I’m proclaiming 2021 to be the year of self care for moms. Shed the guilt and use this list of self-care ideas to take care of YOU.
Health is about so much more than the food we eat or how active we are. Don’t get me wrong. Those are important. But can you eat all the “right foods”, exercise often, and STILL not be your healthiest self? Yep.
I take a holistic approach to health, considering my whole person when measuring how healthy I believe myself to be. That means mental health is a big part of the picture.
That’s where self care comes in. Self care isn’t indulgent. It isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity.
Now, I know that’s not the easiest concept to accept. I’m speaking from experience here, and I know a lot of moms feel guilty when they spend any time taking care of themselves. Heck, they feel guilty when they do anything that doesn’t involve taking care of their family.
It’s part of our nature as mothers to take care of others. But I ask you to consider this: can you take care of your family, in the best possible way, if you are suffering?
Of course not.
Read this: If Mama Ain’t Healthy, Ain’t Nobody Happy!
These self care ideas are ways that you can fill your own cup so that you’re better able to pour into your family. They are ways that you can take care of yourself so you can be the best possible version of yourself.
This isn’t selfish. Quite the opposite.
You aren’t looking at a one-size-fits-all list of self-care ideas. What I need may be different than what the next person needs. I’ve tried to include ideas that would be appealing to a wide range of personalities, although it’s admittedly geared towards my primary audience, moms. I asked moms in my private Facebook group, and many of them helped me with ideas for this list! We would love to have you join us as it’s a wonderful, supportive community of like-minded women supporting each other on our health journeys.
Another thing to note is that self care doesn’t need to take a whole lot of time or money. It can, for sure, if you have both of those available to you. If you don’t, however, know that you aren’t excluded from self care. You may need to get creative at times, but if you make it a priority, you’ll see that engaging in self care is possible for everyone.
21 Self-Care Ideas for Moms in 2021
1. Take time to read alone.
It can be a book or a magazine, but just take some time to be alone and read. No distractions. No interruptions.
2. Take a bath.
Go all out. Add some bubbles or essential oils. Light some candles. Play some music. Truly relax.
3. Get in nature.
Whether you walk around your neighborhood, hang out in your own backyard, go hiking, or visit the prettiest outdoor spot local to you, just get outside. Fresh air and nature are good for the soul.
4. Enjoy your favorite food or drink.
Yes, treating yourself to whatever food or drink makes you feel good is a form of self care. If it isn’t a healthy choice, don’t allow yourself to feel guilt. Enjoy it.
5. Exercise.
I understand that for some people, this may not sound like self care. I ask you, though, have you ever NOT felt better after a workout? Exercise=endorphins. Endorphins=feeling GOOD.
6. Meditate.
If there’s one thing our mom brains need, it’s a break. Meditation helps you turn off the brain for a while and focus on just being. This helps with managing stress and being more present in our lives.
7. Get a massage.
If you can’t afford to pay for a professional massage, find someone you love who will treat you! Another idea is to trade massages with your spouse or good friend. Who can say no to that?
8. Have a day to yourself.
As a mom, does anything sound more luxurious? Make this happen by enlisting your spouse, parents, or good friend to take the kids for a day. Or even half of a day! Having time alone can be so rejuvenating.
9. Have a lazy morning.
Moms are constantly on the go, with to-do lists that never end. Once in a while, put the to-do list aside, and just have a lazy morning and don’t get dressed until noon. A key here is to enjoy this and not feel guilty about what you aren’t getting done.
10. Get (or give yourself!) a manicure and/or pedicure.
Every mom deserves to be pampered. And it sure feels good when your nails look pretty.
11. Call a good friend.
In a digital world where texting is the norm, it can feel so good to connect with an old-fashioned phone call.
12. Write in a journal.
I have the hardest time staying consistent with journal writing since having kids, but when I do it feels so good. Writing can be very therapeutic.
13. Organize your space.
Having a clean, organized space is like a breath of fresh air. Yes, taking the time to get organized can be a huge form of self care.
14. Wear clothes that make you feel good.
If you don’t have clothes that fit you well and make you feel confident, I highly suggest investing in some. When you feel like you look good, and you feel comfortable and confident in your clothes, you can accomplish so much more. And that just feels good. Check out this post on the Perfect White Tee and How to Style It.
15. Put on some makeup and do your hair.
After days on end of no makeup and a messy bun, taking the time to manage your appearance can really make you feel amazing.
16. Write yourself a love letter.
If you’re rolling your eyes at this one, you might be just the person who needs to do this. Negative self-talk can be so damaging, and one way to combat it is to focus on all the things you love about yourself.
17. Schedule a date with a best friend.
Whether you meet for coffee, lunch, or have a night out, that time to connect with a friend outside of your family is super important. Lives are busy, but thoose connections are crucial for our mental health.
18. Have a date night with your spouse.
If you’re married, keeping that relationship strong will make your whole life happier.
19. Do a brain dump.
Take some time to write out everything on your mind. Things you need to get done, things you want to remember, all the thoughts crowded the space between your ears. Do this every night before bed and see the difference in your sleep and mindset.
20. Nurture your spirituality.
As a Christian, this means taking time to pray and read scripture. Whatever this means for you, include this on your list of must-do self-care ideas.
21. Stop comparing yourself to others.
If you do one form of self-care in 2021, please do this one. “Comparison is the thief of joy,” is one of the truest statements ever said.
This is a list you should save. Print it up. Remind yourself often of these self-care ideas that are designed to preserve your mental health. If you’d like a printable copy, I’ve added it to my resource library. This is a password protected library, reserved for those who are subscribed to my weekly newsletter, Happy Mail. Put in your email here and I’ll send you the password right away!
Really helpful. Much to learn from the post. Thanks a lot for sharing an amazing content
Taking care of yourself first and foremost. You need to devote time to what really brings you pleasure. It is very important for me that my hands and nails always look well-groomed. To do this, you should use only high-quality products, so for manicure I found dip powders here, which make my nail plate stronger
It is no secret to anyone that after a long and extensive day at work, we accumulate a great amount of tension and stress in our body. thank you
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I’m a first-time mum so I don’t know if most people do this anyway, but I’ve found 3 things that really make a difference to my happiness and energy throughout the day. Firstly I try to do a face mask while I’m doing a chore that takes time like, washing up or putting a mountain of clean clothes away, putting on and removing a mask really doesn’t use up much time. The second thing is making sure the house is mostly tidy before I go to bed as I find when I wake up and all I see are things I need to do, such as washing up and toys everywhere I’m overwhelmed before the days even started. FINALLY, the best thing I’ve found when I manage to do it is to wake up at least half an hour earlier than anyone else so I can start my day in peace just sitting down slowly enjoying a coffee and washing face brushing my teeth with no interruptions, I never thought I would like waking up early but I get so much more done and just having that time to myself makes me so much more patient. Hopefully, that’s helpful to someone
We moved out of state last year away from all of our family. My husband and I had one date night in 2020 about a month before we moved. My self care is at an all time low. I don’t have a babysitter here and even if I did I have an infant who won’t take a bottle. Last weekend I left the house for 2 hours and had lunch by myself. I ordered a cocktail, a favorite salad and listened to a podcast for myself. I also love taking a bath and then lotioning up afterwards. I would LOVE a date night or time out with friends right now but that just isn’t in the cards. It’ll come but I love your list. I read ALL the time and try to read the bible every day for strength during these difficult times.
It sounds like you are doing the best you can to create some self-care opportunities–good for you! You’re in a very hard stage of life and being away from family makes it even more difficult. We also had moved away from family when I had both my babies. It’s tough! Hang in there.
Great ideas