Inside: How Busy Mums Can Maximise Self-Care This Autumn. Collaborative post.
Between managing family schedules, caring for kids, and keeping up with work, life is nonstop for most mums. Making time for yourself often falls by the wayside. But taking care of your own needs is vital for your health and well-being, which benefits your whole family.
It’s especially important at this time of year when a lot of us struggle to stay on top of things with the worsening weather and shorter days. This autumn, get into the routine of maximising self-care with these practical tips.
Create Pockets Of “Me Time”
Carving out designated time focused just on you can seem impossible, but even small pockets of 5-10 minutes throughout the day add up. Wake up 10 minutes early to enjoy a cuppa, do 5 minutes of stretching when you wake, listen to a podcast during the school run, or soak in the tub after the kids go to bed.
Look at your schedule and find little windows where you can indulge in an activity just for you. Ask your partner to cover the kids for half an hour so you can take a walk or read.
Prioritise Exercise
Exercise provides a mood boost along with numerous physical health benefits. It’s also a great way to keep your mental health in good shape too, as a lot of people have found. But finding the motivation and time to fit it in as a busy mum can be tough. The key is prioritising movement every day, even if you only have 10 free minutes. Do a quick yoga flow after the kids leave for school.
Pop in an exercise DVD and get your heart rate up during nap time. Take the whole family on an evening constitutional around the block. Little spurts of heart-pumping activity multiple times per day can be as effective as one long workout.
Stay On Top Of Your Skincare
With the demands of motherhood, it’s easy to forget about pampering your skin. But carving out just 5 minutes in the morning and evening for a simple skincare routine pays off. Cleanse, apply serum, moisturise, and top with an eye cream. Use gentle exfoliation and hydrating masks weekly. Check in with your dermatologist yearly. When you feel good in your skin, you project an aura of confidence. It’s also important to take care of any skin issues that are bothering you.
There’s no need to suffer the pain of dry, flaky, or aggravated skin in silence. Take eczema as an example. It’s painful and it’s irritating, but there are plenty of treatments out there, from hydrocortisone cream to Fucidin cream. If you’re looking for a steroid cream for your dermatitis, head to The Independent Pharmacy. Their UK-based team will review your online assessment and treatments approved before 3 pm can be dispatched on the same day.
Eat Nutritious Snacks
Hunger, cravings, and rollercoaster energy are par for the course when you’re keeping up with kids. Avoid grabbing empty calories and reach for healthy snacks like Greek yoghurt sprinkled with nuts, apple slices with nut butter, homemade protein balls, or carrots with hummus.
Prepare a week’s worth of snacks on Sunday so you have grab-and-go options ready when you need fuel. Drink plenty of water and limit caffeine and sugary drinks which can lead to crashes.
Carve Out Couple Time
Reconnect with your partner by designating regular grown-up time together. Even an hour a week can strengthen your bond. Splurge on a babysitter and enjoy a romantic dinner out. Meet up on a Wednesday lunch break for a walk in the park.
Once the kids are asleep, open a bottle of wine and just talk. Date nights might look different from when you didn’t have kids, but it’s important to nurture the romantic relationship that started your family.
Treat Yourself To A Pamper Day
Once a season, leave the kids with dad or grandparents and indulge in an entire day devoted to pampering yourself. Start with a mani/pedi, get a massage, visit the salon for a hair treatment, enjoy a long lunch, lounge with a book, and take a bubble bath.
Do whatever makes you feel relaxed and renewed. You’ll return feeling recharged and ready to take on parenting duties again. Remember that this isn’t a frivolous luxury, this is something that is very important for you.
Make Time For Hobbies
Between balancing work and family duties, it’s easy for hobbies and personal interests to fall by the wayside when you become a parent. But making time for activities you love nurtures your soul. Get into that craft project you’ve been talking about after the kids are in bed.
Meet a girlfriend for a ceramics class on Sunday morning. Wake up early to work in the garden. Restore balance adding back in activities unrelated to your parenting identity.
Treat Yourself To Little Luxuries
Being a mum often means sacrificing and going without new clothes, impulse purchases, and indulgences. But occasionally splurging on a little something just for you helps you remember your needs matter too. Grab the expensive shampoo, download that song you love, get a foot massage, order dessert, and purchase the dress that makes you feel beautiful. Fulfil your little wants here and there.
Make A Mammogram Or Smear Test Appointment
Prioritising preventative health screenings falls by the wayside for busy mums. But checking in on your physical well-being is essential. Schedule your recommended mammogram, smear test, skin check, or other routine screening. Finding issues early when they are most treatable will benefit your whole family. Think of it as time invested in your long-term health.
See Friends Often
Female friendship provides comfort, laughter, and mental health benefits. Make standing dates with your friends a part of your regular routine. Coordinate a weekly walk with a girlfriend. Schedule regular play dates for the kids so you can catch up. Have long phone chats while folding laundry. Recruit friends to join a book club or fitness class. Investing in face time maintains bonds with the important women in your life.
Experiment With New Recipes
Cooking from scratch becomes challenging with a packed schedule. But making wholesome home-cooked meals is nourishing for the whole family. Explore new healthy recipes on weekends when you have more time. Roast a whole chicken and use leftovers for lunches. Y
ou can save money on those expensive food shops by batch cooking, so make and freeze batches of soups, stews, and casseroles. Getting creative in the kitchen helps you reconnect with your interests and care for your family.
Write In A Gratitude Journal
The constant needs of small children mean mums often only see the stressors and oversights of the day. Take 5 minutes before bed to write down 3 things you’re grateful for about that day, like your child’s laughter, learning a developmental milestone, hearing “I love you.” Focus on the little joys and privileges of motherhood. It shifts perspective to the positive.
Maximising self-care as a busy mum requires some creativity and commitment. But regularly indulging in even brief moments focused on your needs results in refuelled energy, improved mood, and greater life satisfaction. Don’t let demands crowd out your own well-being. Carve out pockets of time for your physical, mental, and emotional health to be the happiest mum you can be.