Being a mom can be one of the most fulfilling and rewarding experiences, but also incredibly demanding and exhausting. Juggling work, childcare, and household responsibilities can leave little time for self-care and relaxation. However, taking time for yourself is essential to recharge your batteries, reduce stress, and boost your overall well-being.
The concept of me-time is often laughable and guilt-inducing for busy moms, but it’s a necessary part of parenting and home keeping. It’s not just for you but for your whole household.
Every family deserves a mentally healthy, relaxed, and well-rounded mom, so take a break from time to time!
Here are some me-time activities for busy moms to consider.
Go to the Salon
One of the best “me time” activities for moms is going to the salon. You can get some hair treatment or get a pedicure and manicure. If you feel that you’ve been stressed the whole week or maybe the whole month, then maybe you deserve a total makeover. With this, you can also include some facial treatments, or maybe visit the spa for a full body massage.
Read or Listen to Books
Reading books is one of the challenging things for moms when the kids are around. Therefore, when everyone at home is out, or when you find time for yourself, reading a book is one of the fun and relaxing things you can do. You can actually read a book even just for a few minutes each day. If you have an e-reader and a smartphone, you can also use that to read books during spare moments. If you still can’t find time to pick up a book, then you can download or buy some audio-books to listen to, whether you’re in the car or in bed.
Take a Long Shower
Taking a bath is one of the most challenging things to do for moms, especially when there are little kids to take care of. Therefore, if you ever find an alone time at home, take that chance to have a long and relaxing shower. Try to enjoy the hot water running down your body. Use your favorite soaps and scrubs. You can also try making bubble baths for more fun and relaxing, “me time.”
Play Games
Another fun and entertaining activity for moms is playing games. There are lots of games that you can play using your phone, tablet, or laptop. You can download lots of free games that will keep you entertained for hours. You can also try playing casino games online on sites like Fair Go Casino. Playing online casino games can give you loads of fun, and as well as a chance to win real money, just like how you can win in physical casinos. And there are many casino games you can play online.
Take a Nap
If you feel tired from work and doing house chores the whole week, one of the best things you can do when you find time for yourself is to take a nap and catch up on your sleep. This will also help you get the energy you need to face another week of getting busy with your job, kids, and home.
Watch Your Favorite Television Shows
Another fun “me time” activity for busy moms is watching television shows. Once your kids are in bed and the house is quiet, you can turn on your TV and binge-watch your favorite television shows. You can also make some popcorn to make the experience more enjoyable. It’s great to watch shows without interruptions, so grab every chance you’ll have.
Drink coffee earlier
Chances are, you’ve been tending to your kids and your house before you even finish your morning coffee. And when the kids have gone to school and eaten their breakfast, your coffee is already cold. To get a fresh start every morning, get up at least 30 minutes to an hour before anyone gets up, so you can enjoy a fresh cup of joe in the quiet until it’s empty. Use the time to gather your thoughts, plan for the day, or just pray or meditate.
Take a walk
Going for a walk is one of the most cliché ideas for my time. It’s simple, but it works. Walking outside can be a refreshing break from the hustle and bustle of daily life. You can enjoy the fresh air, get some exercise, get your blood flowing, and clear your mind. If possible, try to find a peaceful spot in nature to take your walk. When you lace up your walking shoes to take a step outside, leave everything – your kids, your phone, and your worries – behind.
Take a bubble bath
There’s nothing quite like soaking in a warm bubble bath to unwind and relax. Take some time to create a peaceful atmosphere by lighting candles, playing soothing music, and using luxurious bath products. Once the kids are asleep, draw yourself a warm, soothing bath. Experiment with bath salts or bath bombs, and choose the scents or ingredients you love.
Blast some music
Listening to music is a proven stress-buster. When was the last time you rocked out to your bop songs from high school or college? Create a Spotify “me time” playlist that has hits from your youth. It will bring you right back to your glory days, and some may make you dance a little. You can turn up the speakers while cleaning the house or preparing a meal and let your kids learn the songs you love from before.
Treat yourself to your favorite meal
Chances are, you are the person cooking for your family or your household, and you’re always catering to everyone else’s taste. So one of your kids likes lumps on their mashed potato, and one likes it with corn mixed on it. You’ve been doing everything you can to serve your family, so order or eat out to enjoy your favorite dish for at least one night a month, even if the picky family members have to eat pizza, canned soup, or last night’s leftovers for dinner. You deserve to be comforted with the dish you’ve been craving, mama!
Practice yoga
Yoga is a fantastic way to release tension and clear your mind. You can attend a yoga class or follow a yoga video at home. If your kids are already grown, you can enroll yourself in a yoga class, but if you’re with babies and toddlers, doing yoga from a YouTube instructor can do that. Even just a few minutes of yoga each day can make a big difference in your mental and physical health.
