Self-care – it’s the one thing working moms really could use more of but never seem to have enough time for.
Juggling work, family responsibilities, and our own personal lives is tough, and it’s normal for us to feel pretty stressed out and anxious as a result.
We know practicing self-care regularly helps with that, but it can feel impossible to find time for it in between our daily demands.
We often think of self-care in terms of big things like traveling or going to a luxurious spa.
Yes, those things can absolutely improve our wellbeing, but we don’t have to fly to a tropical beach to practice self-care.
We can make little opportunities for it every day, even in our basic activities. Taking daily micro self-care moments is actually one of the key ways I prevent working mom burnout. I’ve been there, and it’s not fun.
These micro self-care moments don’t take a lot of time or effort, but they can have a big impact on our wellbeing.
In this post, I’ll share 10 daily self-care items I easily incorporate into my daily routine to help maintain good emotional wellbeing.
Why self-care is important
What exactly does it mean to practice self-care?
Practicing self-care means intentionally doing things aimed at improving our personal health and wellbeing.
Self-care is important because:
- It helps prevent and manage burnout
- It supports our emotional and mental well-being
- It improves our physical health and wellness
- It improves our resilience and tolerance to stress
- It improves our quality of life and overall happiness
It can be anything – big or small – that promotes one or more of the dimensions of wellbeing and improves our overall sense of wellness.
Self-care looks different to everyone. For me, it might mean reading a good book and getting cozy with a cup of coffee, but to someone else it could mean listening to music or exercising.
How we practice it might be different, but one thing is common among us – without self-care, we’re on the fast track to mental and emotional exhaustion and potentially even burnout.
For working moms, self-care helps us manage the daily stress and emotional fatigue that come with juggling all of life’s different demands.
The stress of being pulled in a million different directions, if not managed, can have a negative impact on our work, our relationships, our interactions with our families, and our overall health.
Time is a luxury we often don’t have, which is why I’m a big practitioner of daily micro self-care moments. Incorporating them into my everyday routine makes a big difference in my mental and emotional wellbeing, without throwing off the schedule.
Here are 10 daily self-care items I regularly use to keep my stress levels manageable.
10 self-care items under $50 I use on the regular to manage working mom stress
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases on paid links in this post.
1. Shower steamers
Some would argue that taking a shower isn’t self-care, it’s just a basic necessity.
While that might be true, it’s one of the only moments in my day when I can get some uninterrupted time. You can bet I’m going to make the most of it.
Shower steamers are a favorite of mine for turning basic showers into self-care moment.
They require nothing except putting them on the floor of the shower under the water stream.
Once they start to dissolve, they release their soothing aromas and create a mini-spa environment that’s perfect for relaxation, meditation, or a little daily reflection.
Cleverfy Shower Steamers Aromatherapy (paid link)
2. Comfortable pajamas
If there’s one thing I look forward to at the end of the day, it’s going to sleep.
I could do that in my busted college t-shirts (if they even still fit), or I could opt for something a little more luxurious – like some comfy satin pajamas.
Can putting on pajamas count as self-care? For me they do – they feel good on my skin, promote a sense of relaxation, and help me sleep comfortably.
Ekouaer Women’s Classic Button Down Long Satin Silk Pajama Set (paid link)
3. A journal
The benefits of journaling for supporting our emotional and mental wellbeing are well-established.
Journaling is a simple and not very time-consuming activity that I can easily do for a few minutes before bed, in the morning when I wake up, or even while lying in bed before I go to sleep.
It’s a useful tool for processing any difficult emotions or reflecting on the day’s positive experiences.
I also use it to make lists of things in my life I am grateful for, which helps lift my spirits after a rough day.
Expressing my emotions – both good and bad – in a private and safe space helps me to manage daily stress and recharges my emotional battery.
Intelligent Change The Five Minute Journal (paid link)
4. A light therapy box
I use light therapy often during the cold, dark winter months when my mood is not great and my energy is low.
Light therapy boxes emit artificial light to help boost our mood and energy levels.
