As a mom to three kids under six years old, I truly understand the struggle to prioritize self care. During my pregnancy with my third baby I was diagnosed with prenatal depression. I reached such a low point that I had to take a step back and evaluate what I needed. Through reflection (and therapy), I saw the lack of effort I put into taking care of myself beyond the basic necessities. Little by little I found ways to show myself some love that were maintainable and realistic. This is my list of my favorite ideas for simple and realistic self care for moms:
This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
1. Skin Care Routine
This was a big one for me. I had no skin care routine but I knew this was something I wanted to prioritize. We’ve all seen the elaborate skin care routines on social media, and fully support it, but I needed something affordable and quick. These are the core products to my skin care routine that I still love now. You can always add extra steps and products, but if you were like me and just wanted to take a baby step, this is what I started with: daily face wash, moisturizer, and toner.
Face Wash: https://amzn.to/3U8guaJ
Moisturizer: https://amzn.to/3GlRdH5
Toner: https://amzn.to/3TDJJlH
2. Painting My Nails
As much as I would love to get nails done at a salon every few weeks, that just isn’t realistic for our budget. Before becoming a mom I got my nails done pretty often. I wanted to get back to having pretty nails so I started building a nail polish go collection and painting them myself. This is a nice pick me up that makes me feel a little more put together, especially during the warm months when I’m wearing sandals! Another great option is finding press on nails. These have definitely become more popular and there are so many beautiful designs to choose from.
My fav nail polish: https://amzn.to/40MTMbX
3. Journaling
Journaling is an amazing outlet and tool. Writing out your feelings or documenting your day can be therapeutic and calming. At first I found it difficult to stay consistent with journaling, finding guided journals helped me tremendously. There are many different variations, I definitely recommend giving it a try!
4. Read a Book or Watch a Show
I’ve been a reader since I was little. I’ve always enjoyed books, but as my oldest kiddo started reaching for anything I was holding, physical books become less enjoyable. I did recently get a Kindle, and I do like it, but when I was a broke single mom that wasn’t a priority. Reading on my phone became an absolute staple for me. I personally subscribe to Kindle Unlimited and have the kindle app on my phone. Whenever I have time during my day, I pull out my phone and read! If you’re not super big on reading, I would recommend finding a show to stream. Social media is full of recommendations for shows of all different genres. You can watch while you’re cooking, doing tasks around the house, or for time to yourself while the kiddos nap. I find that these can be a great way to give my mind a break from whatever stressors I have at the moment.
5. Take a Break
This is probably the most difficult one on this list, especially if you’re living deep in the trenches of mom guilt. Start small. There was a time when the idea of taking ten minutes for myself seemed selfish and unobtainable. Take a long shower, go for a walk, go shopping by yourself, or anything that allows you time to not be in mom mode. Everyone has different dynamics and levels of support, find something that works for you and make it a priority. Remind yourself that YOU are a priority. You deserve a break mama.
Self care for moms will look different for each of us. This is my list of my favorite ideas of realistic and simple self care for moms. Use these as a start or for inspiration to find your own way to prioritize yourself. You are important!
Mekenzie
