I have an interesting life. I recently took my daughter on a trip to London. I work in a field I care about. I have friends, a great kid, and a flexible job. And yet — I’ve been feeling bored. Not because there’s nothing going on, but because I don’t feel connected to myself in it.

As a solo parent who works from home, I’m always on. There’s no commute to decompress, no partner to tag in, no time that feels truly mine unless I fight for it. And lately, I’ve been feeling the weight of that.

So I’ve been exploring ways to reclaim small pieces of myself — not in grand gestures, but in micro-moments. Here’s what I’m trying.

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1. Micro-Escapes You Can Take Without Leaving the House
These are tiny shifts that create mental or emotional space:

• Sit in your car for 10 minutes before heading back inside. No podcast. No calls. Just silence.
• Take a “shower plus.” Add music or a podcast, lock the door, and let it be your reset ritual.
• Let your kid watch an episode of something while you walk around the block like you don’t live there.
• Scroll Zillow in a city you’ll never move to, just because it’s fun. Or read fiction. Or meditate. Just do something with no outcome attached.

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2. Build One Weekly Ritual Just for You
I’m starting small: one solo outing a week. Even if it’s just 30 minutes at a coffee shop with my headphones in. No errands. No calls. Just a little pocket of autonomy.

If you can swing it, ask a friend to swap sitting duties. If not, find a window where your kid is occupied and block it on your calendar like it’s a real meeting.

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3. Stay Connected Without Needing a Full Hangout
Live calls are great — but sometimes they’re too much. I’ve been sending voice notes to friends instead. Or replying to DMs with more than “haha.” It’s asynchronous connection, and it’s low effort but high return.

One of my favorite ways to stay connected right now is through a group chat I’m in with a neighborhood circle of professional women. There are sub-chats on everything from travel to home renovation, and it’s a space that feels alive and supportive without demanding too much. I love being able to pop in and out, share a thought, or just read others’ updates. It reminds me that I’m part of a wider web — and that I’m not alone in trying to hold it all together.

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4. Reconnect With Who You Were Before Parenting Took Over
What used to light you up that doesn’t require a whole afternoon? Music? Painting? Writing? I started a private Pinterest board just for me — it’s full of things that feel like me, not just the mom-me or the work-me.

It’s a small way to tap into old dreams and new ones, too. Sometimes just seeing a visual reminder of what moves you is enough to start shifting the energy.

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If you’re feeling bored, it doesn’t mean your life is boring. It might mean you’re craving something quieter, deeper, and more yours. Not everyone gets how intense solo parenting is. But you don’t have to wait for a vacation to feel alive again. Sometimes you just need ten minutes — and a door that locks.