14 Practical Self-Care Tips To Avoid Burnout Among Working Moms

Hello Self-Care!

Now, I know what you are thinking; this post is another self-care spewing article about a spa retreat or momcation somewhere. Packing up your pretty luggage and hightailing out of town. Let me tell you – it’s not.

You’ll come to realize that these are self-care tips that working moms unknowingly miss are within their grasp amidst the chaos of work and home.

So Mama, to keep us on topic, let me ask you then. I need you to be honest with me and best to yourself.

Do you feel guilty about taking the time to do self-care? Do you feel like every little thing in your life needs to be handled timely? How about putting yourself behind everyone? Do you snap out easily? Does an angry momster come out at the end of the day? 

When you are in these situations, it’s about time to do something about it. Okay, we’re on a roll now.

How do you make time when all things and people in your life demand every piece of you? I know how hard it is to put your own needs first. Moms are geared to put our loved ones as the top priority.

And I truly understand how work and parenting combined are hard. Does motherhood and work-life make your head spin around? Are you feeling burnout rising to the surface? How much more can you handle without caring for yourself intentionally?

Bluntly said, your family commitments, your work responsibilities, and all the other stuff that gets your attention besides yourself. You are last on that priority list!

I get it, I hear you, Mama.

When is the perfect time then?

What if I tell you to claim it NOW! No scheduling it in your calendar. Right, this very minute; no more, no less.

Just leave what you’re doing right now and go outside. Take in the biggest breath and exhale it slowly – five times. Inhale the spring air through your nose (if you’ve got spring allergies, do it inside) all the positives in your life and exhale all your worries, lips slightly open until your stomach balloons out. Five times, please.

At this moment, you want to be able to stop and really focus on yourself. What are the things you can easily do that promote self-care? Easy self-care ways you can pump yourself up while at work or on your way home.

Generally, practice it as a habit. Repeating something consistently until you don’t need to think hard. You don’t need to decide. You just intentionally do.

Mama, find your big motivation for doing self-care. Remind yourself of that drive every time you feel discouraged and unmotivated to do it.

Related post: An Overview on Self-Care for Moms

Here are realistic self-care tips for working moms when your time is tight.

1. Wake up Early Before everyone.

When you wake up early while everyone’s still asleep – this is a great time to do your quiet self-care activities. Journal/Pray/Meditate. You can write in your journals or do your daily devotions. Write down everything you are most grateful for in your life; think of the positive things that give you joy.

2. Stretching for 10 minutes!

Believe it or not, 10 minutes of daily stretching can really do wonders in your calmness and readiness to begin your day. Simple 6 quick yoga poses like a mountain, half-standing fold, warrior stance 1, pigeon pose, child pose, and easy seat. Get your muscles to wake up as well. Pace yourself with slow deep breathing. 

Recommended 10 Minutes Morning Yoga for you: Wake Up Yoga by ♥ Boho Beautiful ♥

3. Do a quick shower to perk you up!

Nothing like a good shower to start your day fresh and clean. If you put this off, it’ll eventually be put off for the rest of the day. Use your favorite body care items and enjoy this energizing wake-up tip!

4. Eat a healthy breakfast!

Feed yourself your favorite breakfast staples. Fresh fruits, a warm bowl of oatmeal, whatever you like. It’s important to rev up your metabolism early in the day. You don’t want to be hungry clocking into work. Your body will thank you.

5. On lunch break: Take a walk outside for fresh air.

Basically, zone out of your workplace for a few minutes outside. Do it to reset yourself. Productivity can be attributed to how you feel and how your mindset is. Walking to clear your mind and help reduce work stress.

6. Update your calendar with your chosen self-care interest.

Plan for 1 hour on the weekend to do your self-care. You can do this as frequently as you want, every week or every month. A consistent schedule for your Me-time will help you stick to it. Knowing what type of self-care ideas and how long they’ll take for you to do them, it’s easier to schedule them within your day.

Here are some indoor and outdoor activities you can try out for self-care and decrease burnout.

7. Listen to self-improvement/motherhood audibles/podcasts during your commute.

There are many podcasts for moms in general. Find the one that resonates with you. Find the one that stirs you to change. These mediums have plenty to offer on self-care tips for moms as well. Hearing from other moms who get it can make you feel you’re not alone.

