25 Free Self Care Ideas
Self-care for mothers doesn’t mean running a bath because a certain product will “soothe” you — it means if you are going to take a bath doing so in a way that fills you up, in a way that supports your needs and wants at that moment in time.
Is it your need to have mom alone time? Then make sure your partner understands using solid communication that you can’t be interrupted for 60 minutes. In the end, it’s clear communication and asking for support that is self-care.
Do you want to take a moment to set goals for the next week? Then make sure you bring the items you need into the bathroom with you. Self-care here is having a plan and getting prepared for your week.
Maybe it’s the need to reset your nervous system with Enya and low lighting. If that’s the case make sure that you are set up for success and choose a time that will be a bit quieter in the house. That may mean no shared TV watching with your partner just this one night.
This is self-care. It’s a “choose yourself” mentality that gives us the opportunity to look at what is lacking in our roles are mothers (whether it’s needs or wants) and try to fulfill some of them. And it certainly should not be once a month — more like every few days. Maybe you sit in your car, turn up Britney Spears, and dance your head off on Monday, then drink an extra glass of water on Friday - if you feel cared for, then that’s good enough for this week.
If we look at self-care in the same light as we do caring for our children then we would not only meet our needs but also our wants and we can redefine it as self-mothering or simply just as CARE.
Below I provided a list of 25 ways to mother yourself on a weekly basis. My favorite is the one I do each week called Dad Fun Night. Every Monday night I disappear at 7:00 pm. Sometimes I leave the house, and sometimes I stay home but I become unavailable to the point where I wear noise-canceling headphones to make sure I am not sticking my fingers into any sticky situation that arises. My partner is in charge and I am gone.
Sometimes, my kids complain, and I say, “Why would you complain about Dad Fun Night!? What does Dad have planned that’s going to be fun?” and then I look at him because at least once a week he needs to figure it out — and over the years he has and he has created a new layer to the bond he has with our boys that maybe they wouldn’t have had.
So everyone benefits in the end, but it came from that first push, me saying, “I need one night where I’m not in charge.” That push was self-care.
take a look at the list. they’re all free and they’re all things that most of us can do. if you have more leave a comment below so that we can help each other out.
Health & Fitness
Add one glass of water to your day.
Dance party to college club music at nap time.
Meal prep yourself some easy, grab-and-go lunches for the week on Sunday.
Moisturize your hands after each diaper change hand wash.
Keep your toothbrush with your kids and brush when they brush.
Personal Development
Clean and organize one drawer.
Dress up or wear makeup “just because”.
Make a list of goals for the year - or month.
Sit in the car outside your house and jam out to your favorite song before going in.
Listen to a podcast on headphones, or put in earplugs while you make dinner, and put your partner in charge.
Spiritual
Follow the hashtag #artistmom on Instagram and fill your feed with color and beauty.
Make a list of gratitude every day.
Each lunch outside.
Look out the window and list all the colors you can find - see if your child can add any fun ones to the list.
Notice when things are beautiful, a certain melody, a colorful flower, a stranger’s kindness. Really pay attention to the good in our world.
Relationships
Ask your partner for support.
Ask your friends for support.
Teach your children the language of boundaries.
Establish an emoji that you can text to your partner when you feel worried, upset, or frustrated.
Maintain nap time, even after they drop their nap, as “quiet time”, set a timer for a reasonable amount of time.
Quality of Life
Ask a friend at the park to watch your kids for 10 minutes while you take a walk around the block, then take hers so she can do the same.
Take one night a week off completely. Disappear from view.
Take 30 min off your phone each day, put it on the charger, and in Do Not Disturb mode. Set a timer.
Lay on the couch and read a book for the entirety of nap time. Pick one day to do this weekly.
Make a recipe from your childhood.
