10 Helpful Ways To Take Time For Yourself As A Mom Without Feeling Guilty

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As a mom, it can be tough to take time for yourself. You always feel like you’re behind and there’s never enough time in the day as it is. But taking some time for yourself is crucial for your own happiness and well-being. Here are 10 helpful ways to take time for yourself as a mom without feeling guilty.

Feeling Overwhelmed as a Mom

When I had my first baby, I remember feeling overwhelmed. I was so used to being independent and taking care of myself that it was hard to handle all the new emotions and responsibilities that came with motherhood. On top of that, I felt guilty any time I wanted to take a break or do something for myself.

Mothers time and time again continue to put themselves last and their needs on the back burner. We take care of our families, our homes, our jobs, and everything else in between but when do we ever take care of ourselves? The answer is usually never.

But this only leads to us feeling even more overwhelmed, stressed, and unhappy in motherhood. So, if you’re a mom who feels like you’re constantly running on empty, it’s time to take some time for yourself. You, and your kids deserve it.

Why Taking Time for Yourself is Crucial

It is important to take time for yourself because it allows you to recharge and come back even more refreshed and ready to take on motherhood. It also helps improve your mood and outlook on life.

Think about it this way, if you’re constantly feeling run down, stressed, and unhappy, that’s going to show in the way you take care of your family and the way you interact with your kids. But if you’re taking care of yourself and making sure to take some time for you, you’re going to be a happier, more present mom that your kids will love being around.

Not only that, but when you take time for yourself, it shows your kids that it’s important to take care of yourself too. You’re setting a good example for them and teaching them how to take care of themselves both physically and emotionally.

I remember feeling like I had lost myself in motherhood. I resented it. All I could think of is how I never want any of my children to feel like they have to choose between whole happiness and a family.

“We have been conditioned to prove our love by slowly ceasing to exist. What a terrible burden for children to bear—to know that they are the reason their mother stopped living.”

Glennon Doyle

I knew that had to be the example for them to show that you don’t have to choose, you can have both. And so do you.

How to Take Time For Yourself

You may know the importance of having “you time” as a mom but just have no idea how to actually make it happen. Leaving you wondering, How do I make time for myself? Or at least how to do it so you actually feel better and not filled by mom guilt.

Luckily, Here is a list of 10 helpful ways to take time for yourself as a mom without feeling guilty:

1. Realize You’re Worthy of It

This is the first and most important step. You need to realize that you are worthy of taking time for yourself. If not, you’ll only continue to feel guilty.

Just because you’re a mom doesn’t mean you don’t deserve some time to relax, recharge, and take care of yourself. In fact, it’s even more important as a mom to take some time for yourself.

Often we try to feel less guilty by telling ourselves over and over again that we earned it. That we deserve it. But having a little time to yourself to reboot, work on yourself, and pursue your own interests and hobbies is not something you have to earn.

There are not enough hours in the day to do everything on your list. So if you tell yourself a little “you time” needs to be earned first, you’ll always feel guilty for taking it. You’ll spend all that time consumed by thinking of all the things you should be doing, instead of enjoying it.

Time for yourself isn’t something to earn. It’s the fuel that you need to do everything else. You need it, your family needs it for you, take it.

2. Ask for Help

This is a big one. If you try to do everything on your own, you will quickly get burned out and overwhelmed. And that’s when the mom guilt really starts to set in.

The first step is to stop being so hard on yourself and realize that it’s okay to ask for help. Having a family is not a solo mission! You cannot do it all on your own and trying to is only going to lead to more stress and anxiety.

If you have a partner, take advantage of that and ask them to take the kids for a few hours so you can have some time to yourself. If you don’t have a partner, see if there are any family members or friends who can help watch the kids for a bit.

It truly takes a village, so ask for help!

3. Wake Up Earlier Than Everyone Else

Another great way to find some time for yourself is to wake up earlier than everyone else. This way you can start your day off on the right foot and have some time to do things that you enjoy before the craziness of the day begins.

