3 Self Care Tips for Working Moms

Being a mother is the greatest role and job I have ever had in my entire life. But it is also the most challenging one. This job changes every day as my child grows and evolves. This role has changed my body, it has changed my mind about so many things about life. My understanding of my own childhood has changed too. It’s beautiful and overwhelming all at once. But I am so grateful every day for this opportunity and gift of being a mother. In this blog post I have come up with three self care tips for working moms. These are to use daily and when you need them.

Mothers deserve Self Care time

After my son was born, I struggled for two years to balance motherhood and work. Plus add in all the other roles and titles we hold as mothers. Finding some time to workout or practice self care felt literally impossible for months. I could not see how or when I could fit in a workout or a meditation. If I even thought about working out, or taking a bath, I felt mom guilt. But truly, after almost two years ignoring myself and my needs entirely, my self care practices saved the day. Self care has helped me find joy, balance, peace, and ultimately find myself again as a working mother. It helps me feel balanced, refreshed, and present when I am with my son.

This blog post is full of self care tips and inspiration have supported my journey as a mother balancing work, life, and all the other things. These tips for working moms are for various moms that work. Whether your job is working from home, working in the office, or your main roe is being a stay at home mother, we are all working moms. And finding that balance between our priorities as a mother and all of the other hats we wear can be challenging. Sometimes all I need is the reminder to take a few minutes to myself to feel better.

Affirmations for Working Moms

Let’s start out with some affirmations to keep in mind when you are feeling like you need a little reminder of loving affirmations towards yourself. You work hard mama, and you deserve to affirm it to yourself. These affirmations help me change my mindset from negative to positive in the challenging moments of stress or overwhelm in work or motherhood. They also help me remember how worthy and important I am to myself and my family.

-I am worthy of time to myself

-My body is strong and energized

-I am working hard for my family

-My family loves me

-I am smart

-I am healthy

My affirmations for kids and toddlers blog post breaks down how to build a simple affirmation if you need help creating some for yourself. Or make them up on the go, in the moment. Sometimes a little affirmation is all I need to make it through a long or stressful work day.

Self Care Tip #1 Prioritize Movement where and when you can

We deserve time to ourselves, even if it is 10 minutes here, 20 there. Or while our children are napping, or at 9:30 p.m. Sometimes prioritizing movement when I can fit it in can make all the difference. When I first wake up, during my work lunch break, or later in the evening after my son goes to bed are all times I practice these three self care tips. It is an important part of my tips for working moms.

Postpartum, my body felt different working out and it looked completely different too. I did a lot of walking in the evenings but for my job I would sit down all day and that was hard on my physical and mental health. But it felt completely impossible to exercise after work because I had to help with dinner and I wanted to spend time with my son, husband, and dog.

Standing Desk and Walking Pads: Worth the Hype?

But my body craved more movement. So last January I decided to invest in a Walking Pad (Amazon) and a Standing Desk (Amazon). This gave me the option to move and walk during my work long days in front of the computer. It also allowed me to stand too. I know the walking pad is a viral thing but it truly has made a huge difference during the day. It has helped me fit in movement and has boosted my mood, energy, and productivity. Even taking five minutes to stretch and get up out of my desk has been helpful too.

Movement that works for YOU

I tried doing high intensity workouts and other ways to move postpartum. But I just kept feeling called back to a yoga/Pilates style of movement. I feel my best when I am doing these types of exercise mentally and physically. But I needed something that could be done at home. Something that was cost efficient and quick, but still brought the sweat or burn that I craved.

I remember some of my favorite podcasts mentioning Melissa Wood Health. This is an application for the phone or computer full of quick “spicy” yoga, Pilates, barre, and strength classes. I tried one class and I was truly sold. We are not an affiliate for MWH and this is my honest opinion of the app. This app fits into my schedule and is an incredible user experience. I am so grateful that something like this exists for a busy working mom like me. I fit in a 20 minute Pilates in the morning or I do a 10 minute meditation on my lunch break. Anywhere and any time I need a reset, I pull out my app. Most of the work outs use your own body weight but when I need some weights I use these hand/ankle weights (Amazon) in a beautiful sage green color.

The whole point to is get in movement where and when you can. Whether you are a weights girly, a spin class queen, or a yogi, do what your body loves. Movement has helped me in so many ways and I am grateful for movement in my daily routine. We are deserving of this time to move as moms.

Self Care Tip #2 Have some Quiet Time

Having quiet time for myself, even if it is just five minutes has been super helpful as a working mom. Sometimes my brain just doesn’t stop. When I am done with work, then it’s on to mom mode, and then home mode, and wife mode, etc. So having a few minutes to just sit in stillness has been helpful for me as a working mama.

