Get your toddler out on stroller walks in the park. A walk to the park will keep your child distracted enough while you get some exercise time in. A brisk 30-minute walk will put you in the right mood for the day. It also instills a sense of exercise in your child.

When grandparents or close family come over for a visit looking to spend time with your child, you can gear them up and get them to do the walks instead and grab some alone-time or do your own stretches at home.

So you don’t have too much babysitting help from close family because they live out of town. No sweat. Just put them on the phone. Children love talking on the phone and grandparents will be more than thrilled for some phone time with them. You will be surprised how long they can actually be at it… long enough to file your nails, Why not?

Children in the house usually also translates to piles of laundry. There’s no escaping that, however, you can get your little one to pitch in. Make it like a game. Create specific piles for each person and kind of clothing and ask your child to guess whose clothes belong to whom. That way you could cut down on 50 per cent of laundry sorting time. We say, 50 because, chances are that some of them will need some resorting once your child has gone through them. In time, they will get good at it.

You being able to grab a nap may be long shot, but with a bit of planning, you can use your children’s nap time to sneak in a lot more me-time than usual. Most children fall asleep faster in cars because research says that the movement and the snug car seat gives them a sense of security that they associate with their own beds. So just a bit before nap time, bundle up your children and get in your car. Then when they sleep you can actually drive through to a coffee shop, catch up on some reading.

Reading a book has been categorised as top most in the list of mothers yearning for some “me-time”. You can also plan your errands around their nap time. Arrive earlier, so that you can chill a little bit while they snooze

This one may need a bit of planning before hand but in time, you will master the art of coming up with timed tasks for them. Give them some paper and colour pencils and ask them to draw something, build something, decorate a photo frame… even maybe clean their toy room. Plan the tasks according to the time you need for yourself. say, you want to have a leisurely bath and then mask time, set them a task for 45 minutes and give them small (inexpensive) incentives to finish the task within the time. By the end of it you will have enough enthusiasm to pull through the rest of the day with a smile.

Oh, don’t forget to figure clear-up time in the challenge as well.. they have to clean up after themselves!

Rather, get them to. Which child doesn’t enjoy throwing its arms up in the air and dancing around. Turn your living room into a dance floor for the afternoon. Blast some of your child’s favourite tunes – you can even get them into costume, if you are so inclined.

You can join the fun or do the dishes, but at least it will be on your own terms.

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