mom

When you spend the majority of your days taking care of everyone else, you may find that you end up putting your own needs and wants on the back burner. It’s easy to come up with a million excuses about why you can’t make time for yourself. The truth is, it should be a priority for any busy mom to spend time each day taking care of themselves for improved physical and mental health. You may not have a lot of time to carve out each day for self-care, but any time you can spend on yourself will help.

Make Time for Friends 

Your friends are important, and even though you have a busy life with children, you should still make time for them. Maybe plan something for everyone so they can bring their children along, but you should also see if it’s possible to have a night with your friends and no children. It’s always good to have time with just adults, and a break from the mom life, even if it is just for a few hours. During your kid-free time, do something you normally wouldn’t be able to do with children, such as spending the evening at a San Diego casino, playing some games and having some drinks. Dancing, a spa visit or just an adult meal where you don’t have to cut anyone’s food is a nice break.

Take a Relaxing Bath 

Whether you have 15 minutes or an hour to spare, take a relaxing bath at the end of the day to help unwind. Make sure it’s the right temperature, add some bubbles or scented oils, grab a book or play some music. If you plan on being in there for a little while, bring some snacks or put on a face mask. Do whatever you can to help the stress melt away. Even if you can’t do this every night, you should still try to relax in the tub whenever you’re able to. 

Squeeze in Exercise Whenever Possible 

Everyone knows that exercise is important to their health, but it can feel like it’s incredibly hard to find time to get moving. Exercise can help you lose weight or maintain your weight, it can keep your joints and bones strong and healthy, and it can improve your mood, along with many other benefits. Even if time is very limited, there are simple ways to increase your physical activity. You can bring your family along for a walk at the park at the end of the day, take the stairs whenever possible, park farther away from the store entrance, put on your favorite music and dance while cleaning, and you can sit on an exercise ball when paying the bills or watching TV. 

Find a Hobby 

Self-care should include spending time pursuing your hobbies, or finding what you are most passionate about. People change, and it’s common to change what hobbies you’re into. At one time you could have liked writing, but now you’re more into painting. It’s okay to not know what you like to do in your spare time, but it can be fun to learn more about yourself by trying out different hobbies. 

You can try different hobbies by figuring out what you’re most interested in and finding something that fills you with excitement. Keep an open mind when it comes to discovering what you’re passionate about, and don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try something you may never have thought of trying before. 

Just as you prioritize your family and their needs, you should also prioritize your own. Busy moms can often feel over-stressed, overburdened, and like their own wants or needs are less than important. It’s far from selfish to want to soak in the tub at the end of the day or curl up with a good book. Whatever you’re able to do to take time for yourself each day, you should do.