What is your first thought when you hear someone talk about self-care? Be honest. Are you rolling your eyes because there is no way you have the time or money to put toward self-love or selfcare? Maybe you’re on board with the concept but struggle to find time and resources for self-care. You’re not alone. It is hard to find time and ways to prioritize self-care; trust me, I know. With three boys of my own, work, and volunteering, I know how tough it can be to find the time and energy for activities like spa days and fancy vacations. But the truth is, those just sound like expensive forms of more work to me. At the end of the day though self-care is crucial for our mental and physical well-being, and it’s important to find ways to incorporate it into our busy lives, without breaking the bank.
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When I didn’t prioritize self-care
Self-care is not something I’m always consistent with. To be honest, it sounds a little self-indulgent or bougie to me. I don’t want to go to the spa, get my nails done, or take a week long girls trip. With kids, a husband, work, and outside obligations, I have work to get done, and those things just aren’t going to recharge me. Self-care to me is doing whatever fuels you to be your best where you need to be. The problem is, without trying things out we don’t know what fuels us and when we’re focused on the problem we forget about the fuel we need. At least I do. So, I don’t always prioritize self-care.
Recently, there were a lot of things to do. The kids schedules got busier with the change in seasons, my volunteer obligations increased by about triple, and there were some pretty stressful things going on at work. It was a lot. So, like any normal working mom, I thought I should take it all on myself. It was painful. Literally, I mean I was physically in pain because I didn’t have time to do all the normal self-care. I was sure I didn’t have time for a morning walk. There weren’t enough breaks in the day to fill my cup, literal cup not figurative, so I wasn’t drinking enough water. Meetings over lunch meant I couldn’t workout. My goal to get things done around the house was keeping me up later and later.
Any of that sound familiar? I was so focused on what I saw as needing to get done that I totally neglected what fuels me to do it all. Thankfully, my husband didn’t. He started suggesting runs after work and folding more laundry. We got a sitter one night so we could get a little alone time. At the end of the day, my self-care had to come back in for me to get the rest of my world under control. Imagine that, the fuel was needed to get the work done.
How do we turn this around?
So, let’s talk about some realistic self-care tips that are perfect for working moms on a tight budget and limited time. Remember, you don’t have to fall in love with all of these. For me, prioritizing sleep is a no brainer but a bubble bath (even though its relatively quick and basically free) is still a little fancy pants for my liking. The intent is that you’re taking time to prioritize self-care that will truly fuel you and propel you forward. Without further ado, try these on for size:
Prioritize sleep
Yes, it may sound like a no-brainer, but it’s important to prioritize sleep. As a working mom, we often think that we can survive on less sleep, but that’s not true. Make sure you’re getting enough rest each night, and create a bedtime routine that helps you wind down and relax.
Use your lunch break
Your lunch break can be a great opportunity to sneak in some self-care. Even if it’s just 10-15 minutes, take a walk outside, read a book, or listen to your favorite podcast. Just do something that helps you relax and recharge.
Find low-cost activities
Self-care doesn’t have to be expensive. Find activities that bring you joy, like taking a bubble bath or going for a hike, and make time for them regularly. It’s important to remember that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to prioritize your well-being.
Practice mindfulness
Mindfulness practices like meditation and deep breathing are free and can be done anywhere. Incorporate these practices into your daily routine to help reduce stress and increase feelings of well-being. Seriously, you can even do it during your morning commute!
Connect with others
Spending time with friends and loved ones can be a great form of self-care. Even if it’s just a quick phone call during your lunch break or a text message, make time for socializing. Connection is crucial for our mental well-being.
Take care of your body
Exercise is an important form of self-care, but you don’t need a gym membership and find peak physical condition. Just stay active. Take a walk outside, do yoga at home, or try an online workout video. Just do something that gets your body moving and makes you feel good.
Feed your mind
Maybe you need 10 minutes a day to help develop yourself and grow into who you want to be. That is a great form of self-care! Also, I’m happy to be part of that. If you want this blog to be part of your weekly self-care routine, please click here and get it delivered straight to you each and every week!
Remember, self-care doesn’t have to be expensive, and it doesn’t have to take a lot of time. Also, you don’t have to do all the things on the list. Try some out to find out what fuels you. You can do that by adding one or two for the next few weeks and see how you feel. By taking small steps towards self-care each day, you can help reduce stress and increase feelings of well-being, without breaking the bank. I think we’ve all seen what happens when we don’t. So go ahead, prioritize yourself, mama! You deserve it.