When you a mama self care is essential in order to keep your sanity. Between the kids, work, cooking, cleaning, and the million other things moms do. It is no wonder that we forget about taking care of ourselves. I have some practical ways to practice self care for all you busy moms. These self care ideas for moms are things I practice myself and work on every day.
Being constantly on the go can wear you down quickly. I know that now and started self care practices that saved me from a meltdown or two. The reason why self care is so important is that it is time and things you carve out just for you. You can do these ideas daily to help keep you going.
Self Care Ideas for Moms
Basic Self-Care
Basic Self Care can be practiced daily which will help with your overall well-being.
Meditation:
I am obsessed with meditation. I discovered it during the lockdown and never looked back. The stress of everyday life and obligations can really make you spiral out of control. This was me completely overwhelmed and hanging on by a thread. I took the advice of my mother and took action.
The benefit I found in meditation is that it forced me to slow down. Controlling my breathing and letting go of my thoughts was a game-changer. It made me more focused, calm, and present. You can meditate every day for about 5-10 minutes.
Journaling:
“Dear Diary…” Hold up that is not what I mean by journaling. I am not talking about writing down every event that you did that day. When I say journaling it’s about writing down your thoughts, not events. This is about learning to put your feelings down on paper so you are not carrying them with you throughout your day. If you are anything like me, you can feel frustrated, annoyed, sad, or angry. Because let’s be honest no one is happy-go-lucky 100% of the time.
The best way I found to cope with my feelings it writing them down. The benefit of writing your thoughts and feeling down is the release of them. It stops you from bottling everything up. The paper is not judging what you think and feel it can care less. Journaling is not just to let out your frustrations it is also great for taking time to reflect on all the things you are grateful for. Journal for 5 minutes.
Exercise:
We all know that exercise is important for your health, but as a mom finding time to exercise can be a challenge. People usually associate exercise with getting in or staying in shape, but did you know it can also help with your mental health. Let me explain when you exercise, it increases endorphin, dopamine, adrenaline, and endocannabinoid. All these words are chemicals in the brain that get released when you exercise. They are associated with making you feel happy and triggers a positive feeling in the body.
“Exercise improves mental health by reducing anxiety, depression, and negative mood and by improving self-esteem and cognitive function. Exercise has also been found to alleviate symptoms such as low self-esteem and social withdrawal.”
I found this great article on mindbodygreen.com that you should totally check out. It’s a deep dive on the reasons exercise makes you happy according to research on the brain. Many doctors recommend you work out 30 minutes a day.
Get some shut-eye:
I know that as a mom the idea of sleeping in is just that an idea. It’s something we all wish we can do but never happens. Someone has to get up with the kids and get everyone fed, ready, and out the door. So, you should get to bed at a decent time. I know this is easier said than done. It can be so easy to get lost in scrolling through social media or watching Netflix after the kids are in bed. Trust me I am guilty of doing this too.
However, sleep is important for your overall well-being. I try and go to bed by 10:00 every night because I get up around 4:30 every morning. It might be different for you. The ideal about of sleep is between 6-8 hours. You also don’t want to oversleep because when you sleep for 10-12 hours.
“While the effects of sleep deprivation are well known, researchers discover sleeping too much could have a detrimental effect on your brain. A new study reports sleeping more than eight hours per night can reduce cognitive ability and reasoning skills.”
Self Care on a Weekly or Monthly Basis:
These are some self care ideas for moms to do on a weekly or monthly basis. As important as daily self care is the little things you do for yourself like getting your hair done or going to the spa can boost your morale and confidence.
Pamper Yourself:
When I say pamper yourself, I mean do things just for you. Those little things that relax you and bring you joy. Here are some great ideas that you can do weekly or even monthly to give yourself self care and self love.
Spa days:
There is no shame in treating yourself to a massage. Take the time to unwind and relax at your favorite spa and indulge in letting someone else pamper you for the day. You come out feeling refreshed and ready to conquer the world.
Get in touch with nature:
This is something I truly love to do. Going for a walk in a park or hiking in the forest is so peaceful. It’s a way to shut out the world and reconnect with yourself. It’s a way to get space from the day-to-day stresses.
Find time for your friends:
Having time with people outside of your family is so important. It is important for your mental health and socializing with friends. Go out for lunch or dinner, go for a walk, go shopping, and be around other adults is important especially if you are a mama. If you’re a mama you know that having friends is vital for your sanity.
Keep Learning:
Take the time to learn a new skill. Take courses or go back to school so you can continue to grow in your career and life. If you want to learn to play an instrument or be creative take lessons. Take time to better yourself and follow your passion.
Final Thoughts:
At the end of the day self-care for everyone is important, but it is especially important for mothers. Love yourself enough to practice self-care and know that although it might not be easy it is necessary. When you practice self care it doesn’t just benefit you it benefits everyone around you.
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