If you’re feeling overwhelmed, then this 30 Day Self Care Challenge for Moms can help! Add some of these self care ideas to your Mom self-care schedule to help you recharge your batteries!
We’re all at home a little more than usual right now, and you’re probably spending more time with your kids than you’d like… it’s okay… you can say it.
Just last night I spent 3 1/2 hours helping my 6th grader with her Math homework. We sat at the dining room table and ordered decimals and fractions on a number line, and there may or may not have been tears involved.
And I’m not talking about putting 1/2 and 0.4 and 3/4 in order… Nope! We were dealing with fractions like 5/48 and 3/17!
It was bedtime by the time that we finally finished, and I was MORE THAN ready to climb in to a nice, hot bath and forget about number lines and too-complicated word problems.
Thank the Lord for those little moments when we, as Moms, can take a moment to ourselves and just breathe. Because when we’re racking our brains trying to figure out “common core” math (whatever the heck that is!), while secretly typing numbers into our iphone calculators under the table, it’s all we can do to just keep going.
If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed as a Mom also, then try to take a few minutes each day to focus on YOU, as impossible as that may seem. Try to incorporate a few small self care ideas for Moms into your daily routine, so that you can continue to power through Motherhood.
A 30 Day Self Care Challenge for Moms, filled with actionable and easy self care ideas that don’t require a ton of time, is perfect to take care of YOU, so you can keep taking care of everyone else! Here are some awesome ideas that you can add to your Mom self care routine, whether you’re a stay at home Mom or a working Mom:
Why a 30 Day Self Care Challenge for Moms Works
But first, why should you be worried about self care for Moms, when there are literally a MILLION other things you need to focus on also…
Moms are notorious for putting themselves LAST on a mile-long list of people to take care of and things to get done. Ask pretty much anyone who the most selfless person they know is, and I bet they’ll answer “my Mom”.
My own Momma seems to be busy ALL DAY LONG taking care of other people and a house, even though all of us kids are grown and she’s technically an “empty nester”. And as the saying goes,
“You can’t go far on an empty tank.”
Eventually you will run out of gas, or have a Mommy breakdown. So a good self care routine can help you to be proactive so that doesn’t happen… or at least it doesn’t happen as frequently. Complicated math fractions are enough to make even the strongest Mommas have a mental breakdown! 🙂
Here’s why you should try a 30 Day Self Care Challenge for Moms:
It takes time to form a new habit.
Research suggests that it can take 66 days on average to form a new habit… even if that habit is simply spending a few extra minutes a day on self care. So a 30 day self care challenge is a GREAT way to help you get into the habit of focusing on self care.
You could even repeat the self care challenge for two months in a row to really help your new self care routine for Moms to “stick”.
A 30 Day Self Care Challenge makes self care easy.
Half the battle of developing a good self care routine for Moms is thinking about what kind of self care activities you should do. With a printable self care challenge, you have a “roadmap” of exactly what small self care activity to do each day, so you’re not having to rack your brain for how you can take care of yourself.
So without further ado, here is an easy 30 Day Self Care Challenge to get you started… And be sure to grab the free printable self care challenge at the end of this post!
30 Day Self Care Challenge for Moms
Day 1: Wake up an hour before your kids do, make a cup of coffee, and read a good book.
If you’re a Mom of younger kids, then this is really important! Taking care of your children ALL DAY LONG can wear on you, so it’s important to find time to yourself each day to recharge your batteries, even if that time is BEFORE your kids wake up in the morning.
Day 2: Take a walk around the neighborhood by yourself.
Day 3: Give yourself a manicure and pedicure.
As a busy Mom, it’s easy to put seemingly trivial tasks like painting your nails on the back burner of your self care routine. Between taking care of your family and your home, you probably feel like you just don’t have time to keep up with your physical appearance.
But, when you look good, you feel good. So taking the time to take care of your outside will help you fuel your inside also.
If your budget allows, maybe even buy a new bottle of nail polish to make your at-home manicure feel extra special!
Day 4: Soak in a hot bath and read a magazine.
If you don’t have a bathtub, run a hot shower instead, and instead of reading in the tub, belt out a tune in the shower. Put your phone on the counter near the shower, and stream a few of your favorite songs.
Day 5: Start a gratitude journal.
Everyday write about one thing that makes you feel grateful. This simple practice has been scientifically proven to have a variety of health benefits! Get 30 Awesome Gratitude Journal Prompts here to help you get started!
Day 6: Try a new healthy snack recipe.
