Self-care is something that we all need to do more often. But as moms, we tend to treat it as a luxury, something that’s reserved for special times. That’s probably due to the fact that most moms typically put themselves last, even behind the family pets! After all, it’s in our nature to want to take care of everyone in our family. So we put everyone else first. Our children depend on us to help them survive. And a mom’s duties are never over, right?
While it may be true that a mom’s duties are never over, you still need to take care of yourself. Otherwise, you’ll end up burnt out and exhausted, and then you won’t be any good to anyone. And one of the best ways to do that is with a few minutes of self-care. Self-care has become somewhat of a trendy word over the last few years. But when you think about what it means in the literal sense, it goes back to taking care of yourself so you can be a better mother.
My challenge to you is to practice at least one item from this list every single day. 5-10 minutes a day is better than nothing, and it is SO WORTH IT in the end! So let’s get right into it.
What is Self-Care Anyway?
When you think of self-care, you probably think of hour-long pampering sessions outside of the home.
While that is technically a form of self-care, that’s not the only option.
Self-care is ANYTHING that helps you feel more connected to yourself. And it can be practiced anywhere, even from the comfort of your own home.
It’s about taking care of your mental, physical, and emotional health so you can have more energy, less anxiety, and more of yourself to give to those around you.
On the other hand, some moms tend to think that self-care is something we have to force ourselves to do. But that’s not true either. It can be as simple as washing your face or as thorough as a weekend away with your husband.
If you find yourself frequently falling asleep on the couch, snapping at your kids, or having trouble remembering things, self-care could be exactly what you need.
1.) Practice Yoga
If you’re feeling run down, a few simple beginner yoga poses can help put some life back into your step.
Yoga with Adriene is a great YouTube channel with multiple videos for every type of yoga you can imagine.
2.) Meditate
Meditation has many benefits. But clearing your mind is by far the biggest reason to practice meditating as a mom.
When your to-do list is a mile long and you don’t know where to start, follow a quick tutorial and instantly feel more focused.
3.) Stretch
Reach for the sky! Stretching can relieve tired, sore muscles, improve posture, increase blood flow, and calm your mind.
Spend five minutes stretching right when you wake up and throughout the day with your kids.
Have you ever noticed that most young children never stretch? I’m not exactly sure why that is, but I assume it’s because they’ve never been taught. Take a couple of minutes to stretch with your kids throughout the day and take note of the frequency of injuries. After I included stretching in our wake up routine, I noticed my toddler stopped hurting herself every single hour. 🤷♀️
4.) Call a Friend
Let’s face it, being around kids all day long will definitely have you longing for some much-needed adult time.
If you can’t go out with the girls, reach out over the phone instead. Having a shoulder to lean on can give you a big boost of confidence to get through another day.
5.) Light a Candle
Did you know that aromatherapy candles can put your brain into a more productive mindset?
Use a lavender candle to relieve stress or a eucalyptus candle for energy and improved focus.
Similarly, you could use essential oils to achieve the same aromatherapy benefits.
But the simple act of lighting a candle can help promote a relaxing atmosphere so you can clear your mind and prompt a sense of well-being.
6.) Turn off your Phone
The time we spend on our phones is increasing every year. So try unplugging from your phone at least once a day to increase feelings of closeness with your loved ones, and to encourage yourself to get more done.
If you tend to get distracted by your phone a little too often, try turning off your phone at different times throughout the day to help you focus better.
7.) Declutter or Clean Something
Cleaning can be a great form of exercise and it can also help us de-stress. Plus, taking the time to declutter something can help us in the long run because of the satisfaction we feel afterward.
Instead of approaching cleaning as a chore, treat it as a form of self-care to motivate yourself to get it done. The satisfaction you’ll feel when you have an organized space will be worth it!
8.) Blast Some Music
Music has the power to instantly change your mood, so try listening to some tunes anytime you need some motivation.
If you have littles at home, try listening to some funny children’s songs with them.
9.) Color
Similar to meditation, coloring has immense therapeutic benefits such as reduced anxiety and increased wellness. It also stimulates the brain, boosts creativity, and it can even improve sleep.
10.) Start a Bullet Journal
Starting a bullet journal is a form of self-care that many of us tend to forget.
There are hundreds of bullet journal ideas out there, but if you’re just starting out, you don’t have to design a whole spread. And there are no rules that say you can’t write long paragraph entries! Keep track of your self-care habits or just start writing to get all your thoughts out on paper.
11.) Daydream
As a mom, there has probably come a time when you had to put your life on hold for the sake of your family.
So take some time to daydream about what you plan to do with your time once your little ones are in school and you have the house to yourself.
12.) Do a Brain Dump
You know the feeling when your head feels like it’s about to explode because you have so many things on your mind at once? That’s when you know you need to do a brain dump!
A brain dump is necessary because our minds were not made to remember everything. Getting everything out of your head and onto paper is an excellent way to ground yourself, reduce feelings of overwhelm and anxiety, provide guidance on what you need to do, and clear your head.
- To-do list
- Projects to start
- Groceries
- Questions to ask your boss
- Ideas you want to try with your kids
- Subjects you want to research
- News you want to catch up on
- TV shows you want to record
From there, you can use your brain dump however you would like. I usually go through everything I’ve written down and then transfer the relevant items to any necessary lists.
Related Post: How to Find Time for Self-Care Activities
13.) Plan a Vacation
Did you know that simply planning your vacation can make you happier than actually taking it?! Crazy huh?
Studies have shown that the act of planning a trip can boost your mood simply because you’re looking forward to how much fun you will have.
