Are you struggling as a stay-at-home mom? I know I am and I’ve been doing it for quite a while now.
While it is great to have the opportunity, it can be a struggle, especially when it comes to finding time for yourself.
The lack of alone time can cause you to feel depressed. No one wants to have to feel that way.
Do you want to know how to be a happy stay-at-home mom?
You can become a happy stay-at-home mom by participating in self-care every day using this list of self-care ideas. Self-care is any activity that helps you to take care of yourself physically, mentally, and/or emotionally. You have to fill up your own cup before you can fill up anyone else’s.
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Why Self-Care is Important for Moms
Self-care is very important for moms because we are so busy taking care of everyone else that we often forget to tend to our own needs. If you aren’t making sure to take care of yourself, then who will?
How to Make Time for Self-Care
You are probably wondering where the heck you are supposed to fit in time for yourself.
Self-care can be done for any amount of time. It can be done for 5 minutes or for 2 hours.
However much time you can devote to self-care then do it! You have to make the time.
Make it a priority each and every day!
Ways to find time for Self-Care
Wake up earlier than your kids
I know you probably don’t like to hear this, but it is something that I have personally done that has made a big difference.
Without waking up earlier than my kids I would get absolutely no quiet time to myself.
By the time the kids go to bed at night, I am too exhausted to take the time to do anything for myself. Instead, I utilize the morning to sit down with a hot cup of coffee and a book or to work on my blog.
Wait until after they go to bed
If waking up earlier doesn’t work for you because you are more of a night owl, then utilize the time after your children are in bed to participate in some kind of self-care activity.
Use this time to take a bubble bath and listen to some music or enjoy a hot cup of tea while watching one of your favorite shows. Do whatever makes you feel good.
While your child is napping
If you are so lucky to have a child that still naps (I’m jealous!) then take that time for yourself.
Yes, you could use it to do the household chores, and by all means, if that’s what you enjoy then do so.
Take a nap if possible (this is something that never worked for me). Or just relax on the couch and play around on your phone.
While they are at school
This is the perfect time to participate in some self-care. There are no excuses since your kids are in school!
You can take a little time to do some of the housework and then spend the rest of the time doing what you would like to do. That way you should have fewer (or no) feelings of guilt because you did accomplish something that you needed to do before you took some time out for yourself.
Self-Care Ideas
Self-care means different things to different people.
To one person self-care may mean spending the day at a spa. To another person, self-care could be taking a nap.
The only thing that matters when it comes to self-care is that whatever you choose to do is helping you focus on and take care of yourself.
Self-Care Ideas That Cost Money
- Get a massage
- Go to the movies by yourself
- Go to the gym
- Buy a new outfit that makes you feel good about yourself
- Go to the salon to get a Mani/Pedi
- Get your hair cut
- Go shopping
- Take a vacation
- Stay in a hotel room by yourself for a night
- Take a class
- Starbucks + Target = Happy mom
- Treat yourself out to lunch
Free Self-Care Ideas for Moms
- Meditate
- Do yoga
- Take a bubble bath
- Work out at home
- Bullet journaling
- Get dressed and put on some makeup
- Binge-watch your favorite tv show on Netflix
- Read a book
- Play video games
- Go for a walk
- Take a nap
- Paint your nails
- Color in an adult coloring book
- Get some sunshine
- Make your bed
- Listen to music
- Take part in a hobby
- Enjoy your favorite beverage
- Crochet
- Take pictures
- Take a long hot shower
- Spend time with friends
- Use a face mask
- Listen to a podcast
- Listen to an audiobook
- Sew
- Join a mom group
- Do Pinterest crafts
- Cook your favorite meal and eat it in silence
- Bake a favorite treat of yours
- Clean/organize/declutter
- Gardening
- Light a candle
- Write down what you are grateful for
- Go to the bathroom – by yourself!
- Relax on the couch and play on your phone
- Do a jigsaw puzzle
Conclusion
There is no reason why you cannot make time for some kind of self-care in your day.
It is absolutely necessary to prevent yourself from feeling stressed and burnt out.
Don’t feel like you are being selfish because you are taking time for yourself.
Self-care is NOT selfish!
You need to realize that by doing so you are doing something good, not just for you, but for your family as well.
Believe me, they will be happy that you did and so will you.
Which of these self-care ideas are you going to use today mama? Let me know in the comments below!
Loved it?! Then pin it!! ☝
These are great ideas for self care for moms. I love getting up before my kids. My problem is that my 2 year old is now getting up at 5 am!
This is a great list of ideas – taking care of your mental health as a mom whether working of not is KEY!
Self care is a must on my list! Thanks for sharing all of these wonderful ideas particularly the ones that doesn’t cost a thing. As moms, our energy is usually spent on others’ needs and we have to shift our mindsets to make time for the sake of our well-being in order to serve others in the best way possible.
All of these are so good! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I am a SAHM and I love it. I have learned in these 19 months to take alone time when needed. I definitely don’t do ANYTHING but things for me during nap time. Podcasts, books and recorded shows. It’s wonderful.
Wow this is an awesome list! Self care is so important. Especially for moms. I love doing yoga and moving my body in other ways for self-care. I tried to get into adult coloring a few years back and it’s just not my thing. haha
When my kids were young and napped, I always took that time for some me-time. Now that they are older I get up an hour earlier than them so I have time to focus on some self-care before the busyness of parenting begins.
Thanks for much for this list! I know a lot of burnt-out stay at home moms, and it has a lot to do with self-care!
I love all the ideas you listed! The one that jumped out at me was to spend the night in a hotel by yourself. I’ve never done that but it sounds like a great idea to me!
Taking care of yourself as a SAHM can be a challenge for sure. These are so good and doable ideas! 😍
Self-care is important but too often neglected! My favorites right now are running, deep breathing, and yoga. I ha e a calligraphy book that I want to learn how to use, but I keep putting it off for some reason!
I love these tips! It’s so important to find time for oneself daily.
I love that you put that self-care can be done in 5 minutes. Some great ideas and so important.
I am a working mother and being so is very tiring. Trying to keep up with all that needs to be done in a day is not easy to do, and at the end of the day, time for myself is still not within reach. I have not read all your tips yet. However, based on what I have read, I know that you have a lot of really good ideas that would be a big help to me.
Pinned and very readworthy.
There are a lot of great ideas on this list!
You are so right! Self-care is very important for at home moms as well as those who are not. We need to take care of ourselves if we wish to be able to show up for our loved ones.
Great ideas thank you!
I think many stay at home moms see self-care as frivolous or write it off as being costly, which they don’t think they can justify. I love that you included so many great free ideas!