Light therapy is particularly effective for people with seasonal depression and clinical sleep disorders, but it can also be used in those with milder mood changes.
I use it for about 20-30 minutes when I need a little boost to get the day going – on dark rainy mornings, during the winter, or when I’m just having trouble getting started.
Verilux HappyLight Lucent – One-Touch Light Therapy Lamp (paid link)
5. Mindfulness cards
Who doesn’t love a good inspirational quote?
A deck of mindfulness cards comes with a different inspiring quote or meditation practice on each card to add a little positivity to our day.
I love mindfulness cards and use them often. I have them in my car, in my office, and sometimes I even carry a few with me in my bag for when I need a little stress check or pep talk.
These powerful little quotes remind me to stay grateful and grounded when I’m feeling overwhelmed.
Allura & Arcia 52 Stress Less & Self Care Cards (paid link)
6. Sheet masks
The stress of working and family obligations takes a toll on everything, including my skin.
I might may not have the time (or the desire) to go through 7-step skincare rituals after a long day of work and kids, but I still want to take care of myself and feel like I’m doing something for me.
Sheet masks are a quick, non-messy alternative to traditional wash-off masks and help to replace some much-needed moisture into my skin.
Most only need to be left on for about 15-20 minutes, require no washing off after, and take no more than 2 minutes to apply.
DERMAL Korean Collagen Face Mask (paid link)
7. Scented pillow spray
I usually don’t have much trouble falling asleep, but I do occasionally have trouble drifting off on those nights where my mind is just racing with all the mom thoughts.
Scented pillow sprays come in handy on such occasions.
Their soothing aromas encourage relaxation and promote a sense of calm, which is just what I need when I have trouble shutting my brain off.
Just one or two spritzes on my pillow or sheets before bed helps take my mind off my worries and drift off to sleep.
THISWORKS Deep Sleep Pillow Spray (paid link)
8. Blue light glasses
Sometimes I’ve had such a long day that all I can do is lie on the couch and zombie scroll my way through the evening.
Not only is that incredibly unproductive, it also interrupts the quality of my sleep because of the blue light exposure.
Prolonged exposure to blue light from our screens affects our sleep by making us more alert and messing with our circadian rhythms.
Blue light glasses help me block out some of that light when I’m up late scrolling or working on my computer, which reduces the negative effects on my sleep.
livho High Tech Blue Light Glasses (paid link)
9. Back massager
A portable back massager is one of my favorite self-care buys.
It helps my manage my tight upper back muscles from chasing and carrying my toddler around, and I can just plop it in any chair that’s close to an outlet and get some relief.
It’s not a 60-minute deep tissue massage, but it does the trick.
I just plug it in, place it on a firm-backed chair, and lean back onto it to target my lower or middle back muscles for a few minutes.
Some massagers also come with a heated option and attachments for use in my car on the way to or from work.
Papillon Shiatsu Back and Neck Massager with Heat (paid link)
10. Insulated water bottle
We can’t really talk about self-care without talking about hydration. Water is life!
I don’t really need a huge fancy water bottle to hold my water, but I can say without a doubt that I drink more water when I have one.
It all comes down to convenience – having a water bottle that I only have to fill up once or twice during the day and keeps my water cool makes it much easier to stay hydrated.
Insulated water bottles have also become somewhat of a trendy office accessory, with popular brands like Stanley and Hydro Flask appearing on office desks (and even schools!) everywhere.
STANLEY Quencher H2.0 Tumbler with Handle and Straw 40 oz (paid link)
Self-care is an essential part of improving our sense of wellbeing and managing daily stress, but finding time for it can be difficult for working moms.
Incorporating small self-care moments into my daily routine helps improve my emotional wellbeing without disrupting my daily flow.
- 8 sleep hygiene habits that help me get a better night’s rest
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- 6 ways to take care of our physical wellbeing (beyond just diet and exercise)
- 9 micro-breaks I take at work to help manage work stress and feel less drained
- 9 things I do at work to feel less stressed and have better work-life balance