Quiet Time Ideas & Inspiration

Whether you take a bath and listen to meditation music, or you just go in your room or break room and rest your eyes, quiet time is not just for children. See this amazing Nodpod Gentle Pressure Sleep Mask (Amazon) my sister in law gifted me that I use to relax. I also love my Weighted Blanket (Amazon) that I’ve had for years, which brings instant relaxation. Or I will do a guided meditation. Everyone deserves a moment to just return to ourselves. We deserve to remember who we are outside of work, the demands of being a mother, and all of our other very important roles. For me, quiet time brings the energy I need to recharge and reset to fuel through the evenings enjoying time with my son.

Often times if I choose to scroll my phone or watch a show during my quiet time after my son has gone to bed or when he’s napping, I end up feeling more drained. So sometimes unplugged quiet time is the most refueling and the best tips for working moms. Sometimes that means on the weekends, napping during his nap too. But think about what brings you relaxation and rejuvenation and add a little more of that into your life. You deserve it. Quiet time for moms is a great, simple, and cost efficient self care tip for working moms!

Self Care Tip #3 Treat yourself

Image of me drinking hot tea tonight

Treating yourself to express self love

Okay, I know mom guilt sets in and treating yourself is easier said than done. I am not talking about going out and buying something extravagant or out of budget. I have found even a small luxury such as treating myself to a matcha or a green juice is helpful for me to remember that I am worthy and that I am important too. Treat yourself to a coffee from your favorite coffee shop, or lunch from your favorite spot or even a delicious homemade lunch that is your favorite meal that brings you joy.

It doesn’t have to be expensive or extravagant. The action of purchasing or making something for myself and myself only is hard for me because I can spiral into the needs of my family and the house and the dog, etc. But when I treat myself to the 5 dollar matcha or a 10 dollar new pair of comfy socks, It brings me joy and makes me feel loved and appreciated.

It is even as simple as buying some of my favorite tea and treating myself to a hot tea drink in the evening with a splash of store bought almond milk. I love yogi brand (Amazon) which has lots amazing flavors and a sweet inspiring message on every tea bag. Whatever you enjoy, allow yourself a moment to enjoy it. Sip on every delicious sip of hot tea while you enjoy a moment of silence, or enjoy the sounds of your kiddos playing.

Overcoming the Mom Guilt of treating yourself

I bought myself a tumbler to drink from a few months ago. It was my first real purchase that I really debated as a mom. I felt so much guilt purchasing this tumbler for 30 dollars. I am almost bought it several times but gave into the mom guilt several times. When my husband finally made me to buy it for myself, I realized how much joy it brings to me every day. It’s the simple things such as a water vessel that can bring me joy and self love. It also motivates me to stay hydrated all day long which also makes me happier too lol.

My Simple Modern Tumbler (Amazon) helped me realize that I am absolutely worthy of purchasing items for myself too. Sipping on some cool water from my tumbler to keep my body hydrated helps me stay happy and healthy during the day. Add on some lemon and some mineral salt. Or some cucumber and mint to add a spa vibe. Any small thing I do to make myself feel luxurious in a sense, makes me feel happy and joy. I am worthy of the simple luxuries as a working mother. And so are you mama!

So to conclude our third self care tips for working moms, treat yourself to something that will bring you happiness and joy. Whether it is for long term practical use or shorter term enjoyment. You are worthy mama! If you feel overwhelmed by deciding what to do to practice self care, check out my 11 self care ideas blog post that is full of simple ideas you can do right now. This is my go to list when I need self care inspiration.

Concluding Tips for Working Moms

I cannot conclude this blog post about tips for working moms without reminding you to share and show appreciation to your partner and friends/family who support you so that you can be a working mom. My husband is my biggest supporter. He has helped me build and run this blog, which is my dream. I could not work full time without his support raising and homeschooling our toddler. We also have our family who have all been so supportive in our journey as parents. So appreciation for those who allow you to have these moments of self care and hold down the fort while you go on a walk or work during the day, are deserving of so much love!

Without my self care practices and affirmations I would not be balanced or happy. The tiny luxuries can bring so much joy and even five minutes to myself can give me the boost I need to spend all evening after work with my son. Mom guilt is there but it is not always accurate or true. It is to take time for myself. As mothers we have so many roles and sometimes we forget the most important role and obligation to ourselves to stay healthy and energized. As mothers we deserve some time to practice a little self love and self care. I hope this blog post brings you inspiration to bring in more self care in your life mama! You 1000% deserve it.