How to Enjoy Time for Yourself Without Feeling Guilty 

Parenting Perspective 

Enjoyment Is Not a Distraction, It Is a Necessity 

It is very common for parents, especially mothers, to feel guilty for taking time to enjoy something for themselves. You may feel that every bit of energy should go into your children, but when you constantly deny yourself joy or rest, you risk becoming drained and resentful. The truth is that when a parent is content and replenished, the whole family benefits. Enjoyment is not a distraction from your children; it is a way to return to them with more patience, presence, and warmth. 

See Your Enjoyment as Part of Your Parenting 

One way to reframe this guilt is to see your moments of enjoyment as part of your parenting, not separate from it. When you pursue a hobby, read a book, or spend time with a friend, you are showing your children that adults, too, have needs and that balance is healthy. They learn by watching you that life should include both responsibility and joy. 

Make Your Enjoyment Transparent and Safe 

You can also be intentional about explaining it to them in simple words. For example, you might say, “Mummy is going to spend some time reading, and afterwards we will play together.” This makes your enjoyment transparent, temporary, and safe in their eyes. It helps them see that your time for yourself does not reduce your love for them. 

Replace Guilt With Purpose 

Finally, remind yourself that your children deserve the best version of you, not the most exhausted version. When you allow yourself space for joy, you protect your emotional energy and can give them quality attention rather than depleted scraps of it. By recognising this, you begin to replace guilt with purpose. 

Spiritual Insight 

Balance Your Responsibilities With Self-Care 

Islam teaches balance and moderation in all things, including family life. Your responsibility towards your children is great, but so is your responsibility to care for yourself as a servant of Allah. 

Do Not Forget Your Share of This World 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Qasas (28), Verse 77: 

‘“And seek (to discover) from what Allah (Almighty) has bestowed upon you for the abode in the Hereafter; and do not forget your (true) functionality in this world; and show favour (onto others) as Allah (Almighty) has shown favour upon you; and do not seek to spread (immoral) anarchy on the Earth; as indeed, Allah (Almighty) does not like those who spread (immoral) anarchy”.’ 

This Verse reminds us that while our ultimate focus is the Hereafter, we are not to deny ourselves the permissible enjoyments of this world. Enjoying what Allah has allowed is part of gratitude, not selfishness. 

Give Each Their Due Right, Including Yourself 

It is recorded in Sunan an-Nasai that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Your Lord has a right over you, your self has a right over you, and your family has a right over you. So give each their due right.’  

[Sunan an-Nasai,22:302] 

This Hadith shows that self-care is part of justice. By giving time to your own needs, you are not taking away from your children’s rights but fulfilling your own in balance with theirs. 

Letting go of guilt means recognising that your enjoyment strengthens your ability to parent well. By aligning your self-care with both balance and gratitude to Allah, you create a home where your children see love expressed through both sacrifice and healthy living.