53 Easy Me Time Ideas for Moms [+ Printable]

Self-care doesn’t have to be complicated. Pampering is about finding simple activities that make you happy.

Between caring for kids, managing a career or business, connecting with your partner, and making time for friends and family, your days are full of activity. As a result, there isn’t much time left for pampering. Who’s got time for bubble baths when the sink’s full of dishes, right?

But here’s the thing, you can manage your commitments and fit in self-care. You won’t take a lot of time away from your responsibilities. Here are 53 easy me time ideas for moms. 

There’s also a printable checklist at the end. Use it to plan and track your self-care. Stick it on your fridge as a reminder to press pause and make time for yourself.

Me time ideas for moms

Before we dive into the list of me time ideas for moms, it’s important to note that relaxation and self-care are different for everyone. Self-care is unique because it’s about finding activities that you enjoy and adding them to your day. There isn’t a one size fits all approach.

With your preferences in mind, the following list includes categories based on self-care type. To find suggestions that relate to your interests, click the links below to jump to the applicable sections.

• Financial Self-Care
• Mental Self-Care
• Physical Self-Care
• Nutritive Self-Care
• Practical Self-Care
• Personal Development

Financial Self-Care

Financial self-care is the process of proactively managing your finances. It’s tempting to want to stick your head in the sand and ignore mounting debt or out of control spending. However, poor financial management leads to stress and anxiety. When you tackle your finances head-on, you improve your overall happiness and protect your financial future.

1. Track monthly expenses. Use an expense tracking app to monitor your monthly income and expenses. Connect the app to your bank account, so your spending is automatically tracked. Are you overspending in any area? Is there anywhere you can cut back?
2. Set a monthly budget. Once you know how much you’re spending every month, create a budget. Speak with a financial adviser or ask a friend to be an accountability partner.
3. Create a debt repayment plan. Take 15-30 minutes to list all of your debt. Then, use Dave Ramsey’s Debt Snowball Method to pay off your smallest debt first. When you pay that off, move on to the next lowest debt. 
4. Check your credit score. Once a year, take a few minutes to check your credit score. You’ll get a complete picture of the strength of your financial situation. You’ll also see where there’s room for improvement.

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Mental Self-care

Taking care of your mental health helps you manage your emotional self (vs. your physical self). By proactively managing your mental health, you set boundaries that limit the negative impact of external experiences. 

1. Repeat affirmations daily. Make a list of your top 10 favourite affirmations and repeat them – out loud – every day. These statements help break the cycle of negative thoughts over time. Keep your affirmations on your phone or stick them somewhere in the house where they’re easy to see. 
2. Take a break from social media. Instead of scrolling through feeds for hours, put down your phone, and engage with real people in real-time. Too much time on social media inevitably leads to feelings of jealousy and inadequacy. You may even fall into the comparison trap.
3. Tackle difficult tasks. Instead of going through your day obsessing about an intimidating task, work on it first thing in the day – eat the frog. You’ll feel less stressed during the day, and you’ll be more productive.
4. Practice forgiveness. Forgiveness isn’t easy, but deciding to let go of anger enables you to move on with your life. Keep in mind, holding on to anger hurts you.
5. Say bye to negative people. Limit how much time you spend with people who complain a lot but never take action. Or people who don’t build you up and support you. Instead, surround yourself with people who will encourage you. You’ll build your confidence and self-esteem.
6. Speak your mind. Speaking up educates the people around you and teaches them how to interact with you.
7. Let go of the small things. Refuse to hold onto feelings that make you feel hurt, rejected, or sad. Let things go, so you have control over your emotions and your future. 
8. Practice positive self-talk. Positive self-talk boosts your confidence, motivation, and productivity.
9. Practice deep breathing. Set aside 15 minutes a day to focus on your breathing. Inhale deeply through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Use this technique to lower your stress, relieve pain, and boost your energy. 
10. Schedule time with friends. Meet for coffee once a month or schedule play dates, so while the kids play, you connect with your friends. Time with friends helps lower stress and improve your outlook in life. 
11. Pray or meditate. Start your day with a short prayer or meditate on what you’d like to accomplish. Prayer and meditation help you stay calm and settle your thoughts.
12. Ask for help. Whatever you’re dealing with, reach out to a trusted friend, or find a therapist to talk to regularly. You don’t have to suffer in silence. 
13. Get sleep. Stop trying to stay busy and instead prioritize getting sleep. After 7-9 hours of sleep, you’ll wake up feeling alert and refreshed, ready to tackle your day.

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Physical Self-care

Physical self-care is the most popular type of me time idea for moms. It includes pampering options like long baths, massages, and manicures and pedicures. Physical self-care benefits include improved physical health, increased productivity, and a more robust immune system.

Enjoy these suggestions when your kids are in bed, they have quiet time, are with family, or when your partner takes over for a few hours.

