Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom or a working mom, finding time for some self-care could be challenging. Your attention is always on everyone else because you naturally want to make sure each member of your family is happy and cared for.

It’s important to remember that when you’re at your best, your family is also at its best. That’s why you must schedule some time for self-care.

You may think that you don’t have the time or the money, but self-care doesn’t just look like what you see on social media. There are so many ways you make sure your mind, body, and soul are in a good place.

We’ve compiled a list of some tips for any mom looking to give herself some time and attention. While not every kind of self-care is doable for every person, we’re sure you’ll find something to help you take care of you.

Keep It Realistic

According to Inc, 92% of people don’t accomplish their goals. This is generally because the goal is too unrealistic for the current climate of their lives.

That’s why the key to good self-care is to keep things realistic. For example, many moms find that starting a new hobby can greatly improve their mood. Health to Head even says that people who have a hobby are at less risk for depression and stress.

Unfortunately, a hobby that you don’t have the time to invest in can cause more problems than it solves. So, if you feel like a new activity is what you need for your mental and emotional health, evaluate how it will fit into your life.

Perhaps you don’t have the time or money to learn a new musical instrument or make an entire quilt. Instead, pick up something you used to love when you were younger or in high school.

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You could also start a small project. Learn how to knit a simple scarf or sew a baby blanket. Then, as your skills improve, you can move on to bigger projects at a time when you’ll be able to complete them.

By keeping your goals realistic, you’ll reap all the self-care benefits of a hobby without all the stress and disappointment that comes with an uncompleted project or task.

Enjoy the Little Things

Not all self-care has to consume large amounts of time. There are little things you can do on a whim that will help improve your mood and stability.

We suggest keeping a small stock of your favorite things, especially those that relax you. This can be anything from bath bubbles to your favorite glass of wine.

When things get a little too stressful, simply grab something from your stash and take 30 minutes or an hour to enjoy it. It can even be as simple as putting a pair of headphones in and painting your own nails.

Of course, it can never hurt to set aside one night a month or one afternoon a week to have a few hours to yourself. This way, you can do several things you enjoy.

Pick the Right Activities

Additionally, consider choosing activities that will keep your mind either completely blank or fully occupied, depending on what works best for you.

If you find yourself continually worried or stressed during your self-care time, it may be a good idea to reevaluate the effectiveness of what you’re doing.

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If you’re struggling to come up with some ideas, here are a few items we suggest keeping in stock:

1. Bath bombs and bubbles for a warm bath. Play a soft background music to relax your mind. 
2. Cozy socks, a book, and hot chocolate. We suggest you enjoy this combination after a long day of cleaning.
3. Chunky yarn and your favorite streamable show. You can hand-knit a scarf in about the time it takes you to watch a 45-minute episode.

Let People Help You

One of the hardest things for a mother to do is to let someone else take over, even if it’s just for a little while. We ball up all this worry and stress inside of us because we feel like it’s our job to take on the entire world.

While the job of being a mom isn’t easy, we can sometimes make it a lot harder than it has to be. It’s important to take a step back and look at the bigger picture.

Will the world really end if you let a family member take the kids for a few hours once a week? Are your children going to despise you because you sent them to your gym’s kids’ center while you got a workout in? No!

So, the next time someone offers to take the kids rollerskating, let them. Even if you were planning to next week. Take the opportunity to rejuvenate. That way, when you do take them, you aren’t stressed the entire time. You’ll be able to enjoy the outing too, and your kids will pick up on that.

Integrate Self-Care Into Your Existing Schedule

We all go through times in our lives where we feel like it’s impossible to take a break. Perhaps your kids are at that age where they need constant attention, and you really don’t have any help.

In this case, you shouldn’t completely discount self-care as a possibility. Simply integrate it into your current lifestyle. Naptime is always an excellent opportunity to take some time for yourself.

If that isn’t possible, try to include your children in your self-care. If you like to make art or do crafts, find a kid-friendly version of what you’re wanting to do. You can instruct your children and then work on your project while they are occupied.

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Perhaps exercise is your cup of tea. In that case, get your children active! Go on group bike rides or walks. Even playing an active video game can keep your kids engaged while also catering to your own needs.

It might feel selfish, making your kids do what you want, but it really isn’t. Integrating your children into your hobbies is actually beneficial for them when it comes to the quality of their adult lives.

Intellectual Takeout discusses a study that shows over 50% of adults with hobbies developed those hobbies during their childhood.

We hope this post has given you a newfound reason to implement self-care into your routine. Additionally, we hope it helped relieve any stress you may have about how it could impact your family. There’s no doubt that a healthy, happy mom lifts the spirits of the entire household. It’s time to start caring for yourself so you can take better care of your loved ones.