8 Easy Self Care Tips for Busy Moms With Small Kids

Super Simple Self Care Ideas for Moms Who Have No Time

Are you feeling completely overwhelmed as a mom of small children? Do you need some easy self care ideas that you can incorporate seamlessly into your daily life?

I’m right there with you. We don’t have time for ourselves. But life isn’t going to get less busy anytime soon, so we’re going to make time.

Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom, a working mother — or one who works at home while raising your kids — you need some easy self-care ideas that you can start implementing right now.

Think about it this way: If self-care was a puzzle, you would put it together one piece at a time.

So, choose one easy self-care idea and start there. Once it becomes habit, consider adding another piece to your puzzle.

Ready? Let’s get started!

 

 

1. Change Your Mindset

Start your self-care journey today…because you are worth it.

Begin by prioritizing yourself. Repeat this mantra: “I take care of myself so I can take care of my family.”

How can you change your mindset to make yourself a priority?

 

Write it Down

Write down the above affirmation and put it somewhere prominent, where you can read it every day.

 

Focus on Your Long-Term Vision

Get healthier? Find a hobby? Whatever it may be, break it down into daily actionable steps.

The rest of this post will help you come up with some easy self-care ideas that you can start to apply to your daily life.

 

Track Your Progress

Take a few minutes to write in a journal and track the ways you have cared for yourself each day.

 

2. Take Care of Your Health

Self-care isn’t simply about soaking in a bathtub filled with rose petals while you read a book by candlelight.

That sounds really nice, so go ahead and do that if you’d like. But taking care of your health is an essential element of self-care, so we’re going to start there.

Here are a few easy self-care ideas to help moms of small kids get healthier.

 

Drink More Water

Make drinking water a little more fun with this colorful, fruit-infuser water bottle. (It will even help you keep track of how much water you have consumed!)

 

Get Moving

If you work from home, set a timer and get up to stretch every twenty minutes. (Although, if your kids are at home, you’re probably already getting up every two minutes to run after them!)

Fit exercise in wherever you can… Squat while brushing your teeth, pace the room or perform bicep curls while on a phone call… You get the idea.

 

Learn Breathing Exercises

Then, when that timer goes off, practice intentional breathing while you stretch.

 

Make Those Appointments

You’re busy running the kiddos to their doctor and dentist appointments, but when was the last time you had a wellness exam?

 

Eat Healthier

It’s easy to get into the habit of snacking on whatever junk food is in the house when you get hungry.

Make a point to buy healthy snacks with little to no prep time (such as bananas, trail mix, and string cheese) or prepare fruit for smoothies ahead of time.

 

Sleep More

Or, at least, sleep better. After all, a good night’s sleep isn’t always possible when we have kids waking us up during the night.

But we can make changes, such as limiting the use of devices (which disrupt the quality of our sleep) before bedtime, right?

Okay, easier said than done… If you like to scroll through Facebook or read e-books on your phone before bed (guilty!), these blue light blocking glasses will help you get a better night’s sleep.

 

Related: Healthy New Year’s Resolutions for Busy Moms

 

3. Practice Self-Care While Working

That’s right! Pamper yourself while you work (or catch up on your favorite Netflix shows!).

Here are a few easy self-care ideas to pamper yourself.

 

Apply a Facial Mask

A stress rehab face mask will fight the redness and puffiness caused by too many late nights.

Set a timer and go about your business. When the timer goes off, remove the mask, and you’re done.

 

Try a Shiatsu Massage

Yes, you can indulge in a shiatsu foot or back massage while working. If you’ve never gotten a shiatsu massage, you’re missing out.

(Seriously! You will feel amazing afterward.)

 

Treat Your Taste Buds

Coffee is a given, personally.

Not a coffee drinker? In the winter, have a cup of tea or hot chocolate; in the summer, treat yourself to some iced tea, lemonade, or a fruit smoothie.

 

Squeeze a Stress Ball

Oddly, squeezing one of these foam balls actually does help to relieve tension caused by typing.

Alternatively, you can give yourself a quick hand massage.

 

Related: TheraBox Review — A Self Care Subscription Box Curated by Therapists

 

4. Free Up Your Time 

You’re the boss! Put other people (or things) to work for you.

Write down everything that you would rather not spend your time doing, then come up with some ways to delegate these tasks to others.

