Mothers who don't get daily time away from their children gradually lose connection to their own preferences, thoughts, and energy. One hour daily — gym, walk, coffee alone, evening with phone off after kids' bedtime — is minimum maintenance.
How to create it
Early morning before children wake. Evening after bedtime. Trade with partner. Childcare for a class or activity. The specifics matter less than the consistency.
Most mothers feel guilty about needing or wanting this. The guilt is structural and worth processing. The hour itself isn't selfish — it's the resource that makes everything else work.