Are you looking for an opportunity to fill your cup but can never seem to get around to it?
Do you need a little motivation to get you started?
There are many reasons why moms don’t practice self-care. You might struggle with time, what to do, and how to do it.
Summer is nearly here, and the kids will be out of school. Maybe you’re excited or maybe you’re stressed out.
If you are already worrying whether you will have time for self-care, I’m going to help you take advantage of the summer break with ideas that will help you create a daily ritual that works for you (without investing hours a day).
Here are my Summer self-care ideas for moms to fit in self-care this season.
Self-care will be difficult without a good routine
You likely have a daily routine right now that works for you. When summer arrives, your routine doesn’t have to stop. If your current routine works, keep it going throughout the summer.
Even in the summer months, your time can slip through the cracks and there won’t be any time for self-care. Your routine might shift a little but maintaining a consistent routine will make self-care less of a challenge.
Start with the basics: Eat a balanced diet, get plenty of movement, and get sleep. It’s essential even over the summer break that you prioritize your well-being to ensure you stay healthy and resilient.
Make the summer season your opportunity to improve your well-being so that when summer is over, you will be rested and ready for the next season.
Here are a few tips to make it even easier to fit self-care into your day.
Wake Up a Little Earlier
Consider waking up a bit earlier than your family. Use this time to engage in activities that nourish your mind, body, and soul. Whether it’s practicing yoga, enjoying a cup of coffee in peace, or journaling, this morning routine will set a positive tone for the rest of your day.
Take advantage of nap time, quiet time, or when the kids are out.
Use this time to either fulfill your self-care tasks or to do other tasks to make time for a self-care ritual in the evening. The timing is up to do but seek out pockets of time in the day to meet your needs.
Communicate your needs to your family.
If you need time to recharge, let your family know. Sometimes we don’t speak up out of guilt or feel that it wait a little bit longer.
Never wait. If you are overwhelmed, let your family or spouse know so you can take the time to support your self-care.
Tip: Add self-care activities to your calendar and set reminders on your phone.
Simplify your home
We all know what happens over the summer with kids at home. The house gets messy and chaotic. It can be hard to keep up.
You don’t want to spend the entire summer picking up after everyone.
The best way to simplify your home (and your life) is to take some time to get rid of stuff that’s no longer useful (broken, collecting dust, or just plain useless).
Why? Because why would you want to clean and organize the stuff you don’t use or even need? That is time better spent on more enjoyable activities.
Take some time before school’s out to declutter your home. Focus only on removing the things that are no longer useful.
The next step is to establish clear rules for tidying up with your family. It will be good for you in the long term to teach your kids to tidy up after themselves. A few minutes spared for you adds up at the end of the week.
These are two effective ways to simplify your home before summer.
Recommended: How to declutter your home for better mental health (free declutter guide)
Tip: Decluttering can be a drag. Use a timer to keep you focused and avoid taking up too much time. A timer can motivate you to move quickly so you can get it done faster. Don’t forget to get the family involved too!
Create your "mom cave"
Creating your own dedicated mom space or “mom cave” can be a great way to relax, decompress, and prioritize self-care.
Ideally, choose a space that is free of distraction and interruption. I know that is not always easy and not everyone has the space for a dedicated mom cave.
Look for any space in your home that is quiet and that you can claim as your own.
When you find your sanctuary, personalize it so that it’s an enjoyable space to be in. Make it comfortable with a cozy chair. Add interesting art or a yoga mat for stretching. Add whatever brings you joy.
The goal is to surround yourself with things that help you relax, bring positive emotions, and encourage self-care.
Tip: Add personal touches to your space. If you make it yours, you are more likely to keep it. Add color that invigorates, texture to help you feel present and pleasant aromas to relax.
Create a Summer essentials station
Now that the kids are home all day, there’s a good chance they will be asking you to find and get things for them. That is not bad of course but you know that your kids can ask you to fetch stuff for them multiple times a day.
You can save yourself from constant interruption by setting up items in easy-to-access places.
Designate an area in your home as a summer essentials station for frequently needed items such as packaged snacks, sunscreen, bug spray, towels, blankets, hats, or outdoor toys.
You can empower your kids while giving yourself a break, there is no harm in that. Encouraging independence in children is a good thing.
No more being on duty to fetch stuff for your kids!
Tip: Look for other ways you can help your kids be independent. Create a chart of activities your kids can help you out in some small way. They will appreciate the sense of accomplishment and you will appreciate the help and the extra time to recharge.
Start a personal passion project
Have you ever wanted to start a passion project? Maybe you’ve been wanting to do something that’s interested you for a while, but you feel you don’t have the luxury to start.
You might also be saying, “But I’m busy! Where would I even find the time?”
Think of it this way. Pursuing a passion project is a form of self-care. You are nurturing your interests and filling your cup with energy and positivity. It might feel like a luxury but it’s necessary for preserving your own identity.
