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Humor In the Motherhood Motherhood Parenting Practical Tips Uncategorized

15 Practical Self Care Ideas for Moms When You’re Too Tired for a Girl’s Night Out

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While pedicures, dinner with a friend, and girls’ night out sounds incredibly awesome, sometimes it’s just not realistic to find that much time for self care.

As a mom to three kids, I’ve heard it more than once. Put yourself first and you’ll be a better mom.  It’s true, and I know it, but I’d rather do really important stuff like hang up my six-year-old’s pile of shirts sitting on the floor of his closet.

Because that makes me feel better too. In its own kind of way.

The reality is that self care can be time consuming

But, the reality is that my days are full, and I’m usually running around in circles (no, literally… in circles in my kitchen trying to remember what I was doing) with a brain overflowing with t0-do lists and shoulds, and sometimes the thought of a girl’s night out sounds down right exhausting.

Karaoke at 9pm when my bed is so inviting and warm, and does not have children in it? No thanks, I have a really important thing I have to do (fine…it’s just watching flip or flop without someone begging for a snack).

Next time, ladies.

So, what’s a girl to do when the typical self care seems like work?

I say, make it easy.

Here’s a real mom’s guide to self-care you can do every freaking day.

self-care-for-moms

Here’s the secret: DO NOT FEEL GUILTY. Just repeat after me, “This is just self care. I’ll be a better mom.” So, here’s a list just about anyone can do.

When your youngest has two hours of preschool, instead of jamming it full of organizing, errand running, or mopping (just kidding…who really mops?) Fill it with a reality TV show instead.

Feed your kids lunch 30 minutes earlier than normal, then turn on that Daniel Tiger, make your own lunch, and hide in a room somewhere and eat your food. Alone. In silence. Try it. It’s awesome.

Keep a stash of chocolate somewhere secret. Hide it inside a bag of peas, or with the cleaning supplies. Guaranteed, no one will find it, and you don’t have to share.

Self care means keeping a running list of all the awesome things you do as a mom, for days when you don’t do anything particularly awesome.

Laminate it and read it often.

Close your kids’ bedroom doors instead of looking at the mess.

Get the kids off to school, and get back in bed once a week. Or if you have little ones still at home, settle them in front of their favorite show, and get back in bed.

Tell your kids mommy needs a minute alone when when they first get home from school. Take a deep breath and close your eyes before starting the homework.

Self care doesn’t have to be complicated either. 

Wear headphones while you’re cooking dinner or cleaning. Blast your favorite music.

Take a picture of yourself on a day when you’re really put together. Make-up, jewelry, the whole nine yards. Instead of posting it on social media, post it on your fridge. You’ll remind yourself that there is more to you than sweats and spit up.

Make a list of things you loved before becoming a mom. Do one of them once a week.

Take a nap or an extra long hot shower when your husband gets home.

Put older kids in charge of reading time with the younger ones.

Read a book when you should be doing laundry.

Call a babysitter when you don’t have anything to do. Take a stroll around Target or get sit in your car and enjoy silence.

Replace every “I should….” with “I can do  _______ if I feel like it, but I don’t have to.”

The truth is, I’m typically awful at self care, but I’m getting better. And letting go of the guilt feels good. What’s your little indulgence you do to stay sane?

More thoughts on taking care of yourself as a mom: 

I’m Tired of Basic Human Needs Being Seen As Self-Care

How to Let Yourself Be Without Letting Yourself Go

I Never Knew How Tired I Could Feel From Just Trying to Remember All The Things

 


17 Comments

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Comments

  1. jgroeber says

    January 4, 2016 at 6:35 pm

    I absolutely love this. I ignored daylight’s saving time for about a month, which is to say, I put them to bed an hour early for about four weeks. Still woke them up at the same time, just gave myself an extra hour of phew-time at the end of each day. Sometimes it’s that little bit of extra me-time that carries you through the week. 😉

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      January 4, 2016 at 8:10 pm

      That’s awesome! And so true. It really is the little things!

