I’ve been feeling more stressed and overwhelmed lately, and I am sure I am not alone in this. So I put together some self-care ideas and tips that have been very helpful for me to destress.
As busy Moms, practicing self-care is more important now than ever. Dont worry; these Self- care tips will come in very handy for you to feel better and less stressed continuously.
[Disclaimer: Please note this post may contain affiliate links. This means I may receive a commission if you make purchases at no extra cost to you.]
Why is Self Care So Crucial?
Simply put, you can’t give what you dont have. By not finding time to take care of yourself, it’ll be difficult to take care of others without feeling continuously stressed out.
You cant take care of your littles and your family. It is almost like trying to pour water from an empty bottle.
I get that motherhood naturally involves many self-sacrifices, putting others first, and it is easy to forget about yourself.
Self-care basically means you will have to put yourself first, and I understand how hard this can be; it took me a while to get to that point.
However, you need to understand that it’s ok to take a break from time to time.
We give so much, so now and then we need to take out the time for ourselves.
Moreover, when when we do this, we feel our best and more replenished to do even better.
So hang out with me and discover practical self-care ideas that you can try out as a busy mom.
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18 Self Care Ideas for Moms
To be able to actually to practice self-care, you need to plan for it. Decide to find time within your busy schedule to focus on you.
You may need to make a conscious effort to practice self-care. I know how the day’s activities can take over, and before you know it, days turn into weeks, then months and years go by without any single day dedicated to you.
So you’ll need to decide when, how often, and how long you want to take out time for your self-care.
Once a week, 2 or 3 times? Decide based on your schedule and then make this a priority.
Now lets practice some self care mama…
1) Read a book
I love reading books because I learn new things and get so immersed that I forget about any stress or overwhelm from my everyday life. Sometimes I opt for an audiobook using AUDIBLE, so I can lay back, shut my eyes, and listen. Try audible for free for 30 days.
This refreshes me and gives me the much-needed self-care. So go ahead, mama, chose a genre you love and settle into a world of imagination or knowledge to take you away from your everyday life for a while and help you destress.
2) Go for a walk
Particularly love going for walks because its such an incredible way to exercise and relax but gets easily overlooked.
Not only is it one of my favorite ways to destress and practice some self-care, but I also lost a major part of my pregnancy weight by walking.
You can read more about how to lose weight easily after pregnancy in this post.
It doesn’t have to be a long walk; if you can squeeze in a 20 to 40 mins walk, I am sure it will help you relieve stress.
I believe that nature or just enjoying the fresh outdoor air can be such an awesome way to blow off steam. Going for a walk is certainly a self-care idea you need to try often.
3) Take a nap
Taking a nap absolutely made this list of self-care ideas because napping is such a big deal for me as a mom right now. Can you relate?
Before i had kids i feel like i took sleeping uninterrupted for granted.
My friends who are yet to have kids are probably tired of me telling them to sleep, sleep, sleep!!! (lol)
But honestly, do not underestimate the power of a pick-me-up nap. Take a nap, mama, and you’ll be amazed at how good you’ll feel afterward.
Napping can be all the boost you need for your day.
I know how hard this can be hard, however, you need to try to look for 20 or 30 mins during your day as much as you can squeeze in to take a nap.
4) Journaling
Journalling is amazing, and no, it doesn’t have to stop with you writing in your diary as a teen.
It is a must-try form of self-care, awesome for improving your mood, helping you channel your fears or concern.
Journaling is a stress-reduction and anxiety-reduction technique.
All you need to do is keep a journal, dont get overwhelmed with your journal flowing in a particular way, or obsessed with what you think a journal is supposed to look like.
This Journal is terrific at getting you started.
Your journal is for you.
Find a rhythm and practice that makes you feel relaxed or mindful, and go with it.
Write about your concerns, worries, plans, and everything that frees up thoughts.
Start small, write, draw, rant !!!
But most importantly, relax and have fun with it. It is meant to destress you and be a fun way to unwind.
5) Disconnect from social media
Social media can be a source of stress and anxiety without one even realising it.
Disconnecting from social media every now and then is certainly a good form of self-care.
It is so easy to spend more than 30 minutes of our day scrolling through our social media feeds; I know this because I do it too.
Last week i popped a cake into the oven to bake and set a timer for 30 mins .
So I decided to go on social media for a little while before I do something else, and before I realized it, the timer went off,
And yes, you guessed right,(haha) I had spent the entire 30 minutes going through my social media feed.
Unfortunately, spending a lot of time on social media does nothing for us half the time but leaves us more stressed out than when we began.
Now and then, it’ll be great to disconnect and use social media time for other, more productive actions.
6) Be grateful for The Little Things
Gratitude is an untapped source of self-care. Remember what you are grateful for.
Being a Busy mom can sometimes be very rough when we lose touch with the good things in our lives.
Practicing constant gratitude is important to stay grounded and not be carried away by any chaos around us.
Make an effort to remember or write down the things you are grateful for, never letting go of positivity.
Using a gratitude journal like this is a terrific way to keep your thoughts positive continuously.
7) Listen to your favorite music
Music is indeed food for the soul.
Listening to music can easily elevate your mood and make you feel great.
You could also pick one that you can sing along to or even dance to.
Bust a move and dance any worries away.
8) Stay in the Shower a Little Longer.
Who knew that staying in the shower longer could be very calming/soothing.
This self-care tip works so well for me because I honestly believe I come up with my best ideas while in the shower, so why not?!!! A long shower for me, please!
As a mom to a toddler, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had to rush out of the shower because I heard or think I heard screaming.
So I can understand that this self-care tip may not be possible too often, but you can aim for it a few times as much as possible.