Use YouTube to work out
If you don’t have the time in the day to go to the gym and perform a full workout, tons of YouTube videos can help you. There are so many 5-minute, 10-minute, or 15-minute workouts out there that can cater to any fitness level. Start with stretches to ease any back or leg pains you’ve been feeling. If you want something fun, learn how to dance an entire song – a typical song usually lasts three minutes (give or take), and you’ll be a better dancer once you do it regularly. Grab the TV remote and turn your living room into a makeshift gym. You only need a yoga mat and a few weights, and you’ll already be equipped.
Catch up with a friend
If you feel like you’ve been too cooped up at home with your kids, you’re probably missing talking to an adult. So many of us are guilty of just texting, Facebook messaging or emailing rather than actually talking to a friend. Did you miss your regular phone calls with your best friend before the kids came along? There’s a good chance that she misses you too. Pick one evening a week after the kids have gone to sleep, and catch up with your bestie. Just talk, even if it’s to say, “I’m exhausted, and I miss you!” You’ll never know; your friend might want to visit you at home and babysit your babies! (But don’t push it, though. Let them volunteer, especially if you haven’t seen them for a while).
Write in a journal
Journaling is a great way to reflect on your thoughts and feelings. Take some time each day to write down your thoughts, hopes, and dreams. Journaling can also be a way for you to vent out, articulate a great thought, and record your experience so you can read it and feel it again in the future. You might be surprised at how much this simple practice can help you feel more centered and grounded.
Meditate
Meditation is a powerful tool for reducing stress and improving mental clarity. You can find guided meditations online or use an app like Headspace or Calm to get started. Even just a few minutes of meditation daily can help you feel calmer and more focused.
Get a massage
Feeling a little stiff, achy, or sore lately? You deserve a long-overdue massage. Go to a spa to relax and get a full-body massage, or hire a massage therapist who can perform the service at home if you don’t want to leave your kids alone.
Discover a new artist
Remember how fun it is to fall in love with a boyband or an artist? Once you started listening, you couldn’t stop! In your free time, take some moments to find new music or discover old music that you may love. Having something new and fun to listen to may just make your day.
Shop for fun
When you’ll be out running errands, take your time. For instance, if you have to go to the bank and the grocery store, enjoy quiet time alone. Then after, you can go shopping for personal items. If you haven’t bought yourself something new in a while, give yourself a budget to buy “wants” like a new bag, shoes, clothes, or makeup – anything that tickles your fancy. Reward yourself for working hard. But do it only from time to time and be reasonable, or else your budget will go a dip.
Watch a movie while folding
Before kids, you could go to the movies every time you want, especially during the weekends, to refresh after a long week of working. But now that you have kids, who no longer have time to watch movies? Parenting and motherhood is a 24/7 job, especially with babies and toddlers. So if you’re loaded with things to do at home, incorporate watching while doing chores. You can make it a rule that whenever you fold laundry, do it in front of the TV. You can watch the whole thing while you’re keeping your hands busy, so you won’t feel guilty “wasting” an hour to two hours of your day. If you have babies, folding all those little clothes can get boring, so folding is the perfect chore to do while catching up on new releases. A little tip: don’t watch anything action-packed while folding, though; you may miss out on the plot that way. Choose something funny, romantic, historical, dramatic – stuff like that.
Start a low-key hobby
There’s pressure for women to do it all: earn money, cook, clean, raise kids, and be crafty to boot. While you don’t have to be Martha Stewart, there’s something to be said about taking up a hobby that can help break up your daily grind so that you can do something fun and enjoyable in the midst of your busy life. Make it low-key, like scrapbooking, photography, container gardening, or easy yoga.
Bring along something fun to do while waiting in between errands. While waiting in the carpool line or waiting for your child at preschool, you can crochet, needlepoint, read books, answer crosswords, color an adult coloring book, or do any low-key activity while waiting.
Do nothing
This may sound so unlike you, but from time to time, you have to stop. It’s a simple treat you can give yourself. Stop, breathe, and repeat. Make a few moments of downtime really count by doing nothing. Don’t scroll at your smartphone, don’t watch TV, don’t plan your next tasks ahead in your mind, and don’t check on your napping baby every two seconds. And don’t feel guilty about it. If you have a window with a nice view, take a few moments to gaze out and sit. It’s not a waste of time. A few minutes of quiet time doing nothing can save you several minutes of frustration or forgetfulness when you’re tackling your to-do list later on.
Conclusion
Being a busy mom doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your own needs and well-being. By making time for yourself and engaging in activities that help you relax and recharge, you can be a better mom and a happier person overall. Try incorporating some of these me-time activities into your routine, and see how much of a difference they can make in your life.