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How can you be good to yourself as a working mom? You’re busy working, trying to get to appointments on time, and figuring out the week’s dinner schedule.
Who has time to think about being good to yourself? Well – you do if you follow these 7 simple self-care tips:
Exercise
I know I say it a lot, but, finding time to exercise is a great way to be good to yourself. As a busy mom, you need to stay healthy. Also, you need a ton of energy.
By exercising, you’re not only doing something good for your physical health, but you can also reap mental health benefits. Furthermore, when you exercise, you release endorphins a.k.a. feel good hormones.
Those endorphins can help you relieve stress and change your mood. Additionally, it’s a great way to help you maintain healthy work-life balance.
For most busy moms, the biggest obstacles to working out are time and motivation. The idea of exercise can sound like another chore added on to an already crowded list.
Who needs that? What you really want is to make exercise part of your lifestyle.
To make exercise part of your lifestyle, you simply need to make small adjustments to your daily routine. Also, be flexible and have a good attitude.
My exercise routine isn’t always pretty. For instance, sometimes I have to stop and attend to my toddler in the middle of it – but I always go back! And, since I’m currently working from home, I need it more than ever.
If you need help finding time for exercise, check out 10 ways to make time for exercise. Likewise, if you need a little motivation, here are 5 tips to get a quick and easy workout.
Eat Healthy
Much like exercising, eating healthy is a great way to be good to yourself and to your body. As a working mom, I know the challenge of preparing healthy meals and snacks.
To help you stay on track, prep your meals for the week on a Saturday and Sunday to avoid choosing unhealthy alternatives when the week gets busy. Throughout the week, I drink green shakes using the Nutri-Bullet.
I usually prep the green shakes at the start of the week. Then, I blend them the night before. All I have to do is grab and go in the morning.
As a busy mom, you might be tempted to skip breakfast and settle for a cup of coffee to get you started. But, I would encourage you to start your day with a quick and healthy meal.
Just like breakfast is important to give your kids a great start – the same goes for you!
For a quick option, you can make egg muffins or frittatas, oatmeal, breakfast sandwiches, or a breakfast burrito. These are all healthy and quick breakfast ideas you can prep ahead.
Likewise, I eat leftovers for lunch or healthy options I prep at the start of the week. To stay on track, plan your meals ahead of time and prep in advance.
Watch the sugar! It just weighs you down and makes you feel sluggish…while packing on extra pounds.
You can be good to yourself now by making simple changes like swapping sodas and juice for water at meals. Want to get fancy? Add some fruit and lemon juice to your water.
Stress Less
As a mom, there is always something to worry about. However, a great way to be good to yourself is to reduce stress.
Stop worrying about things that are out of your control. Many of us are facing a lot of uncertainty. While there’s plenty to be worried about, it won’t do you any good!
When I catch myself thinking about the possibility of losing income, job security, or my kids being impacted negatively by what’s going on in the world, I refocus my thoughts on the positive.
I speak positive words over my children out loud. I also pray for them and trust God to protect them.
Do whatever you need to do to reduce stress and anxiety because it can lead to physical health issues. Check out these simple tips to reduce stress as a busy mom.
Sometimes you need a shift in balance to help you stress less. First, start prioritizing what’s really important in your life – including yourself! Other times, you simply need to shift your perspective and monitor your thoughts.
Be good to yourself by remembering what really matters – include yourself on the list. Whether it’s your job, money, or family issues, don’t let stress get the best of you.
Set Personal Goals
One great way to be good to yourself is to set personal goals. You were a woman with dreams and desires before you became a mom. Don’t forget that!
You should always have something you are working toward. Whether it’s moving forward in your career, developing a skill, or starting a new hobby, having goals for personal growth is an important part of being good to yourself.
One of the ways I enjoy keeping track of my goals is by creating a vision board. It allows me to categorize the things I want to accomplish. By hanging it on the wall, it serves as a visual reminder of what I’m working toward.
As a busy mom, it’s so easy to put the needs of your family and everyone else in front of your own. But, trust me! It’s great to know you’re doing something to help improve yourself.
Wouldn’t you tell your kids to set high goals and run after them? The same applies for you!
