How to Find Time for Yourself When Parenting Never Stops

When Being a Parent Feels Like a 24/7 Job

There’s a moment in almost every parent’s day when time seems to disappear. Between helping with math problems, prepping lunchboxes, refereeing sibling squabbles, and navigating emotional outbursts after a tough day at school, many parents — especially those raising children with learning difficulties or school-related stress — find themselves without a single uninterrupted moment for themselves.

But here’s the truth: your well-being isn’t a luxury. It’s part of the foundation your child relies on. When you’re running on empty, it becomes exponentially harder to show up with patience, creativity, and empathy for your child. And yet, finding time to recharge can feel nearly impossible. How can you claim space for yourself when your child seems to need you every minute?

The Myth of "Enough Time"

Let’s set the record straight—there’s no such thing as “enough time” for parents. The issue isn’t that the clock is broken. It’s that the needs never pause. What’s often more effective than carving out big chunks of alone time is learning to claim short, honest moments—even five minutes to breathe, to center yourself, or to just be instead of do.

That might mean allowing your child to listen to a calming audio story while you enjoy a cup of tea alone in the kitchen. It could look like pausing in the bathroom just to take three deep breaths and check in with yourself. These tiny shifts don’t solve everything, but they add up. And over time, they remind your nervous system that you exist too.

Redefining “Me Time”

In the early years, "me time" might have meant trips to the gym or leisurely coffee dates. Now, it’s something entirely different—and that’s okay. What if we stopped judging the type or length of our personal time and focused instead on its purpose? Rest, reflection, reconnection—these don’t demand hours. They demand intention.

Here are a few perspectives that might help shift this thinking:

• A ten-minute shower can be a sanctuary if you allow it to.
• Listening to music while folding laundry can be soul-filling when you choose the playlist.
• Letting go of the guilt around screens or independent play gives your child a gift: modeling self-care.

If you're not sure where to begin, our article on how to bring more gentle moments into everyday life offers simple starting points that can shift your day without demanding more of your time.

Making Room for Peace—even in Chaos

Children — especially those who struggle with school — thrive when parents are grounded. But calm doesn't emerge from a chaotic inner world. Intentionally crafting moments of peace, even during noisy afternoons, creates ripples.

You might schedule a non-negotiable quiet time each day, even if it’s just 20 minutes. During this time, your child can engage in an activity that doesn't require your direct involvement—building with blocks, drawing, listening to an audiobook. These moments aren’t just distractions; they can become rhythms that children learn to anticipate and respect.

One helpful tool that supports independent enrichment for children is the LISN Kids App, an audio platform featuring original audiobooks and series for children ages 3–12. While your child listens to a calming or inspiring story on the iOS or Android version, you can step away—mentally and physically—for a mini recharge.

Need more inspiration? Read our guide on how to recharge when you're a parent of young children—even small efforts can yield surprisingly big results.

Letting Go of the Guilt

In moments of quiet, guilt often creeps in. Shouldn’t you be doing something more productive? Helping more? Planning further ahead?

The answer is: no, not always. You deserve care just as your child does. Modeling this truth is a radical act of parenting—not selfishness, but bravery in action. By tending to your own needs, you teach something more powerful than multiplication tables: how a person lovingly sustains themselves.

If guilt has become loud and persistent, our reflection on how to bring more peace to family life can be a reassuring reminder that rest isn’t failure—it’s stewardship.

Cultivating a Home Atmosphere that Includes You

We often try to create a nurturing environment at home for our children but forget to center ourselves in that picture. What if your family culture included space for everyone’s needs—including yours?

This could mean background music that soothes you, not just what your child likes. It could involve revisiting shared routines so they’re less taxing. Consider even borrowing a few strategies from our piece on how to create calm moments at home without losing your mind. These shifts aren’t dramatic, but over time, they quietly reconfigure your home’s energy.

One Breath at a Time

You’re likely juggling a lot right now—possibly more than you ever imagined when you first became a parent. It’s easy to fall into the trap of waiting: waiting for things to get easier, for routines to click, for your child to become more independent. But peace isn’t only in the future—it can be found in the pauses you allow today.

Start small. Start imperfectly. But trust that these small pockets of reconnection—to yourself, your breath, your sense of identity—matter. Because your child doesn’t need a perfect parent. They need a parent who is fully human. And that begins with honoring your own needs, even when no one else pauses to notice them.