Let’s face it. Life is busy and moms are some of the busiest people we know! Managing school schedules, activities, work, doctor’s appointments, household chores and all the other stuff life throws at us can leave little time for self-care, or “mom time”. BabyQuip knows a lot of busy mamas. Many of our Quality Providers are moms who build their own successful baby gear rental businesses in addition to all the other mom things they do!
When it comes to self-care for moms we wanted to encourage hard working mamas to plan some “me time” and find a few self-care rituals they can implement into their busy lives. So here are 15 ideas you can easily schedule into your day, week or month. There are tons of other ways you can practice self-care; so feel free to find something that works best for you. And if you find something different, share it with us in the comments below! Happy “self-care for moms time” to you!
1. Wake up early for ‘you’ time.
Okay, we know this self-care for moms idea might be hard for some, like those with babies who are up before the sun, but it’s definitely worth a try. When you wake up early (and first!), you can start your day with quiet, reflective time. Maybe it’s your time to plan your day or be productive and get things done before the chaos ensues. Or maybe you turn on the news and sit on the couch with your morning coffee. Maybe you even roll out the yoga mat and do a few sun salutations to grab a little stretch. Whatever you do, you’ll be glad you started the day with a little time to yourself!
2. Travel with friends to take care of yourself.
We are clearly big advocates of family travel but we also think it’s an important self-care for moms to travel on her own with friends. So plan a girls trip with your old college friends! Or go visit a family member by yourself. Time away can be refreshing! Don’t feel like you have to go on a week long or expensive vacation. Even just a day or two can be beneficial for self-care. You could also try a staycation with your bestie! Book a room at a nearby resort, soak in some pool time, schedule a massage or plan a movie night and binge watch your favorite flicks.
3. De-clutter on a consistent basis.
You may shutter at the idea of cleaning, organizing or decluttering (check here for tips), but trust us, once you do, you’ll feel so good! Decluttering makes room for new fun things or just clears space in your home creating some “zen”. Make it a habit to declutter your home once a month. This doesn’t have to be a major endeavor! You can pick a room, a closet or even just your junk drawer. If you really want a challenge, you could go Marie Kondo on your house and get really organized! While this may not seem like self-care for moms, you’ll be amazed at how accomplished you feel after a successful day of decluttering!
4. Hire a sitter for some personal, self-care time (not for work or other obligations) and actually use it to take care of yourself!
You may find yourself hiring babysitters for work obligations, or that upcoming fundraising event for the elementary school or a doctor’s appointment. But why not hire a sitter so that you can have some alone, self-care time! Spend a morning focusing on fun shopping that is impossible to complete with the kids in tow. Head to your favorite clothing store and browse the racks so that you can finally replace all those stretched out yoga pants and stained tops, and stay out of the children’s section! We give you permission! BTW, this is our favorite self-care for moms idea!
5. Find a good book or podcast.
Raise your hand if the last book you read was in college or had less than 200 words! It’s hard to find time to read because it’s one of those things that you can’t really multitask while doing, which for us moms, is nearly impossible. Isn’t “multitask” our middle name? That said, we definitely encourage you to pick up a good book and get lost in it. If you have to multitask, podcasts are a good option too! Either one will allow you to ignore the thoughts running through your mind and just focus on the story being told. It’s very relaxing! (Remember #4? Why not read while the babysitter entertains the kids?!)
6. Bath and face mask with your favorite playlist.
Super cliche, we know. But also SUPER relaxing and necessary. Don’t forget to lock the door to eliminate interruptions. Get the water extra hot and add a splash of organic lavender essential oil, which is said to promote the calmness you are longing for. Stay put for a good long soak. This is a great way to wind down after a long day. This self-care for moms ritual can even be done after the kids are asleep. Make it a weekly thing!
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7. Binge watch a TV show during nap time instead of cleaning or doing laundry.
Nap time is often “get as much done as possible” time for mamas. But what if you ignored the dishes and laundry and toys all over the place, made yourself a smoothie or iced afternoon coffee and binge watched a show that only you like? Sounds pretty good, amiright??? This is our favorite form of self-care for moms! Or better yet, give yourself permission to lay down and sneak in a catnap. Sleeping is essential for taking care of yourself, and we all know that few moms get enough of it!
8. Pack up your family for a picnic dinner at sunset and soak it in.
This idea includes your family so it’s not technically “alone time” but we highly recommend it because it’s a great way to spend quality time together. Cherish the moment and enjoy nature’s way of painting the sky. Don’t go overboard with the picnic. Pack simple sandwiches and snacks or even grab a pizza on the way! It’s a great way to wrap up a busy day and create some memories together.
