Moms are busy, moms are tired. And moms don’t always take time for themselves. In fact, they often put self-care on the bottom of their list of priorities – below work, kids, home, and family. But if you’re not taking care of yourself then you could be doing more harm than good. This blog post will give you 11 easy self-care tips for busy moms.
Stress, exhaustion, and even illness can take a toll when moms aren’t getting what they need to feel balanced and healthy. So whether it’s a few minutes here or there or an entire day off from responsibilities – it’s essential to carve out some time for self-care!
Here are some tips on how to do just that.
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9 Self-Care Tips for Busy Moms
1. Make Sleep a Priority
Sleep is one of the most important factors in a mom’s self-care routine. There are nights you may not be able to get enough sleep because…well, mom life.
Simply do your best to make sleep a priority. (I know, you’re trying to do all the things, but this is important too, right up there with feeding the baby, taking the kids to school, and cooking a healthy dinner. )
Sleep deprivation is linked with obesity and diabetes, and people who don’t get enough sleep may struggle in everyday life.
So aim for 7 to 8 hours since adequate sleep is vital to maintain your health and well-being.
Find out why positive self-talk for moms is so important.
2. Eat Healthy Food
Good self-care starts with taking care of your body. One of the best ways to take care of your body is to eat healthy foods. Eating healthy can help relieve stress, enhance self-esteem, and promote a healthy lifestyle.
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Focus on eating more:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Nuts and seeds
- Lean protein
- Healthy fats
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Eat less:
- Pre-packaged, processed foods
- Sweets and refined carbohydrates – cake, cookies, candy
- Other junk food
Related: 20 Fun Snacks for Kids: Easy and Quick Recipes
Smoothie Recipe Video
Check out this video about the 3 benefits of drinking smoothies.
3. Find an Exercise You Enjoy
Exercise is simply doing physical activities. The key to maintaining your workouts is finding something you enjoy.
The benefits of exercise are impressive.
Working out may:
- boost self-esteem and confidence
- reduce stress and anxiety
- enhance self-control
- help manage symptoms of depression
Working out is one of the most effective tools we have for reducing chronic disease risk while also boosting mood and motivation.
Despite what you may have heard, fitness doesn’t have to be painful. Find an activity you enjoy and be consistent.
Here are some fun exercise options:
- Dancing
- Biking
- Walking (I did this a lot when our 4 kids were little.)
- Yoga
- Pilates
- Fitness apps
- Weight lifting
- Body-weight exercises
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4. Take a Social Media Break
One thing a busy mom can do is take a break from social media. This can help you feel calmer and less stressed.
Taking a social media break or detox allows you to be more engaged in your child’s life since you’re not continuously checking your phone.
Some mothers wonder if it’s healthy to spend time on social media at all. When people spend too much time scrolling through their phone feed, it can lead to unrealistic goals, or fear of missing out (FOMO).
And, really, who’s got time for that?
You can find out more about How To Do A Social Media Detox Challenge To Feel Better.
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5. Set Boundaries
Repeat this to yourself: it’s okay to say no.
It’s important for busy moms to set healthy boundaries. Start with saying no when your schedule is too busy and you just can’t add anything else to your list of responsibilities.
It can be hard to say no but it will save you frustration and exhaustion in the long run.
Figure out what your top priorities are, then focus on those people and goals.
If you know you don’t have time or energy for calls from your sister, don’t pick up the phone. You can call her back later when you have more time to talk.
If your busy schedule doesn’t allow for an hour-long visit with Aunt Sally, consider doing a short Skype chat instead.
Setting healthy boundaries is essential because busy moms need to consider their needs too.
It’s likely that your family and friends will understand how busy you are. But even if they don’t, you don’t have to feel bad about saying no.
Busy parents must care for themselves in order to be able to care for their families.
RELATED: 10 Self-Care Tips for Busy Teachers
6. Meditate
The first time I tried a meditation app for 5 minutes I felt like those 5 minutes were the longest of my life. In that short amount of time, I became distracted and had trouble sitting still.
(Kind of like a small child, I know.)
But with more practice, it became easier and something I started to enjoy. I felt more at ease, grateful, and focused.
Our minds can become overwhelmed with different thoughts. And it’s harder to cope with stress when you have so many concerns on your mind!