9) Pamper Yourself With a DIY Spa Day At Home
Who says you have to go to a spa to enjoy the benefits of a spa day?
Why not try out a spa day for yourself in the comfort of your home.
Make the experience as close to an actual day at the spa as much as you can.
Here are a few ideas you could try out ;
- Put on a cuddly comfortable robe
- Turn on an essential oil diffuser filled with a soothing scent.
- Fix a bath and put some aromatherapy bath bombs
- Give your skin some pampering with a mini jade roller.
This tool will help reduce puffiness and enhance skin smoothness.
- How about a full facial?
You can get yourself a 3 in 1 mini facial steamer like this one to unclog pores and tell those blackheads goodbye.
I love and use this home spa kit, too; it does a fantastic job and great for all skin types. The cute hairband it comes with is also a plus.
Or you could opt for a good old facial mask. or mud mask. - Mani/ Pedi anyone ?
Grab a mani-pedi kit and give your nails and feet some pampering.
I love this one because it comes with colorful gel nail polish, nail manicure tools, and the led lamp to dry your nails.
All you need for a mani-pedi at home on a budget. Check it out. - Use a body scrub; Exfoliate your skin and reveal that beautiful glow
This brown sugar scrub is amazing and smells divine.
- Use essential oils to destress
Essential oils can contribute to helping you distress; it is filled with amazing benefits.
Grab your essential oils and enjoy the excellent benefits.
10) Do Some Shopping
I feel like I just gave myself another reason to buy what I dont need ( hahaha).
We all love shopping, dont we? However, this self-care tip is not without caution.
I won’t want you splurging and then end up stressing about all you’ve spent.
But yes, shopping can be very therapeutic.
So as long as you can keep it to a reasonable minimum, go ahead, mama, add some items to cart and forget about your worries and stress.
11) Watch a comedy show/ catch up on your favorite shows
As simple as watching a movie sounds, I hardly make it through a full movie without falling asleep after a busy day.
So I choose to watch shows instead. At least i can watch an episode or two before falling asleep.
So get comfortable, pick a good comedy that makes you laugh, or watch your favorite shows. It will definitely help you destress.
You could also invite your significant other to join you; that way, you could both enjoy some quality time and self-care.
12) Do yoga or a quick workout at home
Working out is a self-care tip that had to make this list.
As little as 20 minutes a day can boost your mood, promote better sleep quality, leave you energized, and relieve anxiety.
Simple yoga movements, stretch, or a full-body workout will increase your level of endorphins, which are natural mood lifters.
Working out has amazing benefits, and trust me; the hardest part is getting started.
Once you can start and make it consistent, you will be pleased with your physical and mental results.
Related Post: 15 Minutes Full Body Fat Blasting Workout At Home
13) Say a prayer
Sometimes we need to hand over our thoughts and fears to someone higher to handle it for us or direct us.
When you feel overwhelmed, try saying a prayer. Understand that there is always someone willing to listen to us, who knows how we feel before we even say it.
14) Get a massage
Those tensed muscles need some relaxation every now and then.
As much as possible, plan to squeeze in a massage to relax you. You could also consider buying a home massager or a foot massager to use at home.
I assure you these are all purchases that you will use repeatedly and love every moment of using it.
I realized how almost impossible it will be for me to schedule a massage, so I got myself this back and neck massager, and I can say without a doubt that it is one of the best purchases I’ve made in a while.
It’s amazing, and I totally do not miss having professional massages after I got it.
If you are considering buying a massager to use at home, I highly recommend it.
15) Get more sleep
Without even trying, you’ll feel more energized and better when you’ve had enough sleep.
You will be more productive and less cranky.
It may be tempting to stay up late after the kids have gone to bed to enjoy some peace.
I can totally relate because i do this; however, you need to keep it to a minimum and grab all the zzz’s as much as you can.
Sufficient sleep is linked to overall good health and well-being.
So sleep in a little more, mama, and NO, you dont have to be up before everyone every day of the week.?
16) Pick up a new hobby
It is so easy for our lives as moms to revolve around our kids and family. It happens so easily, and so often, this is why finding a hobby is on this list of self-care ideas for busy moms.
Find a new hobby, particularly love, so you look forward to doing it, and each time you do it, you forget about everything else.
There is an unending list of hobbies for you to pick from, ranging from knitting to sewing, photography, decorating, candle making, Embroidery, and lots more.
Hobbies can really be a great form of self-care to help you feel less overwhelmed.
Related Post: Easy DIY Crafts You Can Make and Sell From Home
17) Declutter your home
You dont have to wonder, yes, you are still reading the article about self-care ideas. ( lol). Let me explain ?.
Decluttering your home is a good way to declutter your mind. In a clearer and cleaner space, you can better manage your thoughts.
The clutter and chaos will only add more stress and anxiety to you.
Why not take out some time to declutter. This may be all you need to feel much better.
Read: 5 Morning Rituals For a productive and Stress Free Day
Genius decluttering tips you need to try today
18) ” Breathe Mama”
Breath, whenever you feel like everything is spinning out of control, just breathe.
Take some time out of your really busy day and just breathe.
And those times when you can feel yourself getting really worked up, just take a deep breath, let it out, and repeat.
Did your toddler just empty his entire toy box all over the house? Did your kids spill food all over again? Just take a deep breath, let it out, and repeat.
You’ve got this.
Let’s practice some self-care
With these tips, you are well on your way to feeling less stressed out, more energized, and ready to crush your daily and weekly goals.
No matter how busy your week or day goes, commit to practicing self-care (even if it’s for a few minutes).
would you be trying out any of these self-care ideas? Do you have any favorite way to destress? let me know in the comments below. I would love to hear from you!
Dont forget to share this post 🙂
