10 Quick and Effective Self Care Ideas for the Busy Mom

If you’re a busy mama on-the-go, you may find yourself depleted and in need of some major TLC (and probably more often than you’d like). What’s worse, with all the things you have to do in a day, self-care may seem like the last thing that you have time for.

The good news? There are so many different ways to fit in some self-care, and some of them don’t take any extra time at all. Here are some ideas to keep top-of-mind.

1. Get Your Body Moving

Want to make a real change, fast? Get those endorphins pumping regularly. And remember - this doesn’t have to be a full-blown workout. You can:

Take a walk around your block and get some fresh air.
Fit in a quick yoga session. Even a few minutes of stretching can be beneficial, particularly if you work at a computer or suffer from lower back pain or other strains.
Have a good stretch, even if it’s only for 5 minutes or so.
Take a bike ride if the weather is fair.

2. Make Time for Some Friends

Self-care isn’t just about the physical – it’s also about taking a much-needed mental break. And, if you’ve spent the bulk of your time with newborns or toddlers, that mental break could be as simple as spending some time with other adults. To that end, you can:

Have lunch with a friend at a favorite restaurant
Walk through the mall with a friend and go window shopping
Call up a pal on the phone or have them over for tea
Join a new club, like a book club or an art club

3. Go Thrill-Seeking

More of a thrill-seeker? Doing something exciting that you’ve never done before can be all you need if you’ve had months of routine and hum-drum. You can:

Go to a theme park
Visit your nearest rock climbing gym
Ride go-carts or ATVs
Go for a hike
Try a new class like dancing

4. Put Your Mind At Ease

Then there is classic self-care, things like:

Journaling
Taking some time to get lost in a book
Meditating
Sketching

And remember – this doesn’t have to take a ton of time. You can take a few breaths to meditate while you’re in the bath or stuck at a red light. It’s all about taking a few moments to clear your mind and center yourself. It can be just the reset that your mind needs.

5. Have An At-Home Spa Day

Or a real spa day! The point is to give your body some true rest and have yourself feeling more yourself. To this end, you could:

Take a couple of minutes to put on some makeup, even if it’s just a swipe of mascara
Paint your nails
Give yourself a facial
Get a massage
Take a relaxing bath
Have a real spa day if you have the time

6. Sharpen Up Your Skills

Yearning to learn something new? You can sharpen your skills and:

Learn a new instrument
Join a sport that you used to enjoy or would like to take up
Take a cooking class
Try painting or drawing

This will not only stimulate your mind but also help you re-establish some autonomy and personal identity after spending so much time doting on baby.

7. Let Your Hair Down

Need an instant pick-me-up? Let yourself get silly and:

Dance around your living room
Host a game night
Listen to your favorite music
Watch a comedy special or go to a comedy show

Again, this can be as big or as little as you have time for. If your schedule is totally swamped, just throw on some music while you’re making dinner or even while you take a shower. The point is just to have some mental escape.

8. Get Some Self-Care Helpers

You can also swing by the store and get some self-care goodies to enjoy. This can include:

Some sumptuous lotion, bath products, candles, or essential oils
A set of great blankets or pillows
Heating pads
An essential oil diffuser
Relaxing teas or healthy snacks

9. Take Charge of Your Physical Health

If you’re running after little ones, you might just be grabbing snacks or treats as you go. Taking charge of your health, even in a small way, can do wonders for your energy and mental health. Try to:

Stock up on healthy, on-the-go snacks you can stick with, like pita and hummus or a protein-packed energy bar
Make sure that you get at least eight glasses of water a day
Enjoy a green juice or a smoothie now and then
Make a homemade meal if you have the energy

10. Get Some Rays

Finally, you can just spend some time in the sun, whether it’s at the beach, at the park, or on your front porch. This won’t only help boost your mood, but also give your body some much-needed vitamin D.

And remember, the point is simply to do whatever you need to do to be at peace, energized, and ready to take on another busy day.