Being a mom is an admirable role, but you are not just a mom, right? You have other interests in addition to being a mom.
With a passion project as your self-care, you are investing in yourself, and you are worth investing in.
There are many types of interests you can pursue: creative, social, wellness-based, organizational, or entrepreneurial.
Choose a project that resonates with you and fulfills you. If time is a concern, think of a small project you can commit to for a few minutes each day or week.
You deserve this. Don’t put it off any longer, make plans to start your passion project today.
Need ideas? I got you! How to start a passion project when you’re a busy mom & 97 ways Moms can reclaim their passion.
Tip: Think about all the things that excite you. Write a list and pick your top five. Choose one that stands out at you and that you would want to pursue today without hesitation.
Improve your health and your mindset
Your health and your mindset are like two pieces of the same puzzle. When your physical health is good so will your mental health.
For a lot of people, the summer is a great time for more physical activity. However, if you’re not making your health a priority, it doesn’t matter what season you’re in. You will still struggle and continue to feel stressed which is no good for you.
A self-care routine starts first with your physical health and flows into your mental health.
Take the summer season as an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors, seasonal foods, rest well, and spend quality time with your family.
The result will be a more positive mindset which sets you up for more success in your life.
When you’ve taken care of your physical health, you can boost your mindset even further with activities like mindfulness, meditation, and gratitude
Tip: Break up your fitness routine into small bursts. 5-10 minutes here and there will keep it manageable. Keep healthy eating simple by prioritizing whole food. You will never be deprived of selection and flavor.
Rejuvenate this summer with journaling
Journaling is one of the most accessible forms of self-care out there. If you haven’t started journaling yet, now is no better time to try. There are many types of journals you can try.
There are goals journals, stress relief, gratitude, creativity, and self-improvement journals. Choose the type you gravitate towards the most.
Journaling is a practice that allows you to be you, and to freely express your thoughts, feelings, and ideas. And it’s a place to write down your ambitions and help you visualize and manifest your dreams.
There are many benefits to journaling. It can help you refocus, and give you the quiet peacefulness of being mindful while journaling.
If you’re looking for an easy self-care practice, journaling is a great place to start.
Tip: Don’t overthink it. You’ll lose precious minutes contemplating what you will write. If you don’t know where to start use prompts to get you started.
Give yourself time to be alone
When was the last time you enjoyed your own company?
When you’re a mom, time alone is rare. It is probably the last thing you think of as self-care because you are intentionally isolating yourself. But I’m talking about healthy isolation where you can decompress and recharge.
Sometimes you just need to a bit of alone time and that’s okay. Remember that it’s not a bad thing. Go ahead and carve out some time for yourself. No guilt!
Recommended: 9 ways you can embrace less than perfect and thrive.
Tip: Make sure to communicate with your spouse that you need this time. If getting alone time is difficult to get, spread it out through the day.
Let go of comparison
Are you feeling bad because a mom friend had their summer planned out months in advance? Meanwhile, you didn’t plan anything special and hoped to just keep it simple.
It will always seem like other moms are doing so much better than you, maybe they are and maybe there aren’t.
Don’t let comparison take you away from enjoying life. Focus on spending time with the people you love and the activities that bring you joy no matter how simple.
Time can slip away too quickly, don’t let comparison rob you of an enjoyable and memorable summer break.
Tip: Make a list of the things you are proud about yourself and your family. Maybe you will realize how wasteful it is to compare yourself to others? Remind yourself of all that you are proud of every time you feel inadequate and have the urge to compare.
Let go of high expectations
There’s a good chance that the next few weeks won’t turn out like you expected.
Maybe you had hopes that the Summer would be filled with all kinds of cool stuff for the family, but it didn’t quite happen. Don’t beat yourself up.
It might be a good idea to lower expectations so that you don’t end up disappointed and let it ruin your summer.
It can help us to live in the moment and be more present. If plans change, you won’t be bothered by it, and you’ll continue to enjoy your time with the ones you love no matter what happens.
Enjoy the Summer because it doesn’t last long and soon the back-to-school rush will be here. Enjoy the season while you can!
Tip: Focus on the positives and what you can do right now to make the season a memorable one for you and your family.
Summer seems to fly by so quickly. If you’re not careful it might slip away, leaving you exhausted and disappointed.
Prioritize yourself and practice self-care daily.
Keep your routines in check and working for you. Set goals and pursue your passion project.
Move your body, feed it with healthy whole foods, and surround yourself with the people you love. Set up a positive and productive environment so you can rest and recharge.
I hope these summer self-care suggestions help you enjoy your summer season so you can be prepared for the next.
What is your favorite summer self-care activity? Share in the comments. Would love to hear what you have to say.
Hi, I’m Melanie. I’m the woman behind Mommy Life Strategies. Here you will discover ways to manage your time more efficiently, how to create positive daily habits that stick, mindset exercises that energize, and health & wellness tips that work even for the busiest moms.