Meditation is something that might help you find focus and peace in your day. It can help your concentrate on what matters most at the moment and doesn’t take a lot of time.
So, pop in some earbuds and try a free meditation app.
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7. Pamper Yourself
Here are some pampering ideas for you to try out.
- Paint your nails, or get a pedicure
- Get a massage
- Give yourself a facial
- Take a bubblebath after the kids are tucked in for the night
- Do some gentle stretching to relax tight muscles
- Meet a friend for coffee or lunch
- Soak your feet in warm water with essential oils
- Light a candle
RELATED: 5 Quick and Comforting Wellness Tips for Moms
8. Spend Time in Nature
Motherhood has lots of responsibilities, but spending time in nature helps you relax, relieve stress, and helps you feel grounded. Here are some ideas to spend more time outside:
- Take a break mid-day to go outside for fresh air
- Go on a hike
- Take the kids on a nature walk
- Visit the zoo or an aquarium
- Play a game outdoors
- Set up some sensory activities to do with the littles
Related: Sensory Play Benefits And 10 Simple Sensory Activities For Your Preschooler
9. Just Breathe
In order to relieve stress, you can engage in some simple breathing techniques. This is an easy and free tip that you can use anytime, anywhere.
Here’s what to do:
- Find a quiet space or area where you won’t be disturbed.
- Sit comfortably on the floor with your back against a wall (or in a chair).
- Close your eyes and take 10 deep breaths. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Make sure to fully breathe in and fully breathe out each time. If this isn’t comfortable for you, just focus on taking deep breaths of fresh air without trying to control how you breathe in and out.
- Be aware of your breathing for a few minutes
- Do this 2-3 times a day, especially if you’re feeling stressed or anxious.
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10. Have a Cup of Tea
Sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee, tea, or some sparkling water when your littles are napping.
As you sip your drink, take a few moments to think of 3 things you’re grateful for.
It’s amazing how simply taking the time to appreciate what you’re thankful for can improve your mindset and reduce stress.
11. Do something you love.
Think about what you enjoyed most as a child. Maybe it was reading books, swimming, or singing. Or maybe you loved fun hands-on activities.
Make a shortlist of the things you enjoy doing and see how you can include them in your daily routine. You might discover that your child loves some of the same things and you can share these activities together.
Learn something new. Create something. Do something you love.
Here are 100 Low-Cost Hobbies to get you thinking.
What Is Self-Care?
As moms, we tend to put our family’s needs before our own. We make sure everyone has had a bath, clean clothes, and a healthy meal every day of the week.
We may give up personal interests to do what we feel is needed to succeed, whether at home or in our career.
Self-care is encompassing. It’s about taking care of yourself so you can be healthy, stay well, do your job, help, and care for others, and accomplish all that you need to and want to in a day.
Self-care includes everything that concerns your physical well-being, from personal hygiene to nutrition and medical care. It’s all of the actions that someone can do to handle stress.
Why Taking Care of Yourself Is Important
Taking care of yourself isn’t only essential for your mental health, but also helps you be a better person who is more altruistic in the world.
Self-care is important for moms because it:
- Allows you to enjoy life more fully
- Boosts your self-confidence, which can be help your children develop into healthy adults
- Helps break down unhealthy patterns and habits
- Allows for appreciation of what’s around you
- Gives you a chance to rejuvenate your whole self (inside & out)
- Helps you be more mindful (awareness of the moment) instead of overanalyzing or worrying about everything
- Improves self-awareness and how your actions affect others
- Helps you to be fully present with yourself and your family in the moment
- Reminds you that you are important too (because, well…you are!)
For more on how to take care of yourself as a mom, check out these 10 Self-Care Tips for Women: How To Cope With Stress Without Sacrificing Yourself.
Final Word: Self-Care Tips for the Busy Mom
I hope this post has helped give you some ideas of how to take care of yourself while also being the best mom for your kids. It doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming. It just takes a little effort on your part and intentionality about caring for yourself. You’re worth it!
Printable Self-Care Calendar
I created a resource to help you make yourself a priority. You can check out the Self-Care Calendar and our Thrive Berry Etsy shop for all the details.
How do you make time for yourself? Share your self-care tips below!