I know it’s hard to get up early when you’re already exhausted from taking care of everyone else all day. But trust me, it’s worth it. Just think of all the things you can do with that extra hour or two in the morning.

You could read your favorite book, take a nice long bath, work on a hobby, workout, or just relax and enjoy the quiet house. Whatever you choose to do take time for self care and make sure it’s something that you enjoy and makes you feel good.

Here are some tips on how to become a morning person and love it.

4. Take Time After Your Kids Are in Bed

If you’re not keen on waking up early, take time once your kids are in bed. Take advantage of that time and do something for yourself. This is the perfect time to relax and unwind from the day.

Make a list of things you’d like to do during your personal time like go to the gym, take a yoga class, take a bath, read a book, or even just watch your favorite TV show. Then you’ll have a specific task to look forward to throughout the day.

5. Swap Babysitting with Another Mom Friend

Do you have a mom friend who also needs some time to herself? If so, why not swap babysitting with them? This way you can take turns watching each other’s kids and each get some well-deserved “you time.”

Not only is this a great way to make friends and friends for your kids, but it’s also a great, free way to get some personal time during the day instead of early in the morning or late at night.

Plan out a specific time and day each week and for each of you to take the kids and you’ll each have all the kids once a week and get your own time once a week too! It’s a win-win!

6. Take Advantage of Gym or YMCA Childcare

If you’re someone who loves to workout, (and even if you’re not!) take advantage of the childcare at your gym or local YMCA. This way you can get in a good workout, or even just sit in the sauna and have some time to yourself without having to worry about the kids.

You can even just drop them off to have fun in the child care and sit in the lobby, or the massage chairs, with your computer or a book. They get to have some fun at the child care and you get “you time” to workout or just relax!

7. Schedule It out in Advance

This may seem like a no brainer but it’s important to actually take the time to schedule your “you time” into your week. If you don’t, it will more than likely get pushed to the side as other things come up.

Find one hour a day for yourself. Of all 24 hours in the day, if you can’t find one, single hour for you, then that’s a problem. You can do it!

Whether that be before kids are up, after they’re in bed, or an hour a day that your partner takes the kids (remember, ask for help!). Plan a time that works, make sure your partner knows about it so they can be supportive, and add it to the calendar.

8. Make a Daily Routine

It can be really hard to squeeze in personal time when there is always so much to be done and the kids always need your attention. One hack that has been a life saver for my family is creating a daily routine.

My daily stay at home mom schedule looks like this and it has been a sanity saver for us (read my full SAHM schedule details here):

• Morning routine
• Breakfast
• Outing #1
• Lunch
• Naps & Quiet time (Me Time)
• Outing #2
• Dinner
• Family Time
• Bedtime Routine
• Mom and Dad Time

This routine has been a life saver for everyone’s sanity. I’ve found that when my kids know that we’re going to do something fun just for them at least once a day (at least one of the outings is always a kid fun activity), then they are super respectful of the quiet time/me time hour.

My kids who don’t nap during that time know it’s quiet, independent time. They know what activities they can do and that mom is going to have independent time too.

We’ve all just eaten, they know the routine for the day and that a fun activity is coming or already happened, so they allow themselves to relax during this time too. I’ve found that kids are super understanding when they know their desires are being considered and met too.

It’s all a little give and take, that way they don’t feel like they have to fight to do the things they want to do. So find a daily routine that works for your family.

9. Get Organized

This one is a bit more difficult for some moms, but it’s totally worth it. Getting organized can take some of the weight off of your shoulders and help you to feel less stressed out throughout the day.

Taking time for yourself will only stress you out more if you feel like every time you take it, you get further and further behind on things. Which is exactly the opposite of helpful.

There are tons of helpful ways to get organized as a mom, for example:

• Making a family calendar
• Meal Planning
• Have a cleaning schedule
• Have set chores for your kids
• Create a daily routine
• Have weekly family meetings to plan the week

When your life is organized, it helps you feel less stressed and not feel guilty for taking time for yourself since you know everything is accounted for and taken care of.

My Free Printable 15-Page Mom Planner is the perfect resource to help you do just that! With pages to help you meal plan, cleaning schedules, calendar pages, and more.

