If I’m honest, the one thing that has really suffered since becoming a parent is my ability to fulfill my entertainment needs. Pre-baby, I could easily spend my days off work lying in bed, binge-watching an entire season on Netflix. I could crush a whole novel in one afternoon without interruption. I could watch a full movie without having to pause it once. I know all my mamas feel me when I say; I can’t even remember what that feels like anymore. 

Although I no longer have the hours to watch an entire season of The Office in one sitting, I still have needs, damn it! But between work, parenting, and household chores, I’m lucky if I get an hour of free time before bed, which I usually use doing stuff like bathing. Because you know, I kinda have to. And then, I discovered podcasts, and everything changed. But not just podcasts; audiobooks, guided meditation tracks, keynote speeches, Ted Talks, and the list only goes on. Suddenly, I found myself immersed in incredible (and mostly free!) content that provides me with an endless stream of entertainment. And the best part? I don’t have to wait for that hour before bed to enjoy it.

Look, Ma, No Hands!

Hands down, my favorite thing about podcasts is that it’s hands-free. I can listen to one while driving, pushing a stroller, playing with a toddler, washing the dishes- whatever! The fact that I don’t need to use any of my extremities besides my ears to enjoy them means that I can listen to them almost whenever, which by the way, I do.

Entertainment On The Go

Mom life is rarely stationary. On any given day, we’re at work, the grocery store, drop-offs, pick-ups, appointments, practices, and everywhere else in between. But once I realized that I could put on a podcast in the car, suddenly, my daily errands turn into a mix between pleasure and productivity. But what if your kids would rather listen to the musical masterpiece that is Little Baby Bum? Well, that’s what headphones are for y’all (them, not you if you’re driving.) You’re a grown woman, and that alone warrants you to want better than to listen to Baby Shark every time you start the ignition. You have already suffered enough, my friend.

Never Stop Learning

I don’t care how old you are, how successful you are in your career, how committed you are to being a stay at home mom, or how many degrees you already have. You still owe it to yourself to never stop learning. And when I say learning, I don’t mean suffering through lectures you couldn’t care less about like you’re back in middle school geometry class. Pick things that excite you. What are you interested in? What are you curious about? Are you into self-development? There’s a podcast for that. Beauty? There’s a podcast for that. Historical romance fiction? There is a podcast and at least a hundred thousand audiobooks for that. Transform your passive idle time into an opportunity to learn, grow, and pursue the things that you love. It will make you a better and happier person, which, in turn, will make you a better and happier mom.