9 Self Care Tips for Busy Moms (That You Can Actually Use)

We’ve all heard the importance of self-care but find ourselves with little time. Take a look at these self care tips for busy moms for ideas!

Self Care Tips for Busy MomsYour head is likely floating with too many thoughts, to-dos, and tasks. For instance, in mine, you might hear:

“Bring a fruit platter to the kiddo’s class party.”

“Collect recipes for next week’s meals.”

“Schedule dentist appointments.”

Whether you’re one month postpartum or your kids are already in elementary school, you probably feel too busy to take care of yourself.

You might get so busy with everything that you forget that you haven’t eaten or showered in a while. You don’t dress yourself most days besides your typical yoga pants and sweatshirt. Maybe you’re at work all day, catching up on chores at night and running off of five hours of sleep.

Or perhaps you’re going through difficult times, from dealing with a loved one’s health diagnosis to struggling with financial problems. Even a 20 minute walk seems like a luxury when you’re stressed, tired, and anxious all the time.

Our time is so consumed with others that we forget to take care of ourselves.

Think about it: We speed through taking a shower in case someone needs something in the meantime. We scarf down meals so we can focus on feeding the baby. And we fork over money for the kids’ swim lessons while canceling our own gym memberships (“Who has the time to go to the gym?” we justify).

The thing is, focusing on everyone else instead of prioritizing ourselves does more harm than good. How?

  • We feel burned out. We may be able to get things done the first several times, but we eventually hit a ceiling. Neglecting to care for ourselves isn’t sustainable.
  • We resent parenthood. Long gone are the joyful moments spent with the kids. Instead, we’re all about survival mode or cramming as many activities on a given day.
  • We’re not able to be present. The exhaustion takes a toll on the way we raise our kids. They start to test our patience while we lose our tempers.

If you’re here, I’m guessing that you’re looking for ways to remember your needs and the importance of making time for yourself. Try to schedule time to do these activities, just as you would a doctor’s appointment or job interview. If that’s not possible, they’re still simple enough to squeeze into your day.

Below, I’ll share what has helped me focus on myself even while raising three kids. Take a look at these simple self care tips for busy moms:

1. Get active (in some way)

For the longest time, I held back from exercising. I figured I didn’t need to lose weight, I ate well, I didn’t have time, and I had plenty of years ahead of me, right?

Except exercise is so important for self care that everything else—from your happiness to reaching your goals—hinges on how healthy you are. We take our health and mobility for granted until that one shoulder bursitis or lingering cold reminds us how important it is to be healthy.

Exercise is so helpful to parents that, according to the National Library of Medicine, researchers found that:

“Not only is physical activity associated with a decreased risk for physical health problems such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and hypertension, it helps many mothers cope with the challenges of motherhood, restores some important focus on the self, and allows mothers an important respite to the stresses of work and/or family. Mothers who engage in physical activity report less psychological stress related to being a mother, and feel more able to cope with the demands of motherhood.”

Even with a busy schedule, make exercise a priority. Yes, even if you’re caring for a newborn or coming home from a long day at work (this is especially important if you’ve been sedentary all day). Find the pockets of time to fit exercise in, from 10-minute yoga stretches to walking the kids to school.

Now, here’s the thing: This doesn’t mean you have to buy passes for a fitness class, watch workout videos on YouTube, or run every morning. That’s great if you do, but even moderate physical activity throughout the day works. You might not lose weight climbing the stairs instead of taking the elevator, but you’re constantly pushing your body to move.

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2. Take a nap

I don’t know any mom who followed the “Nap when the baby naps” advice every single time, but taking a nap is certainly a good piece of advice—even if your “baby” is now a 5 year old who no longer does.

I joke that I never used to take naps until I became a mom. This is especially helpful if you can’t clock in a decent eight hours of quality sleep. Sleeping during the day can help you feel refreshed once more.

Don’t think that you need to close the door for two hours and conk out. Even a quick 15-minute nap can help.

3. Eat well

Before you think I always eat well 24/7, rest assured I just ate a slice of chocolate cake. Eating well isn’t about depriving yourself of every sugar or fat. Instead, think of it as giving your body its best chances of functioning properly—with the occasional treat here and there.

One surefire way to eat well is to cook most of your meals at home. This allows you to work with whole ingredients rather than processed food. You’re also more likely to treat ice cream and fries as the occasional treat if you have to prepare them at home.

Another idea is to swap processed food, especially snacks, for whole food like vegetables, fruits, and nuts. Even if it’s just one snack swapped a day! For instance, eat a bowl of edamame for snack or include slices of oranges with dinner.

Lastly, keep treats as treats. Make dining at a restaurant or eating sweets the special occasion, not your daily go-to routine. It’s not about deprivation so much as making them something to look forward. It’s like the holidays: Christmas wouldn’t be as special if it happened every month, right?

