Having children is a rewarding experience for many, but it also takes a lot of time and energy. 

It can be very time consuming, and often leaves parents feeling exhausted, with little time for themselves. And what little time they do get, some parents may feel they’re being selfish. 

New research shows that mothers who took time out from work and childcare to do things that were fun and pleasurable felt higher levels of vitality – feeling more alert and energised. 

Dougal Sutherland has a few takeaways from this study: 

• It’s important for parents to have some me-time – this is more than just having time out; it’s actively doing something for fun and pleasure in life  
• It’s not selfish, it helps them to function better  
• Given the positive impact mothers’ me-time has on fathers, it’s actually something that benefits others too, so no need to feel guilty about it – and even if you do, go ahead and do it anyway as it will still work 

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