17 Self Care Activities For Moms (That Don’t Include a Trip to The Spa)

 

Finding balance in your life is so important and taking care of yourself is a huge part of that in our busy mom lives. These 17 self care activities give moms a chance to actually connect with themselves and are way bigger than just getting a manicure.

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17 Self Care Activities For Moms (That Don’t Include a Trip to The Spa)

I recently wrote about my own discovery when it comes to self care and how my own self care strategies have actually changed my life. It’s amazing how crippled you will feel in your everyday life if you don’t take care of yourself both physically and mentally. To give a little bit of my background story: I did just that a handful of years ago before we moved to New York City when I was a young mom trying to find my way. I put a price tag on self care activities and wrote them off as not being a part of my life because I never thought we could afford it – when in reality the ones that make the biggest impact on your life don’t cost a damn thing.

So today, I want to share self care activities that every woman can practice at any point in her day, some of them or all of them, and you won’t see one mention of getting a manicure. In the end, you need to figure out what works best for you, but these are a wonderful starting point that are thoughtful, meaningful and some might even be self care goal – all that will help you find some balance in your life.

First, what are some self care goals of mine?

At the beginning of this year, I chose the word adventure as my word of the year and I want to include more of that. While this year hasn’t brought on many adventurous moments so far, I’m learning that they do come in different shapes and sizes for everyone. I think our big adventure will be finally moving out of the city this summer and hopefully planning an epic vacation in the fall. I would also like to read more, as it’s always so calming to me – especially before bed.

17 self care activities that all moms should embrace

You’ve got this mama! You can seriously take on the world as long as you’re taking care of yourself.

1. Get more sleep.

Sleep is CRUCIAL to your overall well being, especially if you’re a mom. You probably read my introduction to Sambrosa a couple of weeks ago and I can’t recommend it anymore. Their Nighttime Syrup is made from an all natural honey base that helps you to drift off to sleep naturally and also keep you free from daily allergy struggles that we all have such as itchy, watery eyes, nose and throat, and running nose and sneezing.  It’s the amazing elixir that I keep on my bedside table and take before I go to sleep and know that I will always wake up well rested and able to take on the day – sans all the tossing and turning! If you’re not sleeping well, then you’re not taking care of YOU!

Learn more about how incredible Sambrosa is HERE!

2. Reading.

I need to do more of this in my life, like I said above. But it’s so incredibly soothing and invigorating to dive into a good book – there’s nothing quite like it.

3. Reciting positive mantras every day.

I used to think this was silly until I started doing it. If you need some inspiration, here’s my 25 self-love affirmations to get you started.

4. Getting daily exercise.

You all know how I feel about this one and obsesses about my HIIT workouts. But, I dare you to get into a routine and miss a workout and see how you feel. Your eyes will be opened to just how much a simple 25 minutes, 4 days a week makes an impact on your overall well being.

5. Choose joy.

I’ve been feeling like the mean mom lately and the nagger and the cycle never ends. I had an “aha” moment when drifting off to sleep the other night that it was really all about my mindset and that I could choose joy if I wanted to, or not. I chose to grab it and haven’t looked back. Sometimes it’s difficult to always look on the bright side, but it’s better than feeling down in the dumps.

6. Surround yourself with people who support you.

Honestly, if the people in your life love and support you wholeheartedly, you will feel like you are practicing self care from morning until night. These are the kind of people you want in your life.

7.  Have a dance party with your kids.

Giggle. Dance. Jump around. Forget about the world. It’s pretty much the best.

8. Let yourself have a selfish moment.

For me, this is sometimes hiding a pint of ice cream in the back of the freezer that no one else knows about and then pulling it out once everyone’s asleep. It’s going to be different for you, but allow yourself to own that moment. You can’t have a good list of self care activities without getting a little selfish!

9. Declutter your home.

It’s really hard to relax or focus on whats really important if you’re living in a cluttered space. I follow the rule of one, meaning I do one small thing each day to declutter or clean and it keeps my space somewhat clean and organized. Enough so that I can be productive and focus on work and kids instead of housework.

10. Resolve something that has been bothering you.

Whether it’s something as small as fixing that pesky beeping smoke alarm or something bigger like a disagreement with your spouse or a friend, there’s so much peace that will wash over you whenever you come to a resolution. This is one of my absolute favorite self care activities.

11. Eat healthy.

It’s not about looking good, but feeling good. And you won’t ever feel good if you fill our body – your vessel- with crap. Trust me on this one. You se that Brazlian skirt steak above? That’s my getting back into keto dinner from day 3. Here’s a great meal to start with. 

12. Take a shower without your child trying to climb in with you.

This was a simple, but a big one for me lately. For the longest time, I would work out in the morning and then take a shower – with Blake in tow. I would close the bathroom door and then bring in a toy that would hopefully keep her occupied when she most likely always got into something else. Or, she tried to climb into the shower with me with all her clothes on. So I made a change that had greatly impacted my day. I put her in her high chair, turn on a show, give her a snack and take a quick, uninterrupted 10-minute shower every morning and it is honestly one of the best things for my soul.

13. Write down your goals or thoughts.

There is something about having our goals or our deep thoughts that swirl through our brains all day written down on paper that makes them so much more tangible. Once you get those things written down, you will be steps closer to achieving them or the path to achieving them will be so much more clear.

14. Splurge!

Maybe you’ve been eyeing up a new pair of shoes that are more on the expensive side or are dying for a vacation. Do it! It’s so good for your soul.

15. Satisfy a craving.

Whatever craving – you choose! Maybe you’ve been craving takeout and keep fighting with yourself because of all the calories.  Who cares? My husband always is there to remind me that we aren’t living to work and that we need to satisfy our cravings for different things in life here and there.

16. Light some candles.

There is nothing like being in a room filled with a fragrance that you love to help relax you or even change your whole mood.

17. Connect with the people you love.

There is no self-care moment that really compares to connect with the people who you really love. In today’s world, we are all so fixated on social media and documenting these moments we are having and while I love all that – heck I make my living off that – I also encourage you all to put down the technology and just focus on meaningful moments. I promise, just because you don’t document them doesn’t mean they didn’t happen.

Looking for more self care help? I’ve got some ideas!

• The Importance of Sleep For Health and Families, too
• 25 Self Love Affirmations To Live By
• What I Learned About Self Care That Changed My Life
• 5 Strategies For Crushing Your New Years Goal List
• Where to Find Awesome Support Groups For Moms
• 5 Cool Apps For Moms
• Surviving Mommy Guilt
• Motherhood Unplugged: How to Get More Sleep Naturally

And don’t forget – self care activities aren’t a one-time thing. You have to make sure you make time for these things in your daily schedule, even if you need to sneak it in here and there. But sleep? Alays make sure you’re getting enough sleep, and if you are struggling, grab yourself a bottle of Sambrosa – you can thank me later! In fact, your body, soul, mind, and probably family will thank you because every day you will embrace the world with the best version of you. It’s seriously life changing!

Fashionably Yours,

Allison