Simple Self-Care for Busy Moms
More and more people are realizing that self-care isn’t selfish. On the contrary, taking care of yourself is the first step to being able to take care of others. If you’re a parent, this idea will especially resonate with you. This article focuses on simple self-care practices for those busy moms who put on their “Supermom” cape and completely forget about themselves.
It’s time to dispel the notion that you’re supposed to put your family above everything else and that spending time and resources on yourself is selfish. It’s important to realize that you have to take care of yourself in order to have the necessary energy to take care of your children. To love your family, you have to love yourself. If not, what kind of example are you setting for your kids?
Self-care is an important factor in your overall health. It encompasses the practical, physical, mental, and even spiritual factors of your life. That’s why each person has their own definition of self-care. You have to decide what aspects of your life are important to take care of.
“You will be loved and respected only if you love and respect yourself.”
-Paulo Coelho-
Making time for simple self-care
We aren’t going to waste time telling you how to care for your skin or that you should eat well and exercise. You already know that. Instead, we’re going to offer some strategies and tools that will help you reconnect with yourself.
We know that it can be especially difficult for moms to find time for self-care. The challenge is to make time for yourself. For this, you need to be creative.
The key is to turn inactive moments into self-care moments. Learn to separate what’s important from what isn’t. Use those minutes to invest in yourself. You can also take time away from other tasks and use it on yourself. Be creative and listen to your body. Learn to relax and rest.
Below, we’ll share a series of self-care practices specially designed for busy moms. You can incorporate these exercises into your day-to-day life, no matter how crazy things get. All you need is a few minutes a day to re-focus and center yourself.
“As I began to love myself, I stopped craving for a different life, and I could see that everything around me was inviting me to grow.”
-Charlie Chaplin-
Elevate your legs
Elevating your legs helps fight inflammation and offers temporary relief of different symptoms. While you’re elevating your legs, try to close your eyes and let your mind go blank.
All you have to do is lay down on a bed or on the floor. Then, place your legs against the wall or on a chair. You can even elevate your legs without resting them on anything. The more you elevate and stretch your legs, the better. However, remember that you shouldn’t push yourself too hard.
Practice abdominal breathing
Abdominal breathing is the first step to relaxation. In fact, it’s one of the most highly recommended self-care techniques for moms. When you pay attention to the movement of your abdomen, your diaphragm goes down, which helps you breathe more deeply. This type of breathing reduces stress and improves oxygen circulation in your body.
To begin, sit in a comfortable position or lay down on your back. Close your eyes and place your hands on your belly. Inhale through your nose and feel how your belly expands like a balloon. Exhale and feel your belly sinking down towards your spine. Repeat several times.
If you feel really stressed or agitated, hold your breath for a few seconds after you inhale and exhale. If you can’t do it the first time around, don’t worry. It’ll get easier with practice. If you do it correctly, you’ll feel calmer after three or four breaths.
Drink a cup of hot tea
Drinking hot tea in silence is one of the biggest gifts you can give yourself during the day. You should do it either mid-morning or mid-afternoon.
Make an organic tea that really appeals to you. Choose one with healthy properties that you feel will make you feel good. If the silence is overwhelming or you feel like your thoughts are running wild, use a guided meditation video or podcast. Enjoy every sip, focus on the sensations, and breathe.
Other simple self-care practices
There are many other ways to practice self-care. For example, doing 15-20 minutes of yoga in the mornings can be very beneficial. Meditation or mindfulness exercises are also helpful. You might have to get up a little earlier for this, but it’s worth it.
Although we mentioned this briefly at the beginning, it does deserve another mention. Don’t neglect your physical well-being. Don’t put exercise on the back burner. Make time for it in any way you can, whether that’s inside, outside, at the gym, or at the park.
Try to incorporate a few of these suggestions into your daily routine. We promise you’ll feel happier, healthier, and more centered.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Acosta, I., & Molano, Y. (1999). Prácticas de autocuidado en madres adolescentes en el Hospital de la Granja. Bogotá: Universidad Javeriana.
- Campos, C., Jaimovich, S., Moore, J., Pawloski, L., Gaffney, K., & González, M. (2008). Operaciones de Autocuidado asociadas a la nutrición en madres de escolares chilenos. Horizon Enferm, 19(2), 45-54.
- De Castro, E. K., & Moro, L. (2012). Factores psicosociales relacionados con el autocuidado en la prevención, tratamiento y postratamiento del cáncer de mama. Psicooncología, 9(2/3), 453.
- Garduño, M. D. M., Chávez, T. D. J. E., & Reyes, C. S. (2008). Autocuidado de mujeres en etapa de menopausia en Toluca, México. Escola Anna Nery Revista de Enfermagem, 12(1), 63-67.
