Parental Arts
Eight Self-Care Ideas for Moms
For moms, self-care is a necessity to recognize and meet your own physical and emotional needs. What better time than Mother’s Day—a time to celebrate you and everything you do for your family—to tune in? (Or out, depending on how you look at it.) Whether you crave more connection or alone time, a slow walk in the sunshine or a game of hide and seek where you kids can’t actually find you, there’s something on this list of self-care ideas for mothers that will help fill your cup.
- Written By
- Marnie Schwartz
Get into nature.
You’re not just imagining it—time outdoors really does lower stress and boost mood, and even improves your health. Whether you hit up a city park for a bike ride or stroll, a botanic garden, or rural hiking trails, research shows that a dose of nature will do you good. And if you can swing it alone, even better.
Escape into a good book.
(This mom self-care idea might require locking a door.) Turn off your phone (or at least put it in airplane mode), pour yourself a glass of wine or make a cup of tea, and put on your comfiest pajamas. Feel free to skip the Fancy Nancy and Little Golden Books and read what you want to read. Novel idea, isn’t it?
Set up an at-home spa.
Sure, a day at a real spa would be a dream. But an hour after bedtime with nothing to do except pamper yourself is pretty great too. Whether it’s soaking in a hot tub spiked with bath salts, applying the fancy face masks that you never get a chance to use, giving yourself a mani-pedi, or doing a full-body scrub, do the things that make you feel cared for. Don’t forget to set the mood—a candle and some soothing music can go a long way. And if this all sounds like too much work, maybe just try going to the bathroom by yourself.
Schedule time to connect.
It’s so easy to get caught up in the busyness of everyday life, and subsist on “checking in” and “how are you?” texts. But real relationships, the kind that nourish our souls, need time and space for real connection. Make a phone date or put some time on the calendar for a wine night with your mom, self-care with your sister, or night out with your best friend.
Unleash your creativity.
Whether it’s painting or drawing, writing in a journal, or coming up with expletive-laden alternatives to nursery rhymes under your breath, as a mom, self-care needs to be something you can totally immerse yourself in. Psychologists call that feeling of being “in the zone” a flow state, and reaching it helps you feel motivated, fulfilled, and happy.
Put more me-time on the calendar.
Building moments of "mom's self-care time" into your daily and weekly routine are key to feeling happy and energized (and less like you are totally going to lose it). And knowing you’ve got something scheduled gives you something to look forward to, whether it’s something as small as a quick run or as big as a spa day or solo night at a hotel. Room service for one, please.
Treat yourself to new sheets—and more sleep.
If your kids have nicer sheets than you do, it’s time to spring for a new set…and then snuggle in. Take a nap during the kids’ naptime instead of rushing around doing chores or squeezing in more work, or maybe just do yourself a favor and go to bed early instead of binge-watching Ted Lasso for the third time.
Move your body. Or don’t.
Exercise lowers stress and boosts mood, and meditating does the same. But just sitting on the sofa and staring into space can work wonders, too. Pay attention to what you need in the moment and then make it happen.