9. Spend time each week planning some healthy meals and snacks to maintain self-care for moms.
We all know that eating healthy is the most important self-care ritual. But for busy moms, it’s essential; your diet doesn’t have to be completely made up from your toddler’s leftover mac and cheese and the Cheerios your baby drops on the floor! Reserve some time each week to plan healthy meals and snacks. Write a list and get all the necessary groceries. This planning will make it much easier for you to get through your busy weeks and to take care of your body! Plus, when you plan ahead, you have time to make yummy snacks like chocolate protein bites or homemade hummus.
10. Splurge on a beauty treatment.
This is another wellness idea you can do when you hire a sitter for “you time”! Go to your favorite massage therapist, get a haircut or pick up your bestie for a mani or pedi. Try something fun that you’ve never done before, like a specialty facial or a body wrap. Beauty treatments are pretty much guaranteed to make you feel relaxed, refreshed and happy.
11. Commit to a workout routine.
Exercise felt like hard work in your pre-kids life, but as a mom it can be that one time of day when you have the freedom to be in your own head! You don’t need to join a gym or buy a Peloton, just try to carve out at least 30 minutes a day for a good stretch, walk, or even run. Channel that mom stress into pushing your body! A little workout can be an attitude game changer that lasts the whole day long. Try an app like Aaptiv that has hundreds of fitness and meditation sessions available, some as short as 5-10 minutes, all led by motivating trainers. If you don’t have the luxury of breaking away from your kiddos, get out the jogging stroller and make them part of your self-care for moms routine.
12. Spend time each week taking care of yourself by enjoying a hobby, interest or professional development.
As moms, we sometimes forget about who we are, what we love as individuals, and our own interests. So, think about taking a class at the local community college, or enroll in an online professional development course. Or maybe start knitting, dancing or painting! Whatever it is, it’s healthy to have your own interest that is separate from your kids’ interests and activities! It’s also a great way to make new friends outside of the playground squad. Connecting with new people can be so inspirational!
13. Bring home fresh flowers.
This is a simple self-care for moms suggestion to surround yourself with joy and beauty! Whether you pick flowers from your garden or buy some at a local market, we think flowers are a great way to show yourself some love! Not only are they beautiful to look at, the fragrance is good for the soul, too. Keep a few empty ball jars around and challenge yourself to fill them up once in a while. Check with your local florist as many have discount days where flowers that they can’t sell are 50% off!
14. Let thy chores be thy meditation.
Let’s face it, it’s hard to relax when everywhere you look you see an overdue project that needs attention. Turn those chores into a peaceful experience by carving out some time and space away from the kids to tackle them head on. Play your favorite music as you go organize the clothes in your closets, mow the lawn, or empty the dishwasher. Focus on the task at hand, being mindful of what you are doing, and try to lose yourself in the job rather than just get it done. There is something satisfying about taking the extra second to get those t-shirts folded just right, and the look of an organized drawer that results is a gift that keeps on giving!
15. Plan a night out with someone you love to take care of yourself!
Last but not least, go have yourself a night out with someone you truly love (kids not included). Going out at night can help you feel like a real adult in the real world again! Imagine that! Here are a few ideas: find a local winery and do some tasting, go to a comedy show, get the girls together for some bar hopping, or make a reservation at that new restaurant you’ve been wanting to try since they opened 4 years ago! We won’t judge if you’re still home and in bed by 10PM.
So go do you, mama. Take care of yourself and implement a self-care for moms ritual (or two) that works for you and your schedule. That way you can feel your best and be your best!
Kaylee Garcia is the mama to one sweet boy and one sweet girl, and wife to an awesome husband. Kaylee and her son (he’s only 4!) have completed over 20 trips via air travel (thank you, Alaska Airlines!) on over 40+ airplane rides! They love sharing travel tips with other families since they’ve learned a lot in the last 4 years. Kaylee enjoys spending time with family, researching baby gear, and exploring the Pacific Northwest.
These are all so great! I try to do at least one of these a day as a stay at home mom caring for a 13 month old :P
Fresh flowers make all the difference! And I don’t love getting up early, but I cherish the quiet time in our home when I’m the only person awake!
I try to do a short trip with a girl friend once a year. We switch between her place (CO) and mine (CA). I also believe reading is one of the best get aways for my mind.
Hello. fantastic job. I did not expect this. This is a remarkable story. Thanks!
Bubble baths are such a simple way to relax. I try to do it once a week with some music while my husband watches our son.
I always admire the flowers when I’m grocery shopping…maybe next time I’ll have to get some to admire at home! Just the idea lifts my spirits.