8. Learn to say NO.

Humans are social beings, and we thrive through connection. When you know that your plate is top full, say no to some invites in your life. Stay connected with your close friends and relatives. However, you are not obligated to go to every party, night out, or social event if that means taking time out of your short busy day. 

9. Reconnect with Family.

Spend 30 minutes or more of playtime with the kids, no phones, no distractions. You’ll be amazed at how relaxed you’ll feel when you are near your kids after a toxic shift. That tension will melt away. Kids want to connect with you after a long day at school and extracurriculars. Both ends meet, and all feels good.

10. Unwind after dinner.

As everyone is trying to settle down after dinner. This can be a good time to reconnect with your spouse. Just talking about the day and asking how his day went. Kids can continue to do quiet time activities in the background. You can do this while the kids are still up or wait until they’re asleep. It’s really what you prefer.

11. Prep your things the night before.

Getting your stuff ready ahead is going to cut the time of rushing in the morning. When you know what to wear, bags packed with essentials and everything – you’ll feel much calmer as the next day rolls in. That goes as well with the kids’ stuff. By not crowding your brain with small decisions while everyone’s trying to get out the door, it’s less chaos in the morning. 

12. Bedtime routine.

Do what helps YOU unwind and get in the mood for rest. Take a warm shower or bath. Do your skincare routine, whether simple or complex. Quick gratitude journaling for things that happened during the day. A humble prayer of thanks. Do what makes you happy and de-stressed. Cuddle time with hubby or catching up on shows you watch together.

13. Sleep on time.

Going to bed and getting proper rest is vital to your health. Resist opening social media at this hour. It could get pretty lengthy when you indulge in it. Try to dim down the lights or off (if you prefer). Get under the sheets, put on your eye mask, and off to dreamland you go.

14. On weekends: 

• Discover what you love to do. Pick up a hobby. Something that makes you happy. Pick a day and an hour to do just that.  

• Go for a nature walk with the whole family. Self-care doesn’t mean you only get to do it alone. The sole purpose is that you’ll promote positive emotions within you. If family time helps you relax, by all means, do what makes you feel decompressed.

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• Create a Pamper Me-time!
  • What I mean by this is your Mommy Grooming. I used to get my toenails done before. But with kids, I learned how to do it myself; and I’m actually enjoying it. Basic toenails care; if I want nail colors, then yes. Do this right after pampering your feet with this Bubble Mate Foot Spa.
  • Busy moms, add shaving your legs and plucking eyebrows to this mix. Who’s got time to do that during weekdays? How about a deep cleansing skincare routine? Yes, please. You want to put make-up on or do deep conditioning hair care? Go ahead. The sky’s the limit, plus you get to beautify yourself for yourself.

Working Moms are short on time and self-care doesn’t require that much. You need it to recuperate; it’s time to make time.

Those are realistic self-care tips for working moms you can implement when HECTIC is the Main word of the day. These self-care ideas aim to help stressed-out moms to create time for themselves even when short on time.

Find your reasons for doing these self-love activities. Remember these reasons why you even started.

Look for simple, achievable self-care ideas to start with. Don’t just make it a habit, but also do it with purpose. Underneath that strong front, there’s a Mama that needs caring and nurturing too.

What most moms don’t realize is that self-care isn’t a reward at the end of a busy day. Rather, self-care is the gift of caring for yourself.

Therefore you find what works for you and something you definitely love. In no time, no matter how chaotic and stressful your daily mom life can be – you’ll be your own self-care advocate.

Now that you have those self-care tips, I encourage you to do one or two of these tips to incorporate into your busy mom life.

Mama, if you don’t know where to start in creating your self-care plan, you can check this post: Self-Care for Working Moms: Embracing the Need of Caring for Yourself.

I hope that some of these self-care tips for busy moms like you can motivate you to be actively involved in promoting your happiness and wellbeing. Take the chance to give yourself the love you deserve. Happy YOU equals a happy mom, wife, friend, and employee.

Moms, what are your favorite self-care tips? I’d love to know what gets you going. Share in the comment below and share this post with the moms in your life.