4 Self-Care Ideas Moms Can Practice Daily
by Katie Pierce
Self-care is basic. For some, it’s grabbing a glass of their favorite wine and preparing a bubble bath after a long week. Others, however, identify it as spoiling themselves with experience, travel, or material things. But for working moms, self-care can become complicated.
How can working moms practice self-care?
It’s hard enough to balance the time for work and family, what else could be left for yourself? As a working mom, the idea of prioritizing your wants and needs might sound alien. The lack of time is not the only factor here. It’s also about budget, family setups, and energy. In a world where there is so little of everything left every day, frankly, there’s not much leeway to enjoy.
But slowing down is essential—especially for a responsibility that requires so much giving. It doesn’t have to be a big move or gesture to start, though. However, you’ve got to start on something. Here are some tips that can guide you one step at a time to practice self-love—from one working mom to another.
1. Squeeze in a 10-minute-breather every day.
Most working moms live a fast-paced life. Ten minutes may sound so little in the grand scale of things, but it can help you clear up your mind space and ground yourself.
You don’t have to do anything. Just take this time to breathe. You can also allow yourself to feel. Let out a good cry if you need it. Establish this routine every day to build the habit. It can be before you go to work, after taking the kids to school, or during lunch breaks. If anything gets too much on your plate, don’t be afraid to step out for a while. Even if it’s just a matter of minutes.
The best relationship you need to forge is with yourself. You have to feel safe within your own company. That way, you always have somewhere to come back to when everything seems to be spiraling out of control.
2. Indulge in the little things.
Making do with what little you have might be the philosophy behind this advice. However, it is essential to rediscover yourself and find out about the things or experiences that make your heart flutter and feel warm.
It doesn’t have to be expensive or materialistic. It can be as simple as your favorite spot to watch the sunset while on the way home from work. Or a cup of white chocolate milk before bed.
You can also take slower showers during weekends and catch up on your skincare routine. Spice it up with a new night cream. There are a lot of affordable and sustainable products nowadays that contain natural skin care ingredients. Maybe get that facial cleansing oil you have been eyeing for so long while you’re out doing errands too!
Who says you can’t glow despite the stress? Indulge. Bask in the sun. Smile. Hug your kids. Tell your partner how much you love them. Self-care isn’t just an inward practice. It’s also about the people or things you care about.
3. Talk about your feelings.
Being a working mom also means wearing multiple hats every day. Someone whom your daughter can lean on to seek the first-period talk. Someone whom your partner can go to for support. Someone that your boss can count on for deliverables—despite short timings. These, along with many other hats, as a friend, a daughter, and a member of the community, are what being a working mom entails.
It can be hard to talk or process your feelings if you have been so used to carrying the burdens of those around you. So, you can start by talking about it to yourself. Keep a journal as a platform for releasing your thoughts. If you can’t find the words, draw them. Grab your child’s watercolor from the playroom and paint how you feel.
Keeping it all in might be your go-to response when it comes to your burdens. Most of us were raised with the thinking that moms should be selfless. But you have to permit yourself to become vulnerable too. Recognizing and materializing your feelings is the start.
If you have the extra time, call a friend. Invite them for a quick afternoon tea and just let the conversations take you wherever. Good conversations have a way of healing you—and having someone who listens and cares for you is one of the few luxuries in life that not many can afford.
4. Sleep!
For working moms, sleeping is easier said than done. After a long day of work and mom duties, you might find yourself aimlessly scrolling on your phone or surfing the channels on the television. It’s normal, but it can be unhealthy for your mind and body.
Discipline yourself to lessen your screen time before bed. A few more Instagram likes might be irresistible, but limit the availability of access that the digital world often demands. Doing this will clear your mind even just a little to focus with rest.
It is ideal to get quality sleep for 8 hours but for the moms who work multiple jobs, this is impossible. Allow yourself to take power naps, though. Don’t skip meals and stay hydrated. Rest is also accompanied by proper nutrition to help your body and mind function at their best.
The takeaway
Little things matter. As a working mom, it might take a lot of learning and unlearning to look after yourself as much as you care for your loved ones. But the important thing is you know where to start.
For those who are still in the process of preparing to be a parent, take these notes with you, and don’t forget to include self-care in the list of priorities you should practice. Remember: if you don’t have the energy to take care of yourself, you won’t have enough to cater to everyone else!
Katie Pierce is a teacher-slash-writer who loves telling stories to an audience, whether it’s bored adults in front of a computer screen or a bunch of hyperactive 4-year-olds. Writing keeps her sane (most of the time) and allows her to enjoy some quiet time in the evening before she walks into a room of screaming kids (all of whom she loves dearly) the next morning.