But you should still actually take the vacation. If you feel like you don’t have time, try starting with a little weekend getaway.
A vacation doesn’t have to be a stressful, week-long trip across the country. Plan a weekend getaway to the closest major city and then maximize your pre-trip happiness by bragging about your plans to your friends.
14.) Go for a Walk Before 9am
When sunlight hits our skin, it triggers our body to produce vitamin D. Vitamin D is a great way to improve bone health, lower blood pressure, and strengthen your immune system.
However, not just any sunshine will work. Doctors have recently been advising patients to sit under the morning sun for 10 minutes a day for an improved mood and deeper sleep.
Try sitting on your front porch for a few minutes when you first wake up. Or pair your daily dose of the sun with a trip around the block for some moderate exercise AND a boost of vitamin D.
15.) Take Care of Something You’ve Been Putting Off
There are many reasons why you may procrastinate.
Some of us put things off because of perfectionism, some might get distracted by social media, while others might have a tendency to self-sabotage. If the possibility of failure is too much to handle, we take matters into our hands by avoiding what we need to do.
If you procrastinate because of the fear of discomfort, you might put off calling your parents because you feel embarrassed that you haven’t called them in a while. Or you avoid looking at your bank statement because you don’t want to face the fact that you can’t pay your bills.
On the other hand, you could be putting off mowing the yard because you would much rather sit in the AC.
No matter what your reasoning for procrastinating, as long as you put it off, the thought will continue to linger in your mind, which will prevent you from reaching your full potential in every other area of your life.
So grab the bull by the horns and just make yourself do it. You’ll feel a lot better about yourself after you’re done.
16.) Revisit Your Yearly Goals
If you feel like setting goals is a big sham, it’s probably because you’re not revisiting your goals often enough.
Checking in with the goals you have set will help you stay on top of them and ensure you’re creating an actionable plan to help you actually get to where you want to go.
17.) Build a Fort with your Kids
Parenting today is much different than it was 30 years ago. We have so many things to do and keep up with that finding time to actually play with our kids can often get put on the back burner.
On top of that, our children are using their imaginations less than ever before due to the fact that we can literally access technology on our wrists,
If you’re looking to get your kids off of their phones, fort building is an excellent option since it inspires creativity.
According to the Future of Jobs Report, creativity is predicted to be the third most important skill for 2020. Building a fort can increase problem-solving skills and it helps teach kids about teamwork.
With that being said, helping your child build a fort can inspire laughter and boost your own creativity, as well as your energy.
18.) Practice Gratitude
Practicing gratitude is a great way to reduce feelings of resentment, envy, frustration, and regret. It also improves sleep and self-esteem and can even help overcome trauma.
So how do you practice gratitude?
start a gratitude journal
Every morning when you wake up, write a quick journal entry about a few things you are grateful for.
watch inspiring videos
This is a great way to remember the good in the world! (Especially now in 2020 with the Coronavirus and the tragedy of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd.)
practice an act of kindness each day
This is a great activity to do with your kids! Especially in the time of the pandemic. Bake cookies for a neighbor, or even check in with them to see if you can help them by picking up their groceries.
or simply think of three things you are grateful for
Do this at the same time each day to make it a habit!
As long as you are intentional about practicing gratitude, you will start to notice a change in your mood.
19.) Read or Listen to an Audiobook
Studies have shown that mental stimulation can slow the progress of Dementia.
And reading is one of the best ways to keep your brain active and increase mental stimulation! It gives you improved focus and concentration, as well as stronger thinking skills and better memory.
When I’m in a busy season of life where I don’t have much time to sit down with a book, I’ll listen to audiobooks while I’m driving and cooking.
20.) Give Yourself a Facial
Besides fighting aging, detoxifying and exfoliating the skin, a facial can improve blood circulation, tighten your skin, eliminate under-eye circles, and help your skin absorb products more easily. This translates to more use from all of the products you purchase for your face!
As a mom, there have probably been more than a few times you have skipped a shower. On the days (or weeks – no judgment here!) when you don’t bathe as often as you should, caring for your face can help you feel instantly refreshed.
21.) Go to Bed Early
If you’ve noticed that you’ve been extra cranky and less focused, going to sleep even an hour earlier could be just what you need.
So ignore the messy house just for one night and go to sleep a little earlier. You might be surprised at how much better you feel in the morning.
22.) Dance
We all know that dancing burns calories and gets us into shape by increasing our muscle tone.
But there are many more advantages to dancing such as boosting our mood, relieving stress, and improving balance. Studies have shown that dancing even for just five minutes can boost happiness.
23.) Do Absolutely Nothing
The dishes and laundry will get done tomorrow. Just for today, put your feet up and relax. Take the time to do whatever you feel like.
Since the industrial revolution, our culture has become so wrapped up in what we can do in the least amount of time. We’re constantly pushing ourselves to get more done, finish #allthethings, and start on the next project. But having downtime is essential for recharging. Similar to sleep, downtime helps us refocus our attention and retain all of the information we’ve recently learned.
Doing absolutely nothing is a wonderful self-care exercise!
It’s about clearing your schedule and deciding to focus on yourself.
Your Turn
Finding time for self-care can seem like a chore in and of itself. But if you’re serious about making it a priority, most of the ideas on this list can be done in just a couple of minutes!
I challenge you to practice 5-10 minutes a day of self-care a day! Does that sound reasonable?
Pick a couple of items from this list that you can practice tonight. And set an alarm on your phone so you won’t forget! Then come back and let me know how it goes in the comments. 😉
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