5 Tips For Introverted Mums

Parenting isn’t easy. Having to deal with a little person for hours on end means that your much-needed alone time becomes virtually non-existent. Even when you settle down to sleep at the end of a long day, you wake up within hours to a wail from the crib. However, introverts do need their own time to recharge alone. It just becomes harder to do so when you’re a mother.

Inspired by articles we have read recently, we collated some tips to help those introverted mums (this is applicable to dads too!) out there to cope!

1. Know what helps you recharge 🔋

Even as introverts need time away from people to feel re-energised, not all introverts recharge the same way. Knowing what recharges you in your way is most important. It could be going out for a run or taking a nap. You could prefer listening to music or podcasts, or watching a movie. By understanding your own needs, you can address it better.

In fact, if you like reading, a book that we recommend is Jamie C. Martin’s “Introverted Mom: Your Guide to More Calm, Less Guilt, and Quiet Joy”! Perhaps it will help you even more on this journey of motherhood.

One thing introvert mums face is the longing for alone time. But sometimes, when they finally get the time they need, they are at a loss of what to do. If you are facing this problem, we have a tip for you: either try it all, or don’t try at all! The first method is to just attempt various activities to help yourself relax, until you find the one best suited for you. The other is not to worry about doing anything. When the free time comes, you can appreciate it best by simply not trying to fill it up with even more activities.

2. Develop meaningful hobbies which children can do on their own 🖌️

A good way is to cultivate a meaningful hobby which the child can do on their own. This is so that their time is occupied, leaving you with some space to recharge without having your energy focused on the child the whole time. Consider colouring, which requires minimal supervision, but also promotes imaginative thinking and creativity. Besides providing your child with the materials, there is barely any work involved too! When your child has grown, you could try getting them to move on to reading. Notice that we suggest the more traditional activities, rather than giving your child an electronic device, as those may shorten their attention span and may not be a good habit to cultivate in the long run.

If your child cannot sit still and do something on their own, then you could engage them in something active instead. Then, once they have gotten tired, let them take a nap! Voila, an hour of time to yourself. 😌

3. Ask someone to take over once in a while! 👨👩

There is no shame in asking for help. You cannot be expected to deal with parenting alone. After all, it takes a village to raise a child. Ask your spouse to take over your duties for a fixed amount of time every week, so that you can meet your friends for a meal, or sign up for a weekly class at the community class. Call up a relative and see if you could leave your child with them over the weekend so that you could take a short getaway! I’m sure those who care for you will be more than willing to help.

If you are feeling too overwhelmed, putting your child at a daycare centre is not a bad idea. They can make friends, and you do not have to worry about filling their time with activities or what to cook for breakfast and lunch. This will also help you to appreciate the time you have together at night much better!

4. Run some errands 🧹

Sometimes, even the most mundane errands can give you a respite from the hectic schedule of being a mother. Doing some cleaning while the baby naps, or going out to get groceries when somebody else is at home to take care of the child – These errands do not require as much dealing with people, but still makes you feel productive! Now you won’t have to deal with the guilt of not doing something useful during your ‘alone time’.

5. Have more kids! 👶

No, I am not joking. Although you might feel that you are swamped with yet another person to take care of, it becomes better later on. Instead of you having to entertain your child all the time, your children can play with each other. This is especially helpful if your child is an extrovert and you cannot match their level of energy all the time.

Otherwise, a more feasible option is to find children of the same age group, and arrange playdates with their parents. You could take turns, hosting it at your house and then sending your child over the next week. As such, you can plan your downtime and really allow yourself to relax! Besides, the parents of the other child would be happy too. It is a win-win situation~ 😊