-your-own-hobbies#post-2026009 Thu, 15 Jan 2015 16:16:16 +0000 JoJoGirl 2026009@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rachiecakes: There's a gym around here with babysitting?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-have-time-for-your-own-hobbies#post-2026005 Thu, 15 Jan 2015 16:15:33 +0000 rachiecakes 2026005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Almost never. DH and I work opposite hours. I WOH all day and he works nights and weekends. My only me time is at the gym with babysitting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-have-time-for-your-own-hobbies#post-2025974 Thu, 15 Jan 2015 16:01:33 +0000 LuLu Mom 2025974@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My hobby is reading, and honestly I haven't opened a book in months, but today I went and renewed my library card and that is changing. I usually watch TV in my free time and I realized DD is picking up on that, I don't want her to be a couch potato so I need to branch out and do other stuff. I really want get back into photography but I need a new camera, fingers crossed for a DSLR push present/30th birthday present combo. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-have-time-for-your-own-hobbies#post-2025927 Thu, 15 Jan 2015 15:49:01 +0000 edelweiss 2025927@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>oh i don't even bother with hobbies, unless it's reading before bed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-have-time-for-your-own-hobbies#post-2025730 Thu, 15 Jan 2015 14:32:21 +0000 sarac 2025730@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can your partner give you some time off in the evenings? What about naptime? Does your little one go to any kind of preschool, or if not, can you work out a childcare swap with a friend a few mornings a week? What about screen time - can your child watch an hour of tv in the afternoon to give you a break? If you want to learn calligraphy, can you give your child some similar materials and practice together? Can they participate in baking, or just play in a bowl of flour near by?</p> <p>How is your cooking and cleaning routine? Can you streamline cooking by using a crock pot, prepping the night before or on the weekends, cooking a big meal and eating the left overs another night? Or how about simplifying your meals some nights - make a big pot of rice/pasta on Mondays, then just quickly grill some veggies and protein a few nights to go with it. </p> <p>In terms of errands, can you pay bills online? Can you get amazon prime and cut down on shopping? Can you get groceries delivered? I have chosen to pay the extra money that some of those things cost, and I really appreciate having that choice - it really frees up time in my life.</p> <p>For cleaning - can you get a roomba? That has saved me hours of time that I used to spend vacuuming. How about folding the laundry while you watch whatever you're interested in? Does your partner do their share of the work? Parenting is hard work, you shouldn't also be responsible for all of the cleaning! Can you declutter extra stuff so that you're not always picking junk up everywhere?</p> <p>My hobbies and goals are hugely important to me, so I've given these things a TON of thought (obviously, lol). I've really tried to design my parenting life so that I still get to have my own life, and at this point, it's really working. I'm really nervous about how upended it's going to be when I have my next child this summer, but I'm sure it'll go back to normal some day.</p> <p>My husband and I often spell each other at night, so he can go out for a ride, so I can go to a concert. We each work extra hard around the house those days, so that they other person doesn't feel like they're taking on extra work. It really works for us - and it has allowed us to really spend time on the things we love to do. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-have-time-for-your-own-hobbies#post-2025556 Thu, 15 Jan 2015 13:36:46 +0000 cascademom 2025556@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have the same problem with hobbies. I used to knit more frequently. It's hard to carve out time for it. Like everyone else, once LO is asleep, I veg on the couch or attempt to knit or watch Nashville which I'm still not through with the first season yet on Hulu. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-have-time-for-your-own-hobbies#post-2025554 Thu, 15 Jan 2015 13:36:20 +0000 MaryM 2025554@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have a LO yet, so can't comment personally, but I do run a meet up group and have several members with young kids who use the group as a way to get 2-3 solid hours of crafting without a little one interrupting them. We meet once a month, so they find ways to have their kids watched for that one time a month </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-have-time-for-your-own-hobbies#post-2025550 Thu, 15 Jan 2015 13:33:42 +0000 looch 2025550@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One of my hobbies is painting, I try to get my son to help me on that front, like doing the solid color background or similar.</p> <p>I also am doing a bunch of sewing projects, but those are done on the weekend, in spurts. I will probably make a lot of progress on those this weekend! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-have-time-for-your-own-hobbies#post-2025535 Thu, 15 Jan 2015 13:29:24 +0000 yoursilverlining 2025535@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Evenings after LO has gone to sleep, and on the weekends we each try to give each other a 2-3 hour real break (real break meaning we take LO outside of the house so the other has 100% dedicated time!) and we can do whatever we want during that break time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-have-time-for-your-own-hobbies#post-2025513 Thu, 15 Jan 2015 13:21:53 +0000 blackbird 2025513@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a plethora of hobbies. I sew and work out....I make time in the evenings and weekends. I go to the gym after work a few days a week and E has quality time with DH (when i'm not pregnant, I get up at 4:30 to go sometimes!). I prep an easy dinner that night so I can get home and get it on the table in 15 minutes. I sew in the evenings after she goes to bed, while she watches tv, or prep quilt pieces while DH and I watch a movie. I try to work smarter, not harder ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-have-time-for-your-own-hobbies#post-2025499 Thu, 15 Jan 2015 13:16:04 +0000 hotchildinthecity 2025499@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My biggest hobby right now is CrossFit. I go early in the morning (5:45) and both my husband and son are sleeping when I leave. When I come back LO is doing breakfast and DH is getting ready for work.</p> <p>I also enjoy blogging and sewing. Since I stay at home for the moment (adoption leave) i blog during his naptime and I sew at night. </p> <p>When I go back to work I'll continue crossfit because I need that break in my life but blogging and sewing might become less frequent.</p> <p>I'm fast at cooking and I do a lot of prep whenever I can. We only live in 800 sq feet so there's not a hell of a lot of cleaning to do. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-have-time-for-your-own-hobbies#post-2025491 Thu, 15 Jan 2015 13:11:43 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2025491@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hobbies, what's that?<br /> :bummed:<br /> Wish I knew how people had time for hobbies. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-have-time-for-your-own-hobbies#post-2025468 Thu, 15 Jan 2015 12:59:24 +0000 mrsjazz 2025468@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When she's asleep. If it means occasionally not cleaning or staying up until 3 a.m. so be it. DH and I also give each other some time on the weekends where we may switch off for a few hours. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-have-time-for-your-own-hobbies#post-2025447 Thu, 15 Jan 2015 12:48:38 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 2025447@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't. They only recently started going to bed at the same time which means I have about two hours after they go to bed. But then I usually still have to finish up tidying, paying bills, email etc. by the time I'm done I have no mental energy for crafting of anything else. :/ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-have-time-for-your-own-hobbies#post-2025434 Thu, 15 Jan 2015 12:41:04 +0000 mrbee 2025434@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@avivoca: I do this too!</p> <p>The other big source of time for me is in the mornings... I try and wake up earlier so I can put a dent in the chores, and free up time in the evening. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-have-time-for-your-own-hobbies#post-2025428 Thu, 15 Jan 2015 12:39:23 +0000 JoJoGirl 2025428@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My only real "hobby" right now outside of work, parenting, and being married ;) is going to the gym. I do that VERY VERY early in the morning before she wakes up, usually. It kind of sucks, but good for my mental health! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-have-time-for-your-own-hobbies#post-2025424 Thu, 15 Jan 2015 12:38:24 +0000 avivoca 2025424@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I save my hobby time for when she's asleep. That works about 50% of the time. The other 50%, I'm sitting on the couch because I'm so tired. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-have-time-for-your-own-hobbies#post-2025410 Thu, 15 Jan 2015 12:33:12 +0000 pinkcupcake 2025410@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just wondering if there are other parents out there struggling with this...</p> <p>Currently I'm staying home w/my 3-year-old daughter. I'm having such a hard time carving out any time for my own hobbies / interests. I have this huge long list of things I wanna learn or try - calligraphy, sewing, baking &amp; decorating, going to the gym, even finishing up Parenthood (1.5 seasons to go). Problem is... I just can't find any spare time to do anything. The day is spent cooking, cleaning, running errands... I've really tried to deconstruct my day and it seems like if I'm not preparing meals, I'm cleaning. How do you guys find the time for yourself? Do you push some things to the side? </p>