These no-bake peanut butter energy balls are delicious and taste like cookie dough! Plus, you’ll feel much better about yourself after snacking on something healthy rather than polishing off a bag of Cheetos.
Day 7: Color!
Adult coloring books are awesome for stress relief and improved sleep and focus. Plus, it’s nice to give yourself a mental break and just focus on creating something beautiful and colorful.
You can find loads of free printable adult coloring sheets here!
Day 8: Try dry brushing.
Dry brushing, or using a stiff-bristled brush to give yourself a kind of massage while your skin is dry, has a number of health benefits and can help you feel refreshed and energized. This is an easy activity to add to your self care routine for Moms, because it just takes a few extra minutes before you jump in the shower.
Day 9: Call a friend that you haven’t talked to in a while and catch up with them.
If you spend time with your kids all day long, then you may crave adult interaction. The simple act of calling a friend can help you feel recharged, plus you can do this easy self care activity while you’re watching your kids play.
Day 10: Start a brain dump notebook.
Write down anything and everything that you’ve been thinking about… a new recipe you’ve been wanting to try, a Netflix series you’ve been meaning to watch, things you want to get done, etc. Use a new page for each day. This is a great way to clear your mind, without worrying about forgetting things.
You can read more about how to do a brain dump here, plus grab a FREE printable brain dump worksheet!
Day 11: Make a healthy and refreshing breakfast.
I’m sure you’ve heard people say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day… but if you’re just eating a big bowl of sugar-loaded cereal, you’re probably not doing yourself any favors.
Instead, opt for a healthy breakfast that’s full of good-for-you stuff like protein and vitamins. Even if you don’t have a ton of time to make yourself a nutritious breakfast from scratch each morning, you can try meal prep breakfasts (like these yummy Acai Smoothie Bowls), or you can also find some tasty and healthy frozen, pre-made breakfast options at the grocery store.
Day 12: Do a face mask.
No joke… I actually have a face mask on right now. That’s the beauty of a face mask… you just put it on and then you can go about your business. Face mask multitask!
So if you feel like you’re too busy to do anything for yourself, then this is a great idea to add to your self care routine for Moms.
Day 13: Try a workout video.
You can even get your kids to join you so they can get some energy out! I used a Jillian Michaels DVD for a while, but I recently switched to the streaming OpenFit fitness app, and I LOVE it!
I do a quick 15 minute workout every morning in between taking my daughters to elementary and middle school, and then I feel much better about myself. And, as an added bonus, I’m more motivated to eat healthy throughout the day if I’ve done a workout.
Day 14: Perform mini self-health checks.
And, no, I’m not just talking about your monthly checks for breast lumps. I’m talking about actually LISTENING to your body to see if IT needs anything.
Raise your hand if you feel like as a Mom, you aren’t allowed to get sick? *Hand reached up high!* But even us Mommas get sick sometimes, even to the point that we can’t physically take care of anyone else. Don’t ignore your body when you feel overwhelmed and exhausted… take a break!
Day 15: Feed yourself like you feed your kids.
I often think to myself, “If I eat what I make my kids eat (lean protein, fruits and veggies at every meal, etc.) , I bet I would feel much better about myself and have more energy!”. And then I grab a handful of chocolate chips just because. 🙂
*By the way, if you need a TON of healthy and easy kids’ dinner ideas then check out this post on Snack Plates for Kids… my best parenting hack (from a Mom that can’t cook!).
Day 16: Declutter!
Did you know that it’s been scientifically proven that clutter causes stress, especially in women? Pick one small area of your home (even if it’s just the junk drawer) to work on. I always feel much better when I feel like I’ve had a productive day!
I’ve got a TON of great decluttering posts for you, depending on how much time you have:
- 30 Bags in 30 Days Decluttering Challenge – this is probably my easiest decluttering challenge, because it focuses on only removing ONE bag of clutter from your house each day… very doable!
- How to Declutter Your Whole House in One Week – this one is for when you’re feeling super-motivated and you have a bit more time to devote to cleaning and organizing your home!
Day 17: Make a latte at home and enjoy it on your porch while the kids play.
This is one of my favorite self care ideas for Moms because you can take care of yourself AND your kids at the same time. In fact, most afternoons I can be found leisurely sipping an iced latte and sitting in a comfy chair on my back deck while my kids jump on the trampoline.
By the way… I have this Keurig machine that makes lattes and cappuccinos using K-Cups and I highly recommend it!
Day 18: Lay in bed and watch a TV show.
Or, you can also use headphones and watch a show on your ipad or computer while your kids play in the same room.
