A Guide To Self Care For Moms

Unfortunately, when you’re a mother, self-care is a practice that often falls to the wayside. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Because with the proper planning, prioritization, and dedication… Self-care for moms can become a reality.

Which is why I wanted to create this guide, to cover: why self-care is so important, how to make time for it, and what practices to consider. I’m even going to include some products I think could be beneficial for all my fellow moms out there.

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn commission from qualifying purchases.

Why Self-Care Is Vital For Mothers –

I’d like to start off by saying that I used to be someone who felt as though self-care was almost a selfish thing for me to want as a mom. Whenever I would find myself needing a little time to rest and relax, I felt guilty and instead thought of all the “productive” things I could be doing with my time.

I wish I would’ve realized sooner that, sometimes, the most productive thing I could’ve done was to let myself recharge. Because self-care is an absolute necessity for every person, including mothers!! And a lack of time to perform it, in whichever way that looks like to you, can lead to…

• High stress levels (that can then lead to a variety of sicknesses)
• A shorter temper, and less patience, when dealing with others
• And eventually, it could result in burnout (which I have unfortunately experienced myself)

So, in short, if you want to show up as the best version of yourself for those you love then you have to learn how to love and care for yourself.

How To Carve Out Time For Self-Care –

Now, I know that making time for self-care is essentially the hardest part. But don’t worry, there are ways to make it happen…

Schedule It –

I know this might sound a bit simplistic, but it can be surprisingly helpful to jot “me time” down on the calendar and plan accordingly. In an ideal world, you can work this time into your schedule permanently (so it happens on a certain day every week or at a certain time).

But even if you have to assess what else is going on over the next week, and just squeeze it in whenever you see an unclaimed block of time…. It’s better than nothing.

Shift Your Priorities –

For a long time, I fell into the trap of wanting everything in my home to be perfect. So if there was extra time on my hands, I’d prioritize cleaning the bathroom for the third time that week instead of sitting on the couch with a book. Or I felt guilty preparing a meal that was too “easy” since that made me feel as though I wasn’t doing enough for my family.

But when you’re struggling to make time for self-care, you need to let go of any perfectionism and readjust your priorities to include that practice.

Get Help –

If you’re co-parenting with someone else, you and your co-parent/partner should be helping each other out in a way that gives both of you time to recharge.

And if you’re a single parent (or you just need more hands on deck), then consider if there are friends or family members that could help out from time to time so you can have some rest.

Or, if all else fails, try to make room in your budget for some professional help. And this doesn’t have to be in the form of a babysitter if you’re not comfortable with that! It could look like hiring a cleaning service once a month, or signing up to a meal delivery plan.

Some Ideas For Self Care For Moms –

Okay, we’ve established why self-care for moms is important and we’ve hopefully freed up some time so that this practice is possible… So what can self-care actually look like? The answer is… a lot of different things.

In fact, self-care can look different for every mom out there. But I’ve compiled a list of some of the most popular forms of it, and even found some products that can be helpful based on each practice. Starting with…

Bathing & Skincare –

Going that extra mile to elevate how we look and smell can make all the difference in how we move about our day. Plus, the act of taking a hot bath or applying soothing creams to our face is very relaxing. So many people’s favorite form of self care is within this niche. And there are many ways to make these experiences even more enjoyable as well.

For instance, if you enjoy taking warm showers… Then maybe you could buy a pack of aromatherapy shower steamers to make this practice seem more luxurious. Or maybe you could invest in some under-eye masks to get rid of those pesky dark circles us moms deal with. You could even purchase an entire spa set, with things like scented hand creams and body lotions!

Reading –

Another popular type of self care is setting aside time for reading, specifically if that’s a hobby you enjoyed pre-motherhood. There are countless benefits to reading, ranging from learning new things to relaxing into a different reality for a bit. But one of the most important upsides is that it can simply make you feel like yourself again.

Additionally, there are plenty of options! You could opt for…

• Romance books
• Other types of fiction
• Or even self-development books that talk about issues that you’re having. Such as this book, that talks about how to reduce negative thinking and lessen your stress levels.

Journaling –

Reflection and journaling is also an important aspect of a self-care routine. Because it allows you to really work through your feelings, which is something that we tend to not have time for as moms… But something that we need to do, in order to be better parents and people.

So buy yourself a journal, if you don’t already have one, and make it a part of your routine. It could be done for five minutes before bed, during your morning coffee, or even once a week. But it will make such a difference in your life.

And if you’re struggling with what to journal about, there are lots of prompts available online.

Exercise –

Finally, we have exercise. Which may not be something we always want to do in our free time, but is something that’s pivotal when it comes to feeling our best in the long run. This could look like anything from taking a walk around the block to joining a Pilates class, the important thing is that we find something we enjoy.

For instance, many people enjoy yoga… You can do this in public classes, or at home watching a YouTube video. But it’s a great way to release tension and become stronger. And if you do decide to give it a try, you can literally do it with no supplies! Then, once you figure out if you like it… You could start investing in things like a yoga mat, yoga blocks, and yoga straps.

But other options include…

• Running on a treadmill
• Lifting weights
• Doing body weight exercises
• Or taking advantage of small gym equipment like this mini-stepper, which you can have and use in the comfort of your own home.

Final Thoughts About Self Care For Moms

If there’s one thing that you take away from this post, I hope it’s that you need a self-care routine to sustain yourself. Don’t put yourself on the backburner, even if it’s your natural instinct as a mother! You’re a person, just like anyone else and you deserve rest as much as anyone else. ❤