Mom self-care is not something to feed to the “I don’t have time” wolf. And I get it, sometimes the hardest part about taking of yourself as a busy mom is just finding the time. And then when you have the time (even if it is a sliver), what do you do with it?? Here are some mom self-care ideas perfect for the busy bees of the world.
For the record, it’s pretty hard to pick the right self-care for someone else. I’ve found that that best self-care is incredibly personal. But there are a few things that — time and time again — seem to help out the majority of moms that put themselves in the “busy mom” category (every mom?). If you’re looking for simple mom self-care ideas to get you started or to increase your consistency, here are my seven favorite simple staples for busy moms.
Mom Self Care, Mommy Self Care, Self Care for Moms — HOWEVER you want to slice it, here are some staples to incorporate into your routine
1. Drink water
I know, I know. You’ve probably heard this, well forever. And recently a friend shared an article with me that debunked the pressure to drink “enough” water. BUT hear me out. When you drink water a few wonderful things happen.
You drink water
Obviously. But really no matter what the research says about how much water you need, you still need it!
When you drink water, you don’t drink other things
Yeah, I’m talking about pop, tea, and afternoon coffee (guilty!!) All things that are fine in moderation, but can be a slippery slope.
When you drink water other self-care things just kind of happen
Drinking water unconsciously encourages you to reach for things that are more nourishing. It’s one of those things that just happens, I can’t explain it.
2. Move your body
It does not matter what you do to move your body. But moving your body is good for the mind, body, and soul. Here are some simple ideas:
- Go on a walk
- Do some jumping jacks
- Get a full 30 minute workout in!
- Have a dance party in your living room
3. Sleep
Finding the right schedule for you is really important. I have found that 7 to 7.5 hours of sleep is a happy place for me. If I sleep less, I can feel it. If I sleep more, I can also feel it (anyone else feel more tired when you get extra sleep?). The most reliable way to plan for the amount of sleep you want is simple, pick the right bedtime. Here’s a simple formula for you…
(time you want to wake up) – (number of hours you want to sleep) = bedtime
If you read that and thought ok, but HOW? How do I get to bed that early? I put together some tips for you in my post, How Do You Go to Bed So Early? It also might help to create a routine for your evening to support sleep — I talk more about bedtime routine and things to do before bed on the blog too!
4. Read or listen to a podcast/audiobook
Maybe you’re more likely to read a physical (or digital) book, maybe you’re more likely to listen to a book (or Podcast). If you actually read a book, I am so impressed with you. I read for my bible study nightly, but I’m a slow reader and I usually end up falling asleep so it takes me about 6 months to finish a book. I am VERY into audiobooks and Podcasts because I can do that while doing other things, like walking (see #2) or doing laundry. Honestly, sometimes I wonder why I write a blog instead of run a Podcast, but that’s a conversation for another time.
The reason this is so important is because reading is a way of growing. And growing is one way to show yourself you care. Mom self-care is important and all of these activities are reminders of that.
5. Connect with friends
Don’t underestimate the power of voice texting, FaceTiming with friends for five minutes. Or, if you’re lucky enough, a walk with a neighbor after the kiddos are asleep. Talking with another adult. Human interaction outside of our kids and just for fun is so great for you mental health. It reminds you that you’re YOU, not just mom.
6. Don’t forget, mom self-care should also be fun!
The bar is low here ladies. It has to be! It needs to be the type of mommy self-care that can be done in 5 minutes or less if that’s all the time you have at the moment. The kind of self-care a busy mom will actually do. Mom self-care is important. SO. Aim for something fun, mindless, and not competitive. Doodle. Have a dance party. Watch Schitt’s Creek. Have a little fun.
7. Take care of something
Taking care of yourself is productive. (Read that sentence a few times through if you’re a type A perfectionist like me). AND being productive is taking care of yourself.
We aren’t reminded enough that taking care of yourself is productive and being productive (like taking care of the laundry mountain) is taking care of yourself. So often it has to be one or the other, but they play well together. So, #7 is to take care of something. Maybe it’s shoes that aren’t anywhere near “their spot” in the mudroom. Maybe it’s writing a thank you to your parents for babysitting. Maybe it’s as simple as making your bed. Taking care of something is taking care of you.
Consistently is KEY for mom self-care is work
This list of simple self-care for busy moms is so important because consistently taking care of yourself, even if it’s just for five minutes a day, makes more of an impact that taking one day out of the month to pack it all in. You need constant reminders that you’re crushing it and you deserve to be taken care of.
What are your favorite simple self-care activities? What did I miss?