allow oneself a bit of time; shirk work even when very busy; snatch (/steal) a little leisure from a busy life (/the rush of business); take a breathing spell in the midst of pressing affairs
❍ 原来阿妹去看瀑布，可谓‘～’了。(李汝珍《镜花缘》四十九回)It’s turned out that you’ve gone to watch the waterfall. You really know how to snatch a little leisure from a busy life.
忙里偷闲
snatch a little leisure from a busy life
忙里偷闲mánɡ lǐ tōu xián
繁忙之中抽出一点空闲时间。snatch a little leisure from a busy life, take a breathing spell in the midst of pressing affairs