30 Emotional Self-Care Ideas for You: Tend to Your Emotional Well-Being

Hey mom, you look like royalty in that hat! I know it’s been tough lately with balancing work and home. We’re always taking care of everyone else and trying to juggle a million things at once, but we often forget to take care of ourselves. Emotional self-care is one of the four pillars; now, discover some ideas to boost practicing self-care.

Would you agree that moms deserve some TLC, too? After all these years of sacrificing everything just because we wanted nothing more than a happy family.

Moms are notorious for putting their own needs last. I’m a testament to that.

This scenario can lead to emotional distress and feelings of overwhelm. This blog post will discuss how you can take care of your emotional well-being. We’ll talk about self-care for moms and provide some helpful tips that you can use in your everyday life.

No matter what you do, the most important thing is that you make time for yourself and find activities that make you feel good. Taking care of yourself is an integral part of overall emotional health.

Why is Self-care important for your emotional well-being?

Self-care is essential for your emotional well-being because it allows you to take a break from the stressors of everyday life. When you take time for yourself, you can relax and recharge, which can help you feel better mentally and emotionally.

Self-care is important for all people, but it can be especially for moms who feel overwhelmed, ragged, stressed out, and exhausted. When you take care of your family, take the time to keep your upkeep yourself.

 

What is emotional self-care?

Emotional self-care is the practice of taking care of our emotional well-being. Caring for how we feel and what makes us think – raises the awareness of ourselves.

Let the nurturing of yourself take center stage. Intentionally choose yourself to prioritize your well-being.

There are many different ways to practice self-care, mainly focusing on your emotional well-being.

When it comes to self-care, moms can become overwhelmed with where to start. It is important to remember that self-care doesn’t have to be extravagant or time-consuming. You can do many small things each day to help take care of yourself emotionally.

 

Here are no-frills ideas for emotional self-care:

1. Acknowledge your feelings. 

Let it sink in. It’s a process, and it takes practice. When you give space for your emotions, you can freely feel them at the moment. It may hurt, bring joy; whatever it is – acknowledge its presence.

2. Connect with nature. 

Spend time outside and take in the fresh air. Lie on the grass and look at the sky. Notice the things around you that are changing with the seasons.

3. Connect with loved ones. 

Spending time with loved ones can help boost your mood and raise your sense of belongingness. Spend time with your friends and family, and take the time to connect with them. Develop friendship and solid emotional support.

4. Do something you enjoy.

Take some time for yourself to do something you love, whether that’s reading a book, taking a walk, or painting.

5. Prioritize moving your body. 

Exercise releases endorphins which can help improve your mood.

 

6. Reach out for help.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling, don’t be afraid to reach out for help from a friend or family member.

7. Set up and enforce your boundaries for self-care.

It’s important to set boundaries for yourself to make time for the things you need and want. It might mean saying no to invitations or requests from others, setting limits on how much work you take on, or scheduling regular self-care activities.

8. Write down your emotions without criticism from you. 

Let the words flow. When you’re constantly taking care of others, it’s essential to take some time for yourself to focus on your own emotions. It can be helpful to write down how we’re feeling without judgment or criticism. Writing it down will help us understand and acknowledge our feelings, which is an essential step in emotionally caring for ourselves.

9. You can say NO. 

Some days you may feel touched out, and that’s okay. If you prefer to be left alone and reset, then do that. There are no wrong answers when it comes to self-care. Some days you may feel like you need more touch and interaction, while other days, you may want some time alone to reset.

That’s okay!

There is no wrong way to take care of yourself emotionally, as long as you’re listening to what your body and mind need at the moment.

10. Positive thoughts can also help you tune in your emotions. 

It can become linked together so that when you think positive thoughts, it, in turn, will make you feel good emotionally.

 

11. Set your emotional self-care routine. 

Luckily there are many different ways to practice it! Incorporating some of these ideas into your daily routine can help you take care of yourself emotionally.

12. It’s okay to step back when emotions are big. 

It can feel like we’re falling apart when it’s hard to control any boiling anger, sadness, or fear. The key is to remember that these intense emotions are temporary and will eventually pass.

Use relaxation techniques that help you calm down. Practice these techniques that may work for you.