You don’t have to do everything all at once; start with just one of those things to free up a little bit of your time for the things you would rather be doing.

 

Grocery Shopping

Let me tell you, ordering groceries for delivery or pick-up is pretty awesome. And walking around the grocery store with kids in tow is no fun at all.

 

Clothes Shopping

Need a wardrobe update, but don’t have the time (or desire) to shop?

I just received my first delivery from Stitch Fix, a service that sends you clothes selected specifically for you.

It might sound indulgent, but honestly, it was worth every penny (I loved everything, so I kept it all for a 25% discount).

Sign up using my Stitch Fix referral code, and we’ll both get a $25 credit!

 

Cooking

Don’t feel like cooking dinner after a long day? Put your crock pot to work first thing in the morning (or throw some food into an instant pot for a quick and easy meal).

Not only is this a great way to save time, but the smell of cooking food will make your house smell amazing all day long!

And if you put together a stockpile of freezer crock pot meals, it will save you a lot of time down the road.

 

5. Set Boundaries

If you work at home, creating boundaries between work and family can be challenging.

The line between work time and family time is easily blurred.

Unless you have someone available to watch the kids, they are going to interrupt your work. It’s just one of the hazards of working from home.

But when you’re done working for the day, it’s important to devote your time to your family — and to yourself.

Here are a few ideas for separating work and family time.

 

Working Hours

• Create a dedicated space for work, and only use it for work.
• Try to set working hours, and stick to them as much as possible.

 

After-Hours

• Set boundaries for the use of devices, such as no phones at the table or no working during family time.
• Create a relaxing atmosphere by listening to relaxing music, using soft lighting and soothing candles, and spending time together reading, playing games, watching a movie, or whatever your family enjoys.

 

Personal Time

• If the kids are in school or napping, take intermittent breaks from your work to re-charge during this time.
• When the kids are in bed for the night, take a few minutes to do something that you enjoy.

 

6. Make Time for Hobbies

Hobbies are typically the first to get tossed aside when life gets busy with work and raising a family. Hobbies often feel like a luxury that we cannot afford.

Making time for the things you love is not a luxury, but an important part of self-care.

So, how do you make time for the things you love when you have no time?

 

Get the Kids Involved

Include them in the fun! Work on a puzzle together as a family or give them their own crafting supplies while you’re busy scrapbooking.

If your hobby isn’t exactly kid-friendly, find them a fun activity to keep them busy in the meantime.

 

A Little Here, a Little There

Work on your project whenever you have a few extra minutes to spare.

 

Pencil It In

Schedule some time for yourself when your partner is home to watch the kids — or get together with a group of friends and craft together while the kids are busy playing.

 

7. Get Out of the House

When you’re a busy stay at home or work from home mom, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut — especially during a cold, snowy winter — and avoid leaving the house unless absolutely necessary.

This is especially true if your kids are really little and don’t yet have school or extra-curricular activities to drive them to!

But make it a point to get outside.

Even five minutes of fresh air will leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

Take advantage of every opportunity to get out of the house, whether it’s a quick trip to the mailbox or a walk with the dog.

Even better, get into the car and go into town a few times a week. Go to the park or the library.

Even if you’re just running to the store or getting an oil change, you’ll feel so much better when you return home.

 

8. Love Your Space

You probably spend a lot of time in your home, so make it a place where you LOVE to spend your time.

Focus on the spaces where you spend a lot of time, such as your office if you work from home.

Surround yourself with whatever it is that makes you feel happy. It could be photos of your family, a lavender scented candle, words that inspire you, or a piece of art that you simply love.

 

Now that you have some quick and easy self care ideas under your belt, it’s time to grab any supplies you might need and get started!

Which of these simple self care tips are you going to implement today?

 

Self Care Arsenal

For your convenience, here’s a quick recap of the products and services recommended in this post.

 

1. fruit-infuser water bottle

2. blue light blocking glasses

3. stress rehab face mask

4. shiatsu foot massager

5. shiatsu back massager

6. foam stress balls

7. Stitch Fix

8. lavender scented candle

9. instant pot

 

Need some easy ideas to keep the kids occupied so you can have more time for self care? Click here or use the form below to grab your copy of the FREE Stay at Home Bucket List for Kids. (It has more than 100 activity ideas!)