The OpMom Blog

What’s the One Guilty Pleasure You Can’t or Won’t Live Without?

Today in the 30 Something Mom’s Circle on OpMom Gina asks:

What’s the one guilty pleasure you can’t or won’t live without!
Is it a food, a certain brand of clothing, type of beauty product? What is the thing that gave you that feeling of being spoiled when you got it for the first time and now you refuse to live without it?

Being a Mom - means being busy just about every minute of the day. A lot of times it means sacrificing small pleasures - because there just isn’t enough time left at the end of the day. Here are 4 Steps to give you more time for those Guilty Pleasures we all love.

1. Exercise Everyday. Believe it or not - adding yet another To-Do to your already cramped list might be just what you need to make more time for those Guilty Pleasures. Here’s why. When we exercise we actually create more energy. And having more energy means we do things in a more efficient manner because we’re more alert and can think more creatively about the problems we face each day.
2. Get Up Half An Hour Earlier Every Morning. Use this time to take a relaxing bubble bath, read your favorite guilty pleasure novel, or work on a craft project. Combine this with Step 1 - and you’ll be well on your way to creating more time and energy in your life to enjoy more guilty pleasures.
3. Get Support. It’s natural to feel guilty when we take time for the things we love. Especially if it means neglecting something else on our To-Do list. This is why it’s great to form a support network and do things with other mom’s. This will accomplish two things: 1.) Peer pressure is a great way to assiege guilt. 2.) Having a support network will help you free up resources - and possibly even free up time. You could have a Girl’s Night Out each week - and alternate who watches the kids.
4. Find Ways to Build Guilty Pleasure Into Your Daily Routine. This is by far and away the easiest to implement. Find ways to multi-task and build guilty pleasure directly into your life. For instance - find groups and organizations that provide free child-care. For instance your local gym or church. And use that time to do one or two of the things you love most.

Back to those Guilty Pleasures - here are some of the responses from our OpMom Community:

“Chocolate for the comfort part. As far as spoiled feeling, clothing, no certain brand as long as the outfit fits just right.” -Charlene

“Johnson’s soothing vapor bath. it was meant to be for babies but people of all ages seem to enjoy it, especially me lol. its relaxing after a tiring or stressful day and it relaxes the muscles. my son uses it too whenever he gets migraines, it helps ease the pain and gives a calm and relaxing sleep.” - Jayde

“I guess for me it is all 3 LOL!! For food a fancy brie makes me happy along with a sweet perserve like figs, I love to shop and find unique items doesn’t have to be expensive just unique, and I love facials and skin products!” - Carrie

And My Guilty Pleasure?

“Whole Foods Tarragon Chicken Salad - stuffed into a Grown on the Vine Nature’s Sweet Tomato. With a glass of desert wine ;)” - Erica