As a stay-at-home mom, finding ways to take care of yourself isn’t always easy—the kids want to play, then eat, and then play some more. Sometimes, it’s exhausting. However, finding ways to take care of your needs is crucial to your well-being. Remember to reach out to loved ones and do something that relaxes you, whether it’s discovering a new hobby, going for a run, or taking a nap. By finding various self-care tips for stay-at-home moms, you’ll discover ways to feel rejuvenated.
*This is a guest post and all opinions are those of the author. This post may also contain affiliate and/or paid links. Rest assured that I only work with companies and individuals that I trust. While some of those companies and individuals may work in the medical field, this post is not intended to be a substitution for medical advice. Always speak to your doctor if you have concerns about your mental or physical health.
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Reach Out
A critical way to take care of yourself is to reach out to your inner-circle. Call friends and family for help, so you can get a break. Various ways you can recharge your energy range from going out to lunch or taking a hot soak in the bath while someone watches the kids. Communicating your struggle is important because people may not realize you need help if you stay quiet.
Talk To Your Inner Circle
Reaching out for help is of the most important self-care tips for stay-at-home moms because being a mom is a full-time job that requires around-the-clock care. Sometimes, it may feel like your hard work goes unnoticed. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, consider joining a local support group where you can share your feelings with other stay-at-home moms while your spouse or other trusted individual watches the kids for a few hours.
Exercise
Find time in your day to get in some exercise. It doesn’t have to be at a gym or going for a walk to clear your head. By finding ways to stay active with your baby, you allow yourself to decompress. Furthermore, your body releases endorphins, which are the feel-good hormones you get when you work out, so you’ll feel happier and more energized.
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Utilize Outdoor Time
Additionally, exercising outside gives you a change of pace and scenery. If you have no one to watch the kids, consider working in a jog on the way to the park where the kids can then play with other children. As little as 15 minutes of exercise can ease your stress and leave you feeling refreshed.
Discover Hobbies
Sometimes, you forget about the hobbies you once loved doing, and rediscovering them is easier said than done; however, doing so is important to refreshing yourself. Yoga, for example, helps you relax and discover ways to practice mindfulness. Whether it’s partaking in a new hobby or rediscovering an old one, your options are endless. Try out a few of the following:
If you’re an artist, find twenty minutes to draw or paint while the kids nap or watch television. Enjoying your hobbies on your own is crucial because it’s about giving yourself time, and everyone needs space to feel refreshed and ready to conquer the day!
Author Bio
Christina Duron is a writer living in the Chicagoland area. Her passion for writing and mental health help create thought provoking and engaging pieces and hopes to use them to empower mothers and women to embrace the beauty of motherhood.
Anyone who isn’t currently practicing social distancing is putting others at risk.
With the COVID-19 Coronavirus on the loose, many people are retreating to their homes and avoiding large groups, i.e. social distancing. Not all are finding this is easy, with the Millennials and Gen Z’s getting most of the blame. Whether you’re currently serving a 14 day self isolation, or you’re still working and living life, you’ve likely noticed an increased level of boredom. Most places are closed, events are cancelled, and even hanging out with friends is frowned upon. So what are you supposed to do during this quarantine?
Well, my friends, it sounds like the perfect time to practice self care!
*This post contains affiliate and/or paid links which means that if you click on one of these links and buy a product, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Rest assured that I only recommend products that I love from companies that I trust. Furthermore, I am not a medical professional and nothing in this post should be taken as medical advice. I am simply a mother who has been there and lived to tell the tale.
Pamper Your Body
With the added amount of stress due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, your body is likely in less than optimal health. Social distancing provides us with an unlimited amount of time for self care without feeling guilty. We don’t have to sacrifice time for self care because we suddenly have an abundance of it. (Besides, with all the frequent hand washing and cleaning, I’m sure we could all use a little extra pampering.)
1. Soak in the bathtub with a bath bomb or Epsom salts.
The media coverage on the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic has us all stressing out. All of the stress and anxiety is bound to have a detrimental effect on our mental health. Plus, having to stay isolated can exacerbate those symptoms. The best thing we can do for ourselves is to use this time of self isolation and social distancing to work on improving our mood and mental health.
Self care should never be all work and no play. In fact, laughter is a great mood booster and we should find all kinds of ways to laugh and be playful, even while social distancing.
26. Play a video game or app.
27. Play a board game.
28. Work on a large puzzle.
29. Doodle a mandala.
30. Watch your favorite movies.
31. Laugh along with some stand up comedy or a funny movie.
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Keep in Touch
We often think of self care as being alone but taking care of ourselves means doing good things for others, spending time with those we love and sharing pieces of who we are. This might seem hard to do while practicing social distancing, but there are still ways to keep in touch with others.
We need to spend as much time outside as possible while social distancing. Of course it’s important to stay away from crowds and limit our interactions as much as possible, but accessing fresh air is so important for our bodies both physically and mentally.
Decluttering is a form of self care because it’s something that we tend to put off doing. Then the clutter sits there, reminding us of our failures and causing undue stress. Use this time at home to deep clean, declutter and minimize possessions.
63. Go through all your old electronics, DVD’s, CD’s, cables, etc.
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Tap into your Artistic Side
Art therapy is a super important way to practice self care while social distancing. Being creative means using our brains as well as developing hand eye coordination. Even if you don’t consider yourself an artistic person, you might be surprised with what you can come up with.
Use this opportunity to learn something. Learning is a way to improve our brain health. Plus it offers a distraction from anxiety and loneliness and can boost our self esteem. As adults, we often refrain from learning new things, or we start them but never seem them through. Learning a new skill or hobby is truly making the most of social distancing.
76. Take an online class.
77. Watch YouTube tutorial videos.
78. Read an instructional book.
79. Watch a documentary.
80. Find a new way to utilize something you don’t use anymore.
Exercise is one of the most important parts of self care. There’s no excuses while locked up at home with nothing to do. If your local gym is closed, check to see if they’re offering online workout videos instead. And don’t worry if you don’t have a home gym, there are so many different ways to stay physically active at home.
The world looks a little scary right now. Try to focus on the positive aspects instead. We are living in a moment of history, so document it. Take photos, write about it and enjoy every single moment. Use your time wisely and continue to have hope for the future. When this is all over, will you come out of it a better person?
96. Take at least one photo each day.
97. Cuddle with your spouse, kids, pet or even a stuffed animal.
100. Make a list of everything you miss doing and plan to do again once this global pandemic is over.
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