1. Take a relaxing bath. Incorporate bath bombs, salts, and fizzes to enhance the experience. Pick one night of the week to treat yourself. 
2. Read a book. Get cozy outside or inside the house. Make yourself some tea or pour yourself a glass of wine – and don’t forget the snacks.
3. Plan an at-home spa day. There’s no need to head to the salon or spa. Treat yourself to a DIY foot spa, manicure, or hair treatment.
4. Buy yourself some flowers. A vase with flowers in your home or office helps improve your mood, encourages relaxation, and brightens your space.
5. Try aromatherapy. Plug in a diffuser or light a candle and experiment with scents like lavender, eucalyptus, and citrus. Aromatherapy helps relieve stress, fight headaches, improve sleep, and more. 
6. Create a skincare routine. Whether it’s winter or spring, consider investing in a quality cleanser, face steamer, and serum or moisturizer. A routine keeps your skin soft and hydrated while making your skin less prone to acne and wrinkles.
7. Turn your bedroom into a sanctuary. Fight the urge to do work in your bedroom. Make your bedroom cozy, so it becomes a place to sleep and relax. 
8. Get your hair done. Get your hair washed and cut at a salon or try a new hairstyle. There doesn’t have to be a reason, do it to treat yourself.
9. Take a long hot shower. Indulging in hot showers helps you fall asleep quickly, lowers your blood pressure, and relieves sore muscles. 
10. Take a nap. Whether you’re a new mom or at home with the kids during a school break, rest when they nap. Keep your naps to 20 minutes to avoid waking up tired. The goal is to wake up feeling more alert, focused, and relaxed. 
11. Start your day with yoga stretches. Doing yoga first thing in the morning helps you focus on your day, increases your energy levels, and lowers stress. All you need is 15 minutes in the morning to enjoy these benefits.
12. Lace-up and go for a run. If you have small kids, put them in a stroller and take them with you. 
13. Go for a walk or bike ride. Map out new routes in your neighbourhood with an app. Not only are you exercising but also exploring your community. 
14. Dance. Take a dance class or simply turn on Spotify and play your daily mix playlist. Dancing isn’t just fun to do (alone or with kids); it’s also a great workout.

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Nutritive Self-care

Eating healthy foods as part of a balanced diet is a form of self-care. What you eat impacts your overall health and wellbeing. For example, certain foods boost your energy levels, improve your mood, and raise your satisfaction levels.

1. Eat fruits and vegetables. The average adult needs 7-10 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. One serving is equivalent to about one cup. A few ways to meet your serving requirements include starting each day with a smoothie, making salads, and snacking on dried fruits.   
2. Enjoy a cup of tea. Different teas have different health benefits. For example, ginger and peppermint teas contain antioxidants. Chamomile and passionflower teas help you sleep. Enjoy your teas of choice, hot or cold. 
3. Sign up for a meal kit delivery service. If you need mealtime inspiration, consider a meal kit service. Simply choose the meals you want for the week, and the service sends all the ingredients to you. Most services offer healthy options and meet dietary needs.
4. Sign up for a meal planning app. Apps are a great way to come up with new mealtime ideas. There are lots of free meal planning apps to choose from and hundreds of recipes.
5. Take vitamins. Vitamins are a great way to get essential nutrients lacking in your diet. Add your vitamins to a pillbox to remember to take them every day.
6. Order in dinner. As a treat after a long week, order a healthy option, so you don’t have to cook. Apps like Uber Eats and SkipTheDishes make it easy to find restaurants with healthy options
7. Stock up on your favourite snacks and desserts. Even though healthy foods are important, allow yourself an occasional treat. Stick with healthy snacks or try baked goods like cookies and cupcakes.

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Practical Self-Care

Practical self-care focuses on tasks that get you organized and minimize stress. Have you noticed how much more focused and motivated you feel when your day starts well? These me time ideas are perfect for any mom that needs practical help.

1. Declutter and organize your home. You’re able to find what you need. Plus, you relieve stress, and future cleanups are quick and easy. 
2. Track your successes. Instead of obsessing about what’s gone wrong, make a list of what’s gone right. Revisit your list to remind yourself of your accomplishments – both personally and professionally.
3. Surf Pinterest. If you need some inspiration for a big dream or goal, you’ll find lots of ideas to get started.
4. Plan your week. Once a week, like Sunday afternoons, review your calendar. You’ll find you’re more focused, plan more productively, and track your progress towards your goals.
5. Eat breakfast. It’s the most critical meal because it increases your energy, helps manage your weight, and improves your brainpower.
6. Have a Netflix day. When the kids have time away from home, put your feet up and relax. Catch up on shows you’ve missed or series you’ve been dying to watch.
7. Volunteer your time. Volunteering introduces you to new people, which helps fight feelings of loneliness, low self-esteem, and depression.
8. Get dressed up. You don’t have to go anywhere, just do it for fun while you’re at home and take pictures. 

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Personal Development 

Personal development is the pursuit of self-improvement. By reading, studying, and developing new skills, you positively impact the future since your actions, thoughts, and behaviours change.

Making time or personal development also makes you more self-aware, motivated, and effective in your pursuits.

1. Journal daily. Journaling gets your thoughts out of your head and onto paper. Journaling is also an excellent me time idea for moms because you don’t need lots of time to do it. For example, commit to 15 minutes a day. You’ll feel less stressed, have a better memory, and feel more organized.
2. Start a gratitude jar. Every day, write down one thing that you’re grateful for on a piece of paper. Store the notes in a jar and revisit them when you have hard days.
3. Paint or craft. You’ll improve your brain function, emotional wellbeing, and creativity.
4. Attend a conference or webinar. You’ll meet new people, learn something new, and find inspiration.
5. Create a vision board. It’s never too late to create a vision board. These boards help you visualize your goals, keep you motivated, and help you hold yourself accountable.
6. Listen to podcasts. Podcasts help you learn while you’re on the move. There are thousands of podcasts to choose from that cover a wide range of topics.
7. Listen to audiobooks. Reading is a great way to relax or learn, but you don’t always have time to sit and read. Audiobooks let you enjoy your favourite fiction novels while you drive, make dinner, or go for a walk.

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Start carving out “me time”

There are a lot of me time ideas for moms available. Start by picking a category to focus on and select one of the tips. Find a way to fit the concept into your daily or weekly routine and commit to it. For example, if you’re a new mom, maybe your me time is remembering to take your prenatal vitamins every day.

When your self-care option becomes a habit, add in more ideas. Over time you’ll create a routine where you’re more intentional about taking care of yourself. Best of luck! Let me know in the comments which ideas you’d like to start using.