Day 19: Work on a craft.
If you’ve got piles of kids’ clothes coming out of your ears, then upcycle them into this cute DIY Fabric Tassel Garland! Or make this easy DIY Burlap Fall Banner, which literally takes 5 minutes.
Being creative is a great way to relieve stress, and if your kids are older, you can even include them in the fun. Though supervising a messy craft project for your toddlers definitely shouldn’t be considered part of your self care routine! 🙂
Day 20: Drink water.
I’m sure that you’ve heard of the many benefits of drinking plenty of water, but do you drink enough? As busy Moms, it’s hard to remember to drink water throughout the day… especially when you’re preoccupied with young kids.
So devote one day of your 30 Day Self Care Challenge to tracking your water intake, and then try to drink your recommend amount of water each day after that.
Day 21: Shave your legs, exfoliate, AND put on lotion!
Sounds simple, but how often do you actually get to do all three. 🙂
Day 22: Play your favorite song with the volume cranked up.
Research has shown that music has a wide variety of health benefits, so why not include music in your self care for Moms? Music has been scientifically proven to boost mood and lower stress levels, among other benefits.
Whenever I need to feel energized, I use my handy Amazon Echo to blare music in the house. Whether I’m folding clothes, doing dishes, or finishing up a quick workout, music instantly boosts my mood.
You can even create different playlists as part of your self care routine. Make a playlist of slow and soothing songs to listen to in the bath, or add upbeat songs to a playlist for cleaning the house.
Day 23: Take a nap.
My bed and I have a standing nap date on Friday afternoons. I REALLY look forward to cuddling up in the middle of the day on Friday while my kids are at school. That little bit of extra sleep time helps me to feel more energized, and it’s nice to have something simple to look forward to each week.
Even if you can’t take a nap every single week, you can just try to sneak in a quick power nap once in a while.
Day 24: Go for a drive by yourself.
Even if it’s just to go get a latte through the drive thru, getting out of the house by yourself for a few minutes is a great way to recharge. If your kids go to school, then this is an easy idea to add to your 30 Day Self Care Challenge but, if your kids are younger maybe set up a fun daddy daughter date idea to get some much needed alone time.
Day 25: Start a habit tracker.
Get in the habit of tracking your self care as a way to hold yourself responsible for taking care of YOU. Whether you track water intake, exercise, sleep times, or other daily good-for-you habits, a habit tracker can help remind you to take care of yourself.
Day 26: Write down some affirmations on sticky notes and put them on your mirror.
As women, it’s so easy to look in the mirror and think to yourself “I look fat” or “Look at those wrinkles”. Replace those Negative Nancy thoughts with positive self love affirmations instead.
I even have a printable list of 100+ self love affirmations that you can cut out and hide around your house for when you need a little pick-me-up.
Day 27: Visit a favorite store, even if it’s just to “window shop”.
TJ Maxx and Home Goods are favorites of mine, and on the rare occasion that I get a day to myself, I like to just aimlessly roam the aisles looking at all the pretty things.
If you’re not a fan of shopping, then use this time to do something that you enjoy instead, like gardening or crocheting.
Day 28: Organize your paperwork.
Yes, organizing your life can be a form of self care for Moms! How many times have you looked for an important paper that you REALLY needed and you couldn’t find it… or maybe you found it, but only after digging through a tall stack of papers for an hour?
Getting organized now can help save you time and frustration in the future.
Day 29: Light a candle or diffuse essential oils.
Just the small act of lighting a candle to make your home smell nice is enough to lift your mood! Plus, some research suggests that diffusing essential oils can help to alleviate anxiety and improve sleep.
And what busy Mom can’t benefit from better sleep?!
Day 30: Make a to-do list for tomorrow.
With so many demands on our time, it’s important that we’re organized and prepared for what comes next. Make a to-do list of the things that you have to do tomorrow, so that you don’t forget anything important. Plus, I don’t know about you, but I feel REALLY happy when I get to put a checkmark next to items on my to-do list. Like that little checkmark reinforces the fact that I’m being productive!
Free Printable 30 Day Self Care Challenge
Ready to start your 30 Day Self Care Challenge and make yourself a priority?! Use the form below to sign up for my FREE email newsletter, and you’ll get instant access to my FREEBIES library (where you can find the self care checklist printable and LOADS of other printables) as a gift!
What are some of your favorite self care ideas for Mom? How do you unwind after a super stressful day of 6th grade Math homework? Leave me a comment below! I’d LOVE to hear from you!
And be sure to check out these posts for tips and encouragement just for Moms:
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