*This post is brought to you by Bose. While this was a sponsored opportunity, all content and opinions expressed here are my own.
I’ve been a stay-at-home mom for five years now. It was quite an adjustment going from working full-time to staying home with with my first baby 24/7. Five years in, I’ve had to learn how to take care of myself amidst caring for two other little ones. While I wouldn’t trade any of it, I sometimes feel myself needing to take some moments to myself. In fact, I’ve sort of become an expert on figuring out how to have little moments to myself throughout the day.
You see, I used to think that “self-care” meant heading out for a girl’s weekend or having a full-on spa day to rest and rejuvenate. However, I quickly realized that all-day spa treatments or weekend trips just aren’t realistic when you have very young children at home with you. Today, I’m sharing ten ways I’ve found to practice self-care at home. I wrote this post, not only for parents who have young children, but for those who are homebound and need a little refresher during the day. Keep reading to see the tips!
Ten Ways to Practice Self-Care at Home
I want to emphasize that self-care doesn’t have to be glamorous! Self-care can look like SO many things. I can personally vouch for every single thing I shared below, as they’re my go-to’s! If you read this list and don’t agree, try them out first before writing them off! I guarantee one or two of these ideas will help you feel a bit more ready to tackle the day!
01. Take five deep breaths with eyes closed.
Never underestimate the power of deep breathing! There is so much to be said for stillness. Sometimes when I’m feeling overwhelmed, I’ll stop myself and close my eyes. I’ll tell myself I’m going to take five deep breaths, without thinking of anything but my breathing, then I’ll inhale and then exhale as long as I can. Then repeat. Getting all that added oxygen to the brain is rejuvenating. Plus, you’ll feel more relaxed after. I guarantee it!
02. Get in a bubble bath at the end of a long day.
There’s nothing better than a warm bubble bath at the end of a long day. Light a candle. Diffuse some oils. Listen to some tunes. It will leave you in a pretty great mood. Or, if you like me, and don’t get to shower too often (hello, mom life!) then just shower instead. You’ll feel like a whole different person!
03. Take a walk around the neighborhood with your favorite podcasts or audiobook.
Audiobooks are my new favorite thing. I like to have a tangible book I’m reading by my nightstand and listen to audiobooks the rest of the time. Right now, I’m loving, How Children Learn by John Holt!
The Bose Noise Canceling Headphones pictured above are the ones I use for most of these self-care ideas that require music or audio. Mainly because they’re wireless bluetooth headphones that allow me to move around freely without being tied to my phone. I love that they have a battery life of up to 20 hours so I only have to charge them every couple of days. You can read more about them here!
04. Turn up the music and clean your house.
Wait. Cleaning can be self-care? Yep! I read somewhere that the mind mirrors the environment. If I am feeling all over the place, my house usually looks like a mess too. Before making my to-do list to clear my mind, picking up my house helps me get in a better head space! Once the house is tidy, I feel like I can breathe again.
As for my normal cleaning schedule, I like to turn up some music and clean during nap time. I clean my bathrooms on Tuesdays, and it’s truly something I look forward to each week. I even have a special “cleaning” playlist I listen to!
05. Call and chat with a close friend or family member.
This one is really important. I don’t have a lot of time to talk with family, but the time I do get is so precious. I always get off of a phone call feeling glad I did it. If you need some encouragement or interaction, pick up that phone and call a family member or close friend! You won’t regret it!
06. Rewatch a favorite old movie.
This is how my husband practices self-care. He loves movies. Watching old movies he loved years ago makes him feel all warm and fuzzy. He likes to use my Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones for this because the sound is pretty incredible. Plus, my girls go to sleep at 7:00 PM, so he is able to have the sound up really loud without disturbing any of the sleeping members of our household.
My husband really loves technology, so when he learned you can update the headphones with new software as time goes on to get new features or functions, he was pretty excited.
07. Spend time in nature.
Being outside is always my go-to. It’s something I can do with my kids. It helps me feel connected to them. We love to go on long walks or bike rides, and we love hiking too. Anything that gets us breathing that fresh air. So good for the soul!
08. Read a new (or old) book.
Reading is something I did so much as a child and even when I was in college. However, after I became a mom, I got busy and stopped reading for pleasure. Actually, I stopped reading, period. Since I decided to start back up, I find that 5-10 minutes reading a book here and there has been so wonderful. It leaves me with a sense of accomplishment as I work towards reading the full novel.
09. Drink your coffee while sitting down.
I used to drink my coffee while making breakfast, or while I folded the laundry, but now I sit and do nothing but sip my coffee. Sometimes I’ll talk to my girls, or watch them play, or even pick up a book. But drinking my coffee with no interruptions is absolutely a form of self-care. Especially for parents! Try it out!
10. Reflect with a journal.
Lastly, this one is a really important one. If you have time, try to write in a journal every couple of days. Reflecting on what you’re feeling or what’s going on in your life is an integral part of emotional health. I started keeping a gratitude journal where I commit myself to just one sentence when I’m writing in it. This makes it low pressure but attainable! I don’t write in it every day, but I do most days. I keep it next to my bed.
Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700
The Bose Noise Canceling Headphones have a 90 day risk-free trial with free standard shipping and free return shipping, if needed! Full transparency though, my husband works remotely, so he is on calls every day in our home (while our two young children around the house too), and he steals these headphones every chance he gets because he loves the 11 levels of controllable noise cancelling. What do you think? Should I gift them to him for Father’s Day?
If you’re a frontline worker, Bose currently has a special offer for you! You can read more about that here.
I really hope this blog post on ten ways to practice self-care at home was helpful to you! Thank you so much for reading!
