7 easy self care ideas for busy moms
Being a mom is a full time job, and it is very easy to get caught up in the daily routine with your littles and put yourself last.
Since becoming a mom my little Mav has become my whole world. It hasn’t been until recently that I have finally cut the umbilical cord and made time for myself.
Being a mom has been such an amazing adventure, I have felt a love that I have never experienced before. I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world, but sometimes you need some time for yourself to keep yourself sane!
By creating healthy habits and performing self care, it not only makes you feel better, but it sets good examples for your littles. I am going to share with you 7 of my favorite self care ideas to keep you sane.
Exercise
Get up & get moving! Whether it be a morning walk with your baby, a workout class alone, or a quick high intensity nap time workout, get that blood flowing. Exercise has always been my number one thing to do to alleviate any stress, and put me in a better mood.
High intensity workouts get your blood flowing and release those “feel good” endorphins. As a mom our alone time is limited so I prefer quick high intensity workouts. I am constantly changing up my workout routines. For at home workout inspo and to jump start your workout routine check out my week of HIIT workout guide.
If you prefer to get outdoors and change up your routine stroller strides is another group I am part of. They have them all over in many major cities. It is an hour workout that consist of strength training, cardio, and core. Your baby comes along for the ride in the stroller so no need to figure out childcare logistics, just have plenty of snacks packed!
Pamper yourself!
Light some candles, diffuse some essential oils, take a good ol bubble bath, & lather on your favorite face mask. I love me a good ol’ DIY face mask. My skin sucks, and I have found a great combo that really works for me. See below for my pampering night routine.
DIY face mask recipe
1 tablespoon indian healing clay ( this stuff is amazing and it sucks all the impurities out of your face, click here to purchase though my amazon affiliate link)
1 tablespoon tumeric ( Tumeric reduces acne and acne scars)
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar ( ACV fights acne and tones the skin. It also helps fight inflammation)
mix all the ingredients in a preferably disposable cup since it is messy. Add a couple drops of water if needed to get the right consistency. Later on your face, leave it for about 10-20 min and rinse off and pat your skin dry.
Following my face mask I follow up with a toner. My favorite is Thayers alcohol free rose toner. It is gentle enough for my acne prone skin and it hydrates and softens my skin. Following my toner I apply a moisturizer and some serums to my face.
I have tried many different products but I was recommended a few from a fellow clean beauty expert gal pal Anneliese. For my face oil she recommended a product based on my skin type, a balancing facial oil. This oil was very lightweight and helped soothe and brighten up my skin.
If I am going to be outdoors I try to always incorporate a sunscreen. Anneliese recommended a clean sunscreen by beauty counter for me and my son and we are loving it. It comes in a spray can and it is very light weight. It is a mineral sunscreen, it is reef friendly, and it is SPF 30! Anneliese and I are teaming up on Instagram and doing a special give away! If you go to my latest Instagram post here you can enter to win your very own mineral sunscreen.
Eat right
The foods we eat can affect our moods. I know when I indulge in mindless eating I instantaneously have eaters remorse. I feel best when I eat balanced meals, and when I fuel my body with foods with adequate nutrition.
The best way for my to be on top of my nutrition, and what I recommend to most people when they ask what the should eat when they want to lose weight, is to use the my fitness pal app. I have used this in the past alot when I would do my body building competitions. It is a little time consuming because you do have to measure your food and record it all in this app, but it is really educational! It breaks down all your meals and tells you how many carbs, fats, and proteins you consumed as well as nutrients. It’s a great way for you to learn about nutrition and what your diet lacks or is abundant in. I would recommend just doing it for a couple days to educate yourself, if you enjoy it and it works for you they use it.
Pursue hobbies
Find something that sparks your interest, or learn new skills. When we are occupied with something we enjoy it keeps our minds off of those everyday stressors. Since becoming a mom, I of course still love exercising but it hasn’t been as easy so I have had to get creative and create in home workouts.
I also pursed blogging! Blogging is very time consuming, but it has also been a lot of fun learning all the background technical stuff of building a website, creating graphics, and photography. It has allowed me to get out of my comfort zone and do things I am sometimes not always comfortable with. When you are learning and trying new things you are growing as a person, and becoming a better version of yourself. Not only for you but for your family.
Enjoy a moms night out!
You really never know how much you need a moms night out until you experience your first night without your baby. I didn’t have my first night out until Mav was 8 months old. We Co-sleep & he is breastfed, so in my mind it was hard for me to escape. In reality the little man was fine without me. Luckily dad had everything under control. The little guy is a different person when I am not around.
Going out for a moms night out is beneficial for you because for one, you get to dress up! Get out of those yoga pants, do your hair, put on some make up, & wear some heels! Go shopping prior and treat yourself! Buy something new so you don’t have to dig through the closet and complain about not having anything to wear!
At moms night out you get to bond with mothers who are going through the same things you are. Share advice or talk about those wild pre baby days! It is a night off to remember who you are, and remember that you are more than just a mom.
Blast some music & declutter
There is nothing I hate more than clutter. It stresses me out. My husband and I try do garage sales once a year where we purge our entire home and get rid of clothes and junk we don’t need. It is very satisfying! De cluttering your workspace and living environment can actually reduce anxiety, boost productivity and creativity, and plus you can make some extra money getting rid of the things you don’t need.
This year was Mavericks first Christmas, so of course everyone wanted to get him toys. Before we opened up all his toys we did a big clean up of all his baby toys and boxed it all up in storage bins and made room for the new ones. He now has an organized corner in the house for his stuff. Of course this corner doesn’t stay clean but there is less clutter!
Hydrate!
Water can do wonders for you. Lately my child is on the move and I feel like I am non stop with him. It makes it hard to enjoy those 8 glasses of water a day. No excuses though, I purchased a reuseable 1 gallon water jug and I fill it as often as possible and try to drink the entire thing. I really feel like I’m on my A-game when I conquer that thing. Drinking it gives me energy, & fights off those junk food cravings! If you are not much of a water drinker you can get fancy and add fresh fruits to you water to give it some taste. One of my favorite water combos is water with lemon, ginger, and mint!
How do you mamas like to perform self care!? comment below