Babies, toddlers, and kids not in school mean your life is time confetti. Learn how to use these little pockets of time to take care of yourself.

There’s nothing like kids to humble you by showing you how good you had it before they came around.

Now, before people start screaming, I love my kids. My world is better and richer with them here.

But before kids came along, I never realized HOW much time I used to have. I was swimming in time. I was a time millionaire. And I still wonder what I squandered that time on.

As a new parent, I imagine you do too.

Because as you stand by the couch folding laundry with the baby at your feet and the toddler chasing the cat, you probably puzzle about when you’ll ever have time for yourself. Ever. Again.

Your life is now a soup of time confetti.

You get 15 minutes here and 20 minutes there. Maybe an hour while your kiddo naps. But if you have more than 1 kid, then that’s gone.

And it can feel so frustrating.

But here’s the reality: Your life of time confetti isn’t going anywhere soon.

There’s no point in fighting it. You’ll just get mad and rage-clean the bathroom. And then still be pissed when you’re done.

So instead, embrace it. 

Lean into time confetti and know it’s just a phase in life. 

Because before you can blink, all of your kids will be in school. And you’ll look around and not know what to do with yourself.

You know what I did with my time confetti? I started a business. (This isn’t a humble brag. This is just me letting you know how crazy I am.)

It was tough, taking all these little steps when I just wanted a whole freaking hour to work on my website.

But I decided to embrace the parenting phase I was in (and still am!) and get something for me out of it.

So how can you lean into your time confetti?

I’m glad you asked. 

Here’s what worked for me. Take what you need and leave the rest.

5 steps to help you figure out how to use the time you have while taking care of littles.

1. Track your time

Plan to track your time for one entire week. From the moment you get up to when you go to bed, write it down. Put it in a spreadsheet or use a timer app (like toggl). Whatever works for you.

Then analyze the information to understand:

• Where you’re using your time,

• What you can do less of (I’m looking at you doom scrolling),

• And where you can fit in pockets of “you” time.

When your kiddos are taking naps, it’s easier to know when your “you” time is coming. But when they’re done napping, that’s when it gets tricky.

So looking at your week can help you see where your time is all going.

2. Create goals

Now that you know where you spend your time, what are supposed to do with it?

Whatever you want! This step is about you and your goals.

You could work out. Take a nap. Draw. Read. Lay on your bed and do nothing. Whatever brings you joy.

But every day you should take a bit of time that’s focused on YOU.

Not getting more housework done (unless that fills your cup. If it does, you’re welcome to come to my house to fill your cup even more!).

But these little pockets of time are about you and only you.

All the “things” that are waiting around the house can get done later. Because we both know you’ll neglect yourself for weeks, but vacuuming always seems to get done.

Give yourself permission do it later.

3. Create a plan

When an unexpected 15 minutes pops up, what will you do with it?

Don’t know? Same.

Whenever my husband takes all 3 kids out and I have a hot minute to myself, I’m always at a loss as to what I want to do.

Watch a show I’ve been dying to see? Read? Lay in bed and enjoy the silence?

Usually, I default to business stuff because I know what needs to be done there. But that doesn’t always fill my cup. I still need some quality me time – and so do you!

A plan of what you’d like to accomplish gives you more focus and less panic when you find yourself with the gift of time to yourself.

4. Embrace kid shows

One way I got in a good chunk of work when I was building my business was PBS Kids. Oh, we watched a lot of Daniel Tiger, Wild Kratts, and Sesame Street.

I’d set it at 1 hour of shows (usually that’s about 3 shows), start it up, and then sit down to do whatever was needed doing.

And before anyone starts yelling about how bad TV is for kids, just remember, you do you.

If that doesn’t work for your family, cool. It worked for mine (and my kids can fill your ears with all the animal facts they learned from Wild Kratts!).

And I’m not advocating for plopping your kids in front of the TV for hours on end. Just use it strategically and to your advantage.

5. Use a timer

This keeps you honest.

Have your kids watching a 25-minute show? Set the timer and go. Read, do yoga, draw, take a shower, listen to a podcast, or set up a website.

The timer is there to keep you focused.

A timer counting down the minutes keeps you from spending precious moments clearing out your inbox or stopping to change the wash. That can all be done later.

This time is about you.

So find that cozy corner, lay down, and “gather wool.”

This phase in life will soon pass.

One day the Legos will be off the floor, and instead, your home will be filled with teens staring at their phones.

So lean into your time confetti. And use some of those bits of time for yourself.

And when things go sideways – because they will – give yourself some grace. No one ever finds the perfect balance.

Remember: progress, not perfection.

Have ideas of how other parents can survive the time confetti years? Leave your ideas in the comments!