The single working mum’s guide to dating

It can be difficult as a career-driven mother to find time for anything but your job and your kids. But if you lose yourself to these commitments, what happens to the real you? Too much time devoted to others, as rewarding as it may be, can erode our personal lives and rob us of an identity.

Even a jog in the parl can be an opportunity to find love
Even a jog in the parl can be an opportunity to find love

This evening will be the chance to prove you’re not – you’ll have more time to spend with them. You could even use the time to rediscover an old hobby or re-awaken your love life.

However you choose to spend it, make sure the time is there and you use it to take a break from everything.

Take advantage of the little breaks
Try to exploit every moment you have to yourself and make the most of it. Make sure you’re reading or watching your favourite programme on the commute rather than sending your morning emails.

Make sure you don’t work through your lunch break. Organise lunch with a friend, or even a date. Go out for an hour-long stroll to explore the surroundings of your office. Take advantage of these moments and you’ll soon realise how much free time you actually have.

Look out for opportunities
Be on the lookout for child-free opportunities and grasp them when they arrive. School trips, holidays with friends – say yes to them all and fork out the money if you need to. It will be more than worth it when you get home to a quiet house every evening after those busy days at work.

Book your own holiday
Better still, while the kids are away, book a holiday away without them. Go on a girlie holiday to Greece or a romantic weekend trip to Paris with your partner. It’s too easy to only take time off work for the school holidays. Break that cycle and book an adventure for yourself!

Don’t keep neglecting yourself by prioritising work and kids. Take these five steps to find some well-deserved ‘me’ time in all the chaos.

It’s important to be selfish sometimes so you have the time for going to the cinema with your mates or for dating Sheffield or Manchester singles you met online. Here are a few steps to take towards striking up the right balance between work, children and the ever-neglected you…

Joycellyn Akuffo

Founder and editor of www.motherswhowork.co.uk, a mother of two wonderful children, wife, entrepreneur (check out www.geekschool.co.uk) and journalist.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Back to top