7 Daily Self Care Habits For Moms
As Moms, we tend to put our needs last. Which is ironic because we need to look after ourselves first in order to look after everyone else. Have you ever had to care for kids when you’re sick? It’s insane. But we need to include daily self care habits for moms so we can keep ourselves going.
Self care seems to have been a dirty word for moms for a long time, like somehow we had to martyr ourselves in order to be a good mother. Which has led women to feel like they have to do it all (and not complain about it) and if they feel like they aren’t coping, then they’re failing.
It’s a horrible way for women to feel, but it is the reality for so many moms. Which is why I try to highlight the importance of self care, that a mom needs to fill her own cup and look after herself so she can look after others and be the happy and energetic mom she wants to be.
Self care doesn’t have to be difficult and it certainly doesn’t have to be complicated. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune and it doesn’t have to take up a lot of time. Self care might sound like a day at the spa, when really it’s about taking small mindful moments and focusing on being present, enjoying that little slice of time, and allowing it to refuel you.
So here are some daily self care habits for moms that are easy to include, are so simple to do and can make the world of difference to your day.
Be sure to join in on our self care challenge if you want to know more about how you can make self care work for you:
1 – Drink The Darn Coffee
Let me just add, drink the darn coffee while it’s still hot! I don’t care what anyone says, coffee is my self care. It’s not about the caffeine buzz, that ship has sailed. It’s about the process of making the coffee, the deep breaths to breathe in the smell and the focus on taking time out to drink it while it’s still hot.
This is honestly the biggest self care moment of my day. I even get up earlier than everyone else just so I can drink my coffee in peace, while it’s still hot. The kids now know that nothing happens until I’ve had my coffee.
For you it might not be coffee, maybe it’s breakfast, a smoothie, or a cup of tea, or even reading the paper. The point is that you take a small moment of time, first thing in the morning, to focus and get your mind clear (ish, because we’re moms and my mind is never clear).
2 – Create To Do Lists
I know it seems like this is less of a self care habit and more of a ‘how to organize your day’ kinda deal, but trust me... this certainly counts as self care. Anything that makes your day easier, makes you feel like you can get all the things out of your head and focus and makes you feel like you’re more in control, counts as self care.
You can write your to do list while you’re drinking your coffee in the morning and you know you’ve set yourself up for an amazing day.
3 – Take Time To Feel Nice
It literally takes 5 minutes to wash your face, do your hair and freshen yourself up. And it’s not for anyone else. I don’t give a rats what other people think of how I look. It’s all for you! It’s all about feeling good in your own skin.
I have this thing where I can’t concentrate unless I have a bra on. I don’t know what happened when I was getting wired up but somehow my boobs are connected to my brain and I need a bra on to be able to function. So this is part of my ‘time to feel nice’.
I also make sure I have a clean shirt on (or at least one that’s not stained) and only wear clothes that make me feel good.
You’ll be amazing at the difference this simple self care step can add to your whole day.
4 – Do At Least One Thing You Love
What do you love to do? And when was the last time you did it?
I love reading, so I make sure reading is part of my day, every single day. Work out what it is you love to do and make it happen. If it was something for your kids or for your husband you’d make sure there was time for it in the day, so make sure there is time for you too!
Maybe you love to walk, or sing, or dance, or whatever. Again, it doesn’t have to be for hours on end. Just a few minutes every day doing something you love because you are worth it.
5 – Practice Gratitude
This one is hard some days but is oh so important. One of the ways I’ve managed to include more gratitude in my day is simply changing the phrase ‘I have to’ to ‘I get to’.
For example, instead of saying ‘I have to drop the kids off to school’, I say ‘I get to drop the kids off to school’ and instantly it’s changed from a chore to something I am grateful to do.
Sure, some days it doesn’t feel like a grateful moment, but that’s why it’s called practice. I also try to think of at least one thing I am hand on heart grateful for each day before I go to sleep… and if I’m trying to challenge myself I make it that it has to be something new each day.
6 – Move Your Body
I had no idea how much of an impact exercise had on my mood until I realised that not moving my body enough was making me angry… I was seriously the angry mom and it was all because I wasn’t exercising.
You don’t have to do a HIIT class every day of the week, but make sure you get up and move. It could be a simple stretch, or making sure you get your 10k steps in each day, or walking the kids to school, or even a wrestling match with your husband. Anything that moves your body and gets your endorphins going.
7 – Schedule Time For Yourself
Time for you is so incredibly important, so make sure you schedule it like you would any other appointment. If your kids had a sports class or your husband had a sports comp on you’d make sure they all got there, so do the same for you! Put it in your calendar right now. Yes, now!! I’ll wait……
Seriously though, self-care is so important and you will notice a massive difference in your day if you just take a few mindful moments for yourself. It doesn’t have to be hours each day, it doesn’t have to cost the earth (or anything at all), but you do need to make a conscious decision to take time for yourself and fill your own cup.
You are worth it.
