10 Self-Care Ideas for Busy Parents

As a busy working mom with just 1 child, I often find it difficult to care for myself at the same level I used to pre-motherhood. I can’t imagine how difficult it may be for a mother/father with many more children. When you become a parent, you simply can’t put yourself first anymore, at least most of the time. You see it all the time on social media - a new mom finds solace in simply taking a shower, one of the most basic daily tasks. But wouldn’t it be so much better to take care of ourselves every single day - doing more for ourselves than simply taking a shower or enjoying a cup of coffee?

I know the idea of daily self-care is easier said than done, but I have compiled a list of simple, easy-to-accomplish self-care tasks. Many of them can be done within 5 minutes, and some of them can be done every day. So, I hope that if you’re reading this, and you only have 5 minutes to do something for yourself, you’ll consider my list below.

1.      Go for a short walk (or however long you can). Going outside for walks in the heat has improved my mental health greatly. As much as some people hate heat and humidity, I love a good sweaty walk. Something I love doing is finding new paths to walk on, searching for scenic routes. Nothing is better than finding a new lake, pond, or park that you didn’t know was near you. Walking is also great because it allows you to multi-task. You can listen to music, a podcast, or an audiobook. You can bring your baby/child with you, too. Just make sure to hydrate and protect your skin! Your child’s too, if you bring them with you.

2.      Buy yourself something nice. Think of something you’ve been wanting for a while but have hesitated to buy yourself. For me, I was desperately wanting a new, cordless vacuum and I finally got one recently. I sat on this purchase for months, and finally got it on sale for $200 (from $300). I know most people would not consider that a “fun” gift, but it has made my life infinitely easier. And boy do I love a clean floor.

3.      Treat yourself to expensive coffee. Lately, I have really cut down on expensive coffee but occasionally when I’ve had an extra-hard day, I’ll treat myself to one. I always opt for a venti iced caramel latte from Starbs. When the winter season comes, I get the limited-time pistachio latte (HIGHLY recommend if you haven’t tried it yet).

• As a side note, I know Starbucks is criminally overpriced, but it’s so fun to buy a cake pop for my little one and watch her enjoy it so much. All in, I generally spend no less than $10 whenever I go there. More realistically, more like $15. *cringe*

4.      Light some candles and relax for a few minutes. I love a good candle and everyone who is close to me knows it. I always tell people they never have to wonder what to get me as a gift, because I will never turn down a yummy-smelling candle. Bonus points if it’s a Yankee candle or from Bath and Body Works. The vibe totally changes (for the better) when you light a few candles in your home.

5.      Take a nap for as long as possible. Don’t be afraid to enlist the help of your spouse or a relative to get this one done. Everyone deserves a nice long nap once in a while and no one can tell me otherwise. I don’t normally prefer to nap, but I do sleep in on Saturdays while my partner takes care of our toddler. He sleeps in on Sundays while I do the same. The beauty of a good partnership.

6.      Meditate. Look, I know some people raise their eyebrows at the mention of meditation, but it can really clear your mind if you just give it a try. You don’t even have to call it meditating – just sit somewhere for a few minutes, take deep breaths, and try to clear your mind. Try to do this in a quiet room, with little to no distractions, and definitely no phone. That’s all there is to it.

7.      Have lunch (or dinner) with a friend. When you become a new parent, it’s so easy to put people who are not your child on the backburner. But it’s a trap – make sure to “water” the relationships in your life the best you can. One day, your child(ren) are going to grow up and leave you, and if they were your whole world, then you’re going to be all alone. Your child(ren) are certainly the most important part of your life, but they are not the only part of your life.

8.      Expand your skincare routine. Before I became a mom, I used to at least have a basic skincare routine – wash, moisturize, and put sunblock on (at least SPF 30). I did these things every single day without fail. After baby, I considered just moisturizing to be a luxury because every extra little task seemed too tiring. It took quite some time to snap out of it. If you’re a person who enjoy the skincare process, consider adding extra steps to your routine.

9.      Start a journal. You can’t lose anything at all by putting your thoughts (good and bad) onto paper. It may seem like a bit of a chore at times, but can seriously improve your mental health. I tend to think this is better done with pen and paper (old-fashioned, I know) but typing out your thoughts into a word processor probably would help, too. If you’re worried about someone reading your journal entries, you can toss them out after you’re done writing. I don’t think that would reduce the benefits of journaling. Or you could lock up your journal somewhere in your home. 

10.  Just drink more water. I will never forget the episode of Grey’s Anatomy when a religious mom of 6 had to be hospitalized because she had “forgotten to take a sip of water for 3 days.” I have a feeling that happens in real life to parents, especially when are juggling multiple children. Don’t be that mom – challenge yourself to drink at least a gallon a day.

XOXO, Alexis.