      Reply
  2. Cookie says

    January 4, 2016 at 7:55 pm

    Every morning I get up first and leave a couple of chocolate milks and breakfast on the counter for the babies. Once they’re both up, I leave them the Ipad/Iphones and sneak upstairs to have a bath. Every.Single.Morning.

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      January 4, 2016 at 8:09 pm

      That’s amazing! Love that!

      Reply
  3. Misty says

    January 5, 2016 at 3:06 pm

    Oh my I loved these and shared them on my facebook page! Seriously made me smile and feel so much more NORMAL! I do these things….often. I’m learning not to feel too guilty!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      January 5, 2016 at 3:11 pm

      Thanks so much for sharing Misty! Glad you liked it! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Jenny @ Unremarkable Files says

    January 6, 2016 at 7:11 am

    Such good tips! I love the “eating a meal alone” idea. Every year, my Mother’s Day present is a breakfast in bed ALONE. Phillip makes breakfast, the kids make cards, they all come in to show me, then Phillip herds them out of the room and feeds them breakfast separately. The kids aren’t allowed to come in, they have to wait until I open the door. Phillip comes in occasionally to ask if I need anything. The birds are singing, the sun is coming in the windows, Phillip is a great cook and I’m enjoying an entire meal uninterrupted. Best day of the whole year!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      January 6, 2016 at 7:26 am

      That sounds heavenly!

      Reply
  5. Katy says

    March 30, 2017 at 4:11 am

    I think we need that little reminder of finding the balance in the chaos of being mums. It makes you feel so normal, so… human. For me, when everybody’s out, it me time. I sing, dance, make healthy snack and watch TV. Thank you for the reminder that we are not crazy, but normal.

    Reply
  6. Margaret says

    July 11, 2017 at 1:49 pm

    Such a good post, I had the candle going on both ends for way too long. I am spending a lot of days this summer doing many of these things. The problem is, if you don’t do them, you get very burned out, and then it takes days, weeks, months, to feel better again. No, I am not depressed. I am relaxing for once. I am going for walks, reading books, taking a bath, and saying to the mess, you’ll still be there tomorrow. I am only working on it, a little at a time. My kids are mostly grown (though not quite independent) except for the youngest two who are still in school.

    Reply
  7. Stacy says

    March 22, 2019 at 8:33 am

    I love this list! And I LOVE the idea of replacing “should” with “can”!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 5 Ways For Moms to Find More Joy Every Day -- Tatertots and Jello says:
    March 21, 2016 at 5:01 am

    […] 15 Practical Self-Care Ideas for Moms  […]

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  3. 5 Selfish Things I Do That Make Me A Better Mom - Perfection Pending says:
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    […] being taken care of! We need to take care of ourselves so that we can better take care of others. Self-care is not […]

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  4. Top Self-Care Idea Lists of 2018 - Living Upp says:
    April 9, 2018 at 8:34 am

    […] 3. Perfection Pending’s self-care list is geared toward busy moms who are “too tired for a girls’ night out.” (I can relate even without kids.) Here’s a sneak peek: “Replace every ‘I should….’ with ‘I can do if I feel like it, but I don’t have to.’ […]

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  5. This Mom Nails It With Her Honest Post About The Exhausting Reality of Being A Working Mom - Perfection Pending says:
    September 19, 2018 at 1:36 pm

    […] 15 Practical Self Care Ideas for Moms When You’re Too Tired for a Girl’s Night Out […]

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  6. How to Add Mom Self Care to Your Already Crazy Schedule says:
    January 4, 2019 at 7:00 am

    […] 15 Practical Self Care IDeas for Moms When You’re Too Tired for a Girl’s Night Out – via Meredith at PerfectionPending […]

    Reply

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Welcome! I’m Meredith.

Mom. Writer. Diet Coke connoisseur. Born and raised Texan. Lover of real talk and laughter with a hint of sarcasm mixed in.

My Book: Mom Life Perfection Pending

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