13. Get enough sleep.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, adults need around seven to eight hours per night. Sleep ultimately helps your physical, mental, and emotional health.

14. Take a break.

When you’re feeling overwhelmed, it can be helpful to take some time for yourself. It might mean taking a break from work, canceling plans, or just spending some time alone.

Prioritize the rest in your calendar. Not adding more activities into your mom planner. Write down — REST.

15. Practice mindfulness.

Mindfulness practice involves focusing on the present moment and becoming aware of your thoughts and feelings. A method that can help you center yourself and be intentional within and around you.

You pay attention to what you are feeling. You process the feeling as it is and even accept your own reaction.

Check out this study about brief mindfulness meditation (BMM).

 

16. Practice self-compassion and prepare to forgive. 

When perfection gets in the way, or you’re hard on yourself, it’s time for some self-compassion.

Oh yes, it means being kind to yourself, even when you don’t feel like it. Forgive yourself for your mistakes and know that you are capable of growth.

17. Talk it out.

Sometimes talking through your feelings with a friend can help manage them. Talking to a friend lets you release what’s eating you up externally; letting off steam can be the best tool in your emotional self-care kit.

18. Know your emotional triggers. 

Everyone has emotional triggers or things that set them off and result in a strong emotional reaction. Once you know your triggers, you can start to work on managing them before they manage you.

19. Look for healthy coping tools. 

When life throws you a curveball, it’s important to have healthy coping mechanisms. Now, it could be anything from taking a 5-minute reset, deep breathing, closing your eyes, or stepping out of the emotionally charged space.

20. Be open to welcome compliments. 

Compliments are a great way to boost your emotional well-being, but they can be tricky to accept if you’re not used to them. 

Often, we brush off compliments or find ways to negate them because we don’t believe that we’re worthy of the kind words. 

However, allowing yourself to soak in and accept compliments can positively change how you see yourself.

 

21. Stop apologizing ALL THE TIME for everything.  

For others, doing this is tough, as women are often consorted to being more apologetic than men. However, over-apologizing can take away your power and make you feel small. Instead, try to notice when you’re apologizing unnecessarily and work on cutting back.

22. Consider joining Mom Support Group.

A support group can provide invaluable emotional support and learn from others trying to find balance in life.

23. Enjoy the music for what it is. 

Let it take you away for a bit, even if it’s just for the song’s length.

24. Practice gratitude every day. 

Consider writing down three things that you’re grateful for each day. Then, as you reflect on those top three on your list, take that moment in and enjoy it. 

25. Compliment Yourself. 

Believe it or not, giving yourself compliments can help boost your self-esteem and feelings of self-worth. Watch how you talk to yourself, your language, and your tone.

In addition, it can be very validating when you allow yourself to receive compliments from others, as in #20.

 

26. Try Counseling. 

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or like you can’t seem to get your emotions under control, talking to a therapist may be the best step for you. A therapist can help you understand and manage your feelings healthily.

27. Do something you are passionate about. 

Reroute your energy. When you’re feeling down, it can be helpful to do something that makes you feel good. Pick an activity or hobby that interests you and dive in.

You list down what you like and enjoy doing that helps you bring back the joy in your life.

28. Take a break from social media. 

Social media can be a huge source of comparison and leave us feeling bad about ourselves. So if you’re struggling, take a break from the tentacles of social media.

29. Pause. Respond. 

Consciously taking a step back before reacting can help you avoid saying something you might regret. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, this is a helpful practice to remember.

30. Talk to your partner. 

Discussing your feelings with your partner can help foster better communication and understanding in your relationship. Talking openly with your partner also allows your partner to provide support when needed.

Taking Care of Your Emotional Well-being

I hope these emotional self-care tips for moms have encouraged you to prioritize your well-being. It’s not always easy, but it is so important. 

Allow yourself to move through your emotions and respond to yourself, others, and your environment. Regulate your thoughts, examine your feelings and look for ways to manage them.

The most important takeaway for putting your emotional needs front and center is…

— for you to say YES – to your emotional needs.

Saying YES to care for yourself now.


Let the ideas in this post help you get started on prioritizing your emotional self-care needs. What are some things you do to practice emotional self-care?

Are you trying to get started on self-care? Here’s a 7-Day Self-Care Challenge Worksheet you can DOWNLOAD below.