Create a vision board of your personal goals and hang it in a place that’s visible to remind you to be good to yourself. If you’re not into vision boards, write down you goals and hang them somewhere visible (i.e. the refrigerator, bathroom mirror, bedroom wall).
Need help getting started? Check out my FREE 3-Step Goal Action Plan to help you begin moving tow
Reward Yourself
I believe in the 80/20 rule. 80% of the time, I try to eat healthy, exercise, and budget wisely. It doesn’t always work, but I try!
The other 20%, I reward myself with what I like. So, if I want the brownie, I’m gonna have the brownie! Life is to short to constantly deny yourself of the simple things that you enjoy.
As a mom, I know you love to make your kids happy. So, be good to yourself and reward yourself with something that makes you happy.
The things that make you happiest don’t always cost money. Having some quiet time to myself is essential. While it’s not always easy to get, I try to get time to myself each.
For most moms, mommy guilt is a real thing. Refuse to participate!
When you consider all you do for your family, why should you feel guilty about needing some down time?
Yet, as moms, we believe we can keep going like the Energizer bunny. We actually feel wrong for wanting time or taking time for ourselves.
I’m sure you look for ways to put a smile on your kid’s face. Getting him that toy he wanted? Surprising her with ice cream?
How many times have you planned something special for your hubby? Cooked his favorite meal? Wore a sexy outfit?
Reward yourself by asking for the things you want and need – time to yourself, a day without chores, a day off from cooking, or whatever makes you happy. And, don’t feel guilty about it.
Life is too short not to buy the shoes that give you life – at least every now and then!
Say “No”
If you’re a people pleaser, saying “No” may be the best way to be good to yourself. As a mom, you try to do it all and you can – just not at the same time and certainly, not well.
So, you have to prioritize what must be done and what you want to do. That often means having to put your needs and the needs of your family before others.
As a working mom, it can be a challenge to balance it all. You want to do well at work, but you also want things to run smoothly at home. At some point, the two worlds collide. And, you have to make some tough decisions.
Shortly after having my first son, I accepted a new position with new responsibilities. I had to travel more often and often worked later than I really wanted.
However, with my second child, I was older and wiser! I began letting go of non-essential responsibilities at work as soon as I found out I was pregnant. In some instances, it cost me money, but it was well worth it.
I also began stepping down from various community committees and organizations. My life was changing and what worked for one season was not going to work in this new season of life.
I even took more time off to stay at home with my second son. And, while some people were not happy with my decisions, I knew I was doing what was best for me and my family.
Someone is going to be unhappy because you just can’t please everyone. Saying “No” should not make you feel guilty.
It should make you feel empowered.
You don’t have to try to accommodate everyone in every situation. If you want to be good to yourself, remember there is only so much time in the day and only so much of you to go around.
Forgive Everyone for Everything
Practicing forgiveness is the ultimate way to be good to yourself. Remember, forgiveness is for you and not about the people who have wronged you.
When you forgive people, it’s not saying what they did was okay. Instead, it’s giving yourself permission to move on and take your power back because holding on to resentment gives people power over you.
If you need help with forgiveness, there’s an excellent book, Forgiveness: 21 Days to Forgive Everyone for Everything, to help you get started.
As a working mom, you might feel guilty for leaving your kids to go to work, working late hours, or having to travel for work. Or, maybe you feel guilty for not having a lot of patience.
With the global pandemic, we all have been challenged in different ways. While working from home (teaching distance learning), I’ve had to help my second grader with his online assignments, and take care of my toddler.
It has not always been pretty!
Be good to yourself and forgive yourself for not being a perfect parent. There isn’t one!
We are all imperfect. We will make mistakes. We will disappoint one another.
If you can remember that, you would be doing something good for yourself.
When you take the time to be good to yourself, you are investing in something very valuable – you! By taking the time to practice these important self-care tips, you can continue to live your best life in balance.
Disclaimer: You should consult your physician or another health care professional before starting any fitness routine or making changes in your diet. Any health, fitness, or nutritional information offered is designed for educational purposes only. Do not rely on this information as a substitute or replacement for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. While exercising, if you experience faintness, dizziness, pain, or shortness of breath, you should stop exercising immediately and seek professional medical assistance.