4. Rediscover your passions and hobbies

Sometimes I’ll grumble about garden chores, but truth be told, gardening has become one of my favorite hobbies. I work with the soil, bathe in the sun, and eat food I grew. By far, starting a vegetable garden has helped me care for myself in more ways than one.

You might not care for gardening, but what are some of the hobbies that you’ve put off or have been curious about?

Maybe you can flip through your local recreation classes and sign up for a baking class. Perhaps you can join a pickle ball club or attend events at the library. Or it could be as simple as reading a good book every night before going to bed.

You don’t even have to put the same amount of time and effort into your hobbies as you once did. Instead of going on a six-mile trek up the mountains like you once did, you might take the baby on a 30-minute hike instead. You may not bring out all your old photography equipment but use your smartphone to capture photos.

Ways to Care for the Environment

5. Talk to someone

As we get older, our social ties seem to dwindle, don’t you think? We have less time and more duties, or simply move away from friends and family.

But finding time to reconnect with those around us is key for self care. Don’t neglect your relationship with your partner, and instead find ways to communicate on a daily basis. Reach out to a fellow mom friend or family member for monthly lunches, or give them a call to catch up.

You might also consider therapy, especially if you’re interested in unpacking heavy issues you’ve been dealing with or simply need unbiased and professional support.

Wading through motherhood can feel lonely and scary without the support of our social networks.

How to Make Mom Friends

6. Start a gratitude journal

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Practicing gratitude, especially in written form, has helped me take stock of how much abundance I have, even when life feels so bleak.

Whether in a blank journal or one specifically for gratitude, list at least five things you’re grateful for every day. This might be for things that went well, like how your packages arrived on schedule or that you enjoyed your child’s orchestra performance.

But you can still be grateful even when things don’t always turn out as expected or hoped for. Instead of “judging” what happened as good or bad, treat it as neutral. For instance, in hindsight, you could be grateful that you were let go at your old job because it led you to the happier, better-paying job that you now have.

No matter what you write, focusing on what you’re grateful can help loads for your mental health.

7. Wake up earlier than your kids

Like naps, I never used to be a “morning person” until I became a mom. But when kids sleep—and wake up—early, you’re sort of forced to do the same.

But waking up when the kids do means you’re likely frazzled and disoriented right when everyone needs your attention. That’s why I’m a fan of waking up before anyone else does and following a morning routine.

This might mean pouring yourself a cup of tea or coffee and logging onto your computer. Maybe you sit in a quiet room for a few minutes of meditation or prayer. The early mornings are also a good opportunity to prepare breakfast and pack school lunches so that most of it is ready by the time the rest of the family stirs.

I relish the quiet time to myself before the morning takes off. I may only have a brief moment, but it’s uninterrupted time that can help the rest of the day start off well.

8. Keep your calendar simple

Is your calendar packed with extracurricular activities, PTA commitments, and errands galore? If you’ve ever found yourself with zero time, it truly may be because other factors are competing too much for your attention.

Of course, some commitments can’t be cleared, but take an honest look at what’s taking up your time and see if you can lessen or drop a few. Maybe the extracurricular activities are actually stressing out the kids. Perhaps you can buy most of your groceries and household supplies in one store instead of driving around town for them.

And try not to plan more than one activity per day if possible. If you’re taking the kids to their doctor’s appointment on Monday, maybe you can buy groceries on Tuesday and get a car wash on Wednesday. Use your calendar to spread your errands throughout the week.

9. Continue to learn

One of the best self care tips is to continue to learn, both to nourish your mind as well as to entertain yourself. We’re not talking strictly a school setting, though that can work, too. Instead, think about ways you can learn something new or try a new hobby.

For instance, you can:

  • Borrow books from the library
  • Listen to podcasts in the car or while doing chores
  • Watch a movie or documentary
  • Sign up for an online course
  • Enroll in an in-person class

Conclusion

As moms, we’re not always the best at self care. We have too many people and tasks to take care of and not enough time to do them. But this is a backward way of looking at it. Instead, think of taking care of yourself as a way to better show up for those you love.

It starts with taking care of your physical body, whether it’s eating well, being active, or getting quality sleep as much as possible. Rediscover old interests and hobbies you’ve since neglected. Widen your support network, whether it’s talking to friends and family, joining clubs, or seeking therapy.

Start a gratitude journal to remind yourself of all that you have. Wake up earlier than your family so you have a few moments to yourself. Keep your commitments simple, especially when you start to feel overwhelmed by your to-do list. And finally, continue to learn—this not only nourishes your mind, but brings joy to your life as well.

The better we take care of ourselves, the better we can show up for our families. And yes, that includes remembering to bring a fruit platter to your kiddo’s class party.

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