Click Here to Get The Free Planner

10. Hire A Part-time Nanny or Baby Sitter

Finally, if you’re really struggling to find time for yourself or your mental health is starting to decline, it may be worth hiring a part-time nanny or babysitter.

This can take a lot of pressure off of you and help you feel like you’re not constantly on the clock. It can also help relieve some of the stress if you’re feeling overwhelmed.

Of course, this isn’t an option for everyone but if you can swing it, it may be worth considering. Even if it’s just a few hours once a week, the benefits are worth it.

You could even take up a money making hobby that you do during those hours to pay for it. You get to have time alone doing a hobby, and that hobby pays the sitter. It’s a win-win!

Benefits of Taking Time for Yourself

If you’re still struggling to feel guilty for wanting time for yourself, try reminding yourself of the benefits. There are so many benefits of taking time for yourself as a mom. Here are just a few:

• You’ll feel more rested and less stressed
• You’ll be able to be more present for your kids when you are with them
• You’ll have more patience
• You’ll be a happier person overall
• Your relationship with your partner will improve
• You’ll be more likely to take care of your own health
• You’ll be a better role model for your kids

Maybe even try taping these benefits to your mirror as a daily affirmation and reminder. To keep you focused on the positive.

When you take time for yourself, everyone benefits. So don’t feel guilty about it! I know, easier said than done. But keep working on it!

How to Make Time for Yourself a Priority

Making time for yourself may not always be easy, but it’s so important. As a mom, you have to take care of everyone else and it’s easy to forget about yourself. But if you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be able to take care of anyone else. It’s just that simple.

Here are a few tips on how you can make time for yourself a priority:

• Set boundaries with your family and friends. If they know that you need this time for yourself, they’ll be more understanding.
• Get rid of any distractions. This means putting away your phone, turning off the TV, etc. Basically, anything that can take your attention away from what you’re doing. (Unless scrolling TikTok is what you’re doing to relax!)
• Set a goal for yourself. Whether it’s reading one chapter of a book a day or taking a 20-minute bath, having a goal will help you stay on track and feel accomplished. Here are 150 Fun monthly goal ideas to try.
• Talk about it a lot with your partner or spouse. The more you talk about it, the more likely they are to be supportive and understanding.

Tips for Staying Sane and Balanced as a Mom

There’s no doubt about it, being a mom is hard. But it’s also the most rewarding job in the world. To help you through the tough times, here are a few tips for staying sane and balanced as a mom:

1. Get enough sleep

This one should be a no-brainer but unfortunately, it’s often easier said than done. If you can, try to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep a night. I know that’s not always possible but if you can, it makes a world of difference.

2. Prioritize your physical and mental health

Again, this one is easier said than done but it’s so important. Make sure you’re taking care of yourself both mentally and physically. This includes things like exercise, healthy eating, self-care, etc.

3. Find a mom friend

Having someone to relate to can make all the difference. If you can find a mom friend (or even just a friend), you’ll feel so much better. You can vent to each other, cry to each other, and laugh with each other. Just knowing you’re not alone can make a world of difference.

4. Remember to add yourself to the priority list

This is something I’m still working on but it’s so important. We often put our kids and our families first but we need to remember to take care of ourselves too. If we don’t take care of ourselves, we won’t be able to take care of anyone else.

5. Let go of perfection

This is probably the most important tip of all. As moms, we often put a lot of pressure on ourselves to be perfect but the truth is, there’s no such thing as perfect. We’re all just doing the best we can. So cut yourself some slack and remember that you’re doing a great job, even if you don’t feel like it.

You’ve Got this

Being a mom is one of the hardest jobs in the world. You are constantly giving of yourself and your time to take care of others. However, it’s so important to take care of yourself too.

If you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be able to take care of anyone else. So don’t feel guilty about taking some time for yourself. Everyone will benefit in the end!

Need ideas for what to do during your “me time”? Try these 9 simple ways to rediscover yourself after motherhood.

Do you have any tips for taking care of yourself as a mom